The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-12-21
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.


Using Fertilizers.
The Importance of this subject was
brought to mind in a way long 10 be re-
membered, by the statement of Prof.
Scovell, that the probable purchase of
fertilizers BY Kentucky farmers amounts
30 100000 year, and that probably
shree-iourths of the amount is wasted.
He explained that by wasted he meant
That the farmers, as mass, do not know
what they need, and do not care what
they get. One may need nitrogen and
he buys potash; another may need phos-
plate and he buys ammonia, and still
another may need but single mex
pensive ingredient to add to his
soil to make it rich, and he buys
complete fertilizer at consider
able cost. No matter what the
mistake made, IL the farmer be close
observer, he will be dissatisfied and con-
denim commercial fertilizers as whole.
Experiments made at the Station this
season demonstrated that better results
were obtained where the needed ele-
ment only was applied than where
complete fertilizer, sometimes at ten
times the cost, was used. twill be seen
then how easily farmer may err. Com
mercial fertilizers contain such and
such elements that soils require. Gen.
orally first-class goods will contain all
that is needed to make very poor land
yield fair crops. Now, il land is in this
condition, the owner can't make much
Of q mistake, no matter what he APP
plies. But field may be so much worn
that it fails to produce paying crops, and
yet be rich in certain elements.
1t takes just so many elements to
make soil rich, but they must all be con-
tanned in 1t. II all but one are there,
although some may be in great abun-
dance, crops will fail. If the needed
one Is supplied all will be well.
But the difficulty farmers labor under
Is to know which is the needed element.
ALI can not expect to have their soils
analysed by the State, and the next best
that can be expected is the results of the
Experiment stations. These, to be
effective, should be located in the differ
ent geological formations of the State.
Next, great good may come from the dis
cussions and lectures at the Farmers In
stftutes, which, it is contemplated, will
be held in every district in the State.
Brt, after all, a farmer must make his
own experiments, based on the best in
formation he can gain. Let him ascer-
tain as nearly as possible what his soil
needs, apply this, leaving spaces where
nothing Is added. He may try in the
small way many of the known fertiliz-
ing elements and use extensively only
such as prove beneficial.
(, Another way farmer may err in the
use Of commercial fertilizers: He may
choose what the greater part of his
soil needs and set his drill the same for
the whole field. Thus will he apply to
fertile fence row the same he does to
the worn and yellow hillside. It may
mot be needed at all on one and be too
small an amount to practically benefit
the other, while the average portion of
the land will be materially helped.
In this day the use of fertilizers has
become necessity. Farmers can not
raise poor crops and sell at present
prices. The labor is the same on poor
or good crop.
/, Clover is, in most instances, q SOW
reign remedy for poor land, but clover
will often fail unless the land is given
some good mineral stimulant.
We trust the work of our Experiment
Station, the teachings of the Institutes
and the farmers own good sense will
guide them 80 that the three-fourths of
500, 900 now wasted, may be distributed
among them. They need 1t, God knows,
and need it badly.-Farmers' Home
Journal.