The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-12-28

fertilizers is to supply plant food to the =
needed to produce satisfactory crops. T
first question we should ask, therefore,
what food does the plant require? or VIII
ia fertiliZing elements are most likely to
y needed to supply the deficiencies of the sol
q As an economical question we need conce
ourselves only with the supplies of pho
:, phoric acid, potash and nitrogen, althoue
lime may be incidentally considered.
% The natural sciences enable us to asce
: tain just what quantities of these ditfereI
: surms of plant food are taken from the SO
c by the various crops or those parts of croy
b which are generally removed from the Ian
: on which produced. To illustrate, hay
r compiled table showing the plant food c
fertlllZing eli ments taken from the Soil b
, an average ton of the farm crops familiar i
Maryland, such as corn (grain and fodder
wheat (grain and straw, grass and hay
potatoes and tobacco. And as a graph
representation is often more effective thai
the figures of a table, L have also prepare
a chart, showing the same thing in colors
(The director here exhibited tables an,
charts and proceeded to explain them il
detail. This portion of the subject canno
be reproduced in this report, but it is under
stood that it will be embodied in bulletin
to be soon issued from the Experiment Sta
tion.)
The main point shown is that in all ON
common agricultural plants, the demand
for
phoric acid, the average being nearly five
to one. L. is also seen that plants require
comparatively little lime
Illustrating in similar way, the COM
position of the standard commercial fertIli-
zers in the market, it is seen that they gem
orally contain undue proportions of phos-
| phoric acid and lime. Averaging them it
Is found that, including the leading brands
of mixed goods, or complete fertilizers -
they contain nearly five times as much
phosphoric acid, as they do of potash, per
ton, and at least five times as much lime as
the plants can use.
A more rational system of compounding
commercial fertilizers is therefore demand
ed. This demand is being met by the in
creasing tendency to special mixtures for
special purposes, and the sale of the fertil
izing elements in different forms to be
mixed on the farm.
The speaker then described at some
length the natural sources of supply and
fhe different commercial forms of phos-
Porto acid, potash and nitrogen, and their
| speial uses, as well as the physical and
cneiical changes in the soil resulting from
'he Juicious application of lime.
IL Wa argued in closing, that while a
general owledge of this subject is rapidly
eAtehdlhg among farmers, there still re-
lhalus SO mlch mystery connected with the
purchase anduse of commercial fe-tilizers
anu 80 many Opportunities for the practice
OF fraud upon consumers, that adequate
law TO control the traffic and examination
OF this line of Merchandise is necessary.
Inc defects in the existing fertilizer law of
Aaryland were pointed out and compare
sons made with the laws of other states
relating to this subject.
In the way of advice as to the purchase
use OF commercial fertilizers, the fol.
pg suggestions were submitted.
st, by practical experiments, like the
ss of special crops, determine the
:. y the soil for the purposes for which
used. Or, ascertain the special |
w. o,,, lt particular crops to be produced. |
know what to buy and in |
,osa;o. so often happens that land |
| 1nlV or Of H.
1,"a..',,,, 49, is of plant food, that it is
~, buy fertilizers in the SIM
plete" goods. u GULL
Fertilizers in tt ., e.
cheaper to transpol 49,,
ton and easier to te W. "No IA
is advocated only VIII nuO no"ie mixing
are favorable. Ao 'onui'ions
Bulk is necessary for
plication and even distf' VI easy az
ness of mechanical conditK Gnu hho-
portant, so that, in most ca nisniS iui-
facturer can do the mixing b 'ne in"nu-
farmer. 'n'n 'ne
Generally, the high grade goo
economical, in the end, than cheao iiioio
| IL IL a redSOndUle Cldllu on INT
buyers, that they should know wit. vi
buy and get what they pay for. Macy
law does not effect this At present.
best and almost the only guarantee agaS
fraud, is the reputation and reliability
the seller.
Discussion of the subject matter c the
address being in order, Major Alvod at
it's close again invited a geneal excMge
} of opinion upon any kindred matte of
interest to our farmers, and some me
was spent in asking and answering u.s.
chemical constituents and uses of lii.
and other subjects, all of which prov
of unusual interest and profit to the
present.
At the conclusion of the colloquial dill
, cussion dinner was announced, whic
suffice it to say was discussed quite a
creditably and no less pleasurably tina
the subjects referred to.
: Upon re assembling after dinner, NJ
Thos. G. Bond, for himself and he b.
lieved for all present, expressed his gra
l ifioation at listening to Major Alvor
and moved vote of thanks of the Gu
for his able and instructive address al
! which was unanimously given.
The chairman having designate
, Messrs. Noyes, Sutton and Bond tt
Y committee to examine premises, stoc
O etc., reported through Mr.. Noyes that
the performance of this duty they HI
y noticed multiplied evidences of judiciol
g and careful farming by Mr.. Coudon al
o commended especially the fine conditiC
of his premises and the improved app
ances recently adopted by him, partic
. larly that for supplying water for b
dwelling and outbui!dings.
,f After an unusually pleasant meetil
= the next place of assembling was fixed
is MIR. S. R. Carson's on Wednesday, Jan
d airy %, 1890.
e. Re-opening of Cherry Hill NJ.
l. Church.
:. The Methodist Episcopal Church
Cherry Hill, which has been closed
"a several months past while extensive il
,r provements were being made, was
opened on Sunday last. Three intere
n ing services were held during the
il which were we'll attended, the congree