The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-03-12

leaf contain 81 pounds of potash 81 pounds OF
lime and 10 pounds of silica These are all min
eral elements and as they are to be derived from
the soil, how essential it is that the soil contain
them naturally, or these elements be supplied by
such fertilizers and in such proportions will
produce them.
These mineral elements are greater in tobacco
than in any other plant. They are by analysis
eleven times greater than in wheat, and greater
than that in any other cereal or vegetable-cOn-
sequently stable manure, so happily adapted to
the growing of vegetable matter, is not just right
for tobacco. Tobacco requires more potash,
more lime, more Silica more mineral matter.
Stable manure will grow the reed, but not the
perfect tobacco Ii the elements waning in
stable manure are in the soil or added to the
manure in proper proportions, then it is a per-
feet fertilizer for tobacco
A fertilizer adapted to the growing OF tobacco
ofthe best quality must contain about pounds
of nitrogen, II pounds OF phosphoric acid, about
81 pounds OF potash and about y pounds OF
lime in 100 pounds of fertilizer; as before said,
if any OF these exist in the soil, they need not
be in the fertilizer.
There is no commercial fertilizer on the mar
ket that | know of, that combine all the ele-
msnts in proper proportion for perfect tobacco
fertilizer Those that come the nearest are the
best Some contain the element wanting in
some Soils Pure ground bone and potash is
very good, as the bone contains the nitrogen and
the phosphoric acid The addition of 6 or 7
pounds Of potash in the 100 pounds would give
all the elements, though not in exact proper
ton, some of the acid would be wasted
Cotton seed hull ash, and also un-
leached hard wood ashes, with the
addition of some Of the forms of nitrogen
would be very good fertilizer for tobacco
Cotton seed and cotton seed meal, with an addi-
ton of or pounds of potash in the 100 pounds
is good fertzer-P otamnoiriate manufactured
by the Madison Cotton Ginning Company, con-
tains y per cent. phosphoric acid, 21 per cent
nitrogen, and 81 per cent Of potash. This is an
excellent fertilizer for tobacco, but think would
be better if it contained 2 or per cent. more
potash.
In the sink holes in many parts Of Florida is a
black dirt or muck slightly mixed with sand;
it is an excellent fertilizer, if there is added
little potash in some OF its FORMS The muck is
decayed vegetable and contains nitrogen and
phosphOric acid and some potash, generally all
the elements necessary If mixed with hard
wood ashes 10 give it the required amount Of
potash it would equal in my judgment, any fer
tilizer known for tobacco. 1t would require per
haps few more pounds to the acre than COM
mercal fertilizer.
As to the quantity 10 use on an acre all know
about how much stable manure he would apply.
BY little arithmetic calculating the
number of pounds Of the manurial
elements in ton of stable manure and apply
the same number of pounds of the elements con-
tanned in the fertilizer to the same amount of
land.
1t is probably unnecessary to state that the
per cent. of any element contained in any ferl-
izer commercial or otherwise) means that num-
Der of pounds Of the elements named in one hun
dred pounds of the fertilizer.
Iuseparably connected with the subject Of fer
tilizers is the subject of soils. If the soil con
tains the proper elements in sufficient quantity
no fertilizer is needed. Those elements that are
wanting only need be supplied
One OF the manurial elements in tobacco is
potash. Potash exists in all our pine lands and
exists only to a small extent in our upland ham
mock lands One Of the evidences OF this is
that when The pine is cut away the second
growth is hard wood. When the hammocks
are cleared the second growth is pine The
hard wood growth has exhausted the potash
and the pine has used but little potash and the
accumulation OF potash for years remains in the
soil. Apply potash as fertilizer to all tobacco
grown on hammock land, otherwise The nitrogen
and phosphoric acid in the hammock land, I'M
checked by the slower growing potash element
grows the plant too large and coarse with EtrEt.
veins
Another mineral element in tobacco is lime
The analysis showing 81 pounds of lime in 100
pounds OF ash obtained from the dry leaf and 10
pounds Of lime obtained from 197 pounds Of ASH
rom 1000 pounds OF fresh Leaf (decomposed lime
stone ana not limestone rOckt. On most, II not all
)i our sandy loan or sandy soils, lime exists SUI
lclently. Where no lime is found application
)t 1t is necessary to the best quality of tobacco
A soil containing some sand is the best, as ii
furnishes the silica in the tobacco, which is one
Of the mineral elements. The lime and the
potash also being found in the sandy soil de-
cayed vegetable matter and the air furnishes the
nitrogen and the phosphoric acid and when
here are all these elements in sufficient quaint
as perfect as the climate will allow II any OF
hese elements are wanting in the soil it should
De supplied.