The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-23
FOOLS And FERTILIZERS.
FARMING LANDS NEED AT LEAST ONE
YEARS REST.
Too Much Ammonia and Acids AL
ready USed---"Lcf the Land Rest u
Year..---FarHers Advised to BUY
Little or No Fertilizers and Depend
on Home Made 7Iannres and Gull
tiyatiOu.
Nc,uS and Courier.

Nc1rs and Courier.
One of the chief causes of the Impoverished
condition of the farmers is the use 6i t0t
much commercial fertilizers and the lUJucl
cious application of the same. For twenty
wears we have hought any and cvcrythln:
that has been offered for sale. All that ha
been necessary was to put something IN
sack or barrel and brand some unusual or pc
culiar name on ii. | do not accuse the manu-
facturers of fraud, but do accuse my brothe
farmers Of being the biggest sci Of fools there
is in all the land and the writer the King o
fools, or the biggest fool OF all;
For several years l bought ammoniatet
fertilizers at high prices, and applied in con
nected with cotton seed meal or cotton scct
in the natural state. After spending thouS
ands Of dollars in this foolish way, dropped
the ammoniatcd goods to great degree ant
bought acid phosphate and acidulatcd rock
and mike It half acid or acidulated rock ant
half cotton seed meal. Three or four years
ago I concluded had enough sulphuric aclt
and phosphate in my land, ana began 70 pu
in less phosphate and commerclal 1ertlllZcrs
and brought it down to one hundred pounds
with whntever amount Of meal used pc
acre. am now satisfied that where Lands
have been continuously planted IN COTTON
fertilizers Of any kind the lands need res
from them for at lcnst one year. If yOu buy
ut all, only buy TO mix With meal. where Eot
plant on lands that were grown IN SOmetnln:
besides cotton, and put not over one hundred
hounds to the acre. There are various reason!
for this. BY using little or no commercial
fertilizer the plant will start Off In the sprn9
little slow, will have less fruit in July ant
stand the July and August drought; Iakt
ton States and we want to make q late July
or August crop. We need but little If any
commercial fertilizer. The upper, or clay
bets need little to get July and Angus
three of meal or its equivalent of seed. Tht
clay lands do not require any kainit or pot
ash.
This Is not all theory. know what ar
talking about Iknow it from actual practice
IF the farmers of the cotton country who buy
commercial fertilizers will adopt this plan
say use ut least one-third OF the amount they
haze been in the habit of using, 1t viii ado
many millions to their purses, and enable
them to pay for fertilizers they have foolishlJ }
thrown away. Don't blame tho men whf
manufacture or sell the fertilizers. we nave
encouraged them; and the demand Is now
urice beyond our reach. The high price vii
continue. 1t Is impossible to check 1t In any
way, except by giving the land rest for say
one year. -
will continue it, and prices will for man!
wears be in due bounds. Our manufacturers
do not claim that tho home demands has in
creased so much, but foreign demand. JUS
let the foreigners have II all thls year; we Wi,
or more cotton, and pay up back indebted
ness. ,,
Oranges consider this matter. If there are nr
societies in your ncighbUrhood, call the neigh
bors together and consider the matter. /
YOU can not do this let every farmer decide
for himself, and say will for one year let my
land rest from fertilizers. 1t will not look sc
bright for us in May and June. but Octobc,
and November will show you where the mil
lions have been foolishly speht for the las
twenty years. c. ,.,.
not buy it; that his only chance was to gel
it through his or some one else's merchants
This NAV be true to some extent. or course
money enough will get it, but we don't necC
il, That is the subject for us TO consider, anc
let them that have it keep 1t. Spin out youl
cotton seed from fifteen to twenty bushels tC
the acre Mix the stable manure fine and
spread itwlth the hand. Make 1t go over 8
large area instead Of carelessly throwing II
down in piles from q pitchiork. Too many
fertilizers are dangerous. They have never
done the great amount OF good we nave
Imagined. Good and proper cultivation pays
better than large quantities OF lertillzers
There is such q thing as too much ammonia
and we oftener put too much than not enough
The phosphate and kainit, or potash salt, are
there to STAY Our land needs rest rom COM
mcrcial fertilizers as much rs they do rota
tion. am almost tempted to say If you take
nv advice in this matter ard 1t proves wrong
appoint o day next fall and hang me.
JAMES A. PETERKIN,
Fort Motto, January 16.