The Charlotte Democrat., 1890-03-14
AaRICULTURA AL.
win Commercial Fertilizers lmDoverlsh
the Land?

Will GOWW6EOLd1 L q tAAiHoAS
the Land?
Mr., H. Tutbill, Long Island, asks
"I. il a settled fact that farming fands
can be continuously cropped for an In,
definite length of time by using nothing
but special fertilizers, and not iuJurs the
land Ii farm has been KEEP: 10 good
condition by the use Of stable manure
would it be advisable to rent the iarm for
five years TO tenant who would use moth
ing but special fertilizers as to man who
used stable manure!
If, by special fertilizers, we are to
understand that q fertilizer that contains
but one element of plant-food-ssy, for
Instance, phosphoric acid-the time would
very soon come, if the crops are removed
from the land, when there would be a
deficiency of nitrogen, and the yield OF
produce would rapidly decrease. ln say
ing this we assume that a farmer would
not continue to use a special phosphorlo
acid fertilizer unless it increased his crop.
II he did not increase the crops there
would be no greater quantity OF plant
iood removed from the soil and, conse-
quently, no loss of plant food from its use.
If it increased the crops, and the greater
portion Of the crops were consumed on the
land or on the farm and the manure re-
turned, the use of such a fertilizer, even
though il furnished only one element of
plant food, would rarely impoverish the
soil. The plants get food from the subsoil
and leave the elements oil fertility nearer
the surface. On the other hand, il the
crops are sold and the use OF the phos-
phoric acid greatly increase the growth,
first the nitrogen and then the potash
would, sooner or later, fail to be present
in sufficient quantity, and the crops would
fall below profitable yield-even though
there might be, and probably would be, a
large quantity of unavailable nitrogen and
potash in the soil. II the special fertilizer
contained phosphoric acid and nitrogen
in proper proportions, their continued use,
if they increase the crops, would have a
tendency TO impoverish the soil of potash,
though On many clay soils the supply OF
potash might last for a long time, while on
poor sandy soils it would soon be def
cient. If the fertilizer contains phosphoric
acid, nitrogen, and potash In proper pro-
portions the soil could probably be
cropped for many years by their liberal
use, though the time might come when
magDesia or soda or iron or some other in
gredient of plant food would be deficient.
AS Q rule, however, if all plants are
furnished with an abundant supply OF
nitrogen, phospnoric acid, and potash 10
available condition, large crops can be
grown for many years. This is especially
true If q judicious rotation is adopted
and vegetable matter, such as grass,
clover, stuhble, sod and roots, are plowed
under.
A second point is raised in the follow
ing statement and query: 81 rented my
farm under an agreement that stable
manure should be used 10 part, but last
fertilizers. If it is a fact that the farm
would not run dowa by the sole use OF
special fertilizers l would not object, but
10 it p
That would depend on the kind of crops
grown and what was done with them. i
happen TO have farm in just such con-
dition, except that besides stable manure
We have used special fertilizers freely for
many years. Large quantities Of food,
rich in nitrogen, have been fed to animals
on farm for twenty eight years, and no
hay or straw sold. The land is in good
condition. If we were to let the farm for
FIVE years for money rent we should de-
cidsdly object to the use of special fer
tilizers, arabic cultivation, and the sale of
all the crops. On the other hand, il we
rented the farm "on shares" we should
much prefer to have the tenant use special
fertilizers than to farm without them. Ii
the tenant knew his business be would use
superphosphate and nitrate OF soda freely
and grow large crops. AT the end of five
years the soil would probably not be in as
good condition as now, but the lost plant
TODD would have been converted into
money, of which we should have had our
share. The object of arabic farming is
not to make the land permanently rich,
but to get good crops and sell them at a
profit. II q farmer wishes to enrich bis
land rather than to get out of it all he can,
the cheapest way of doing it will be to
special manures act quickly; and if The
the land, while stable manure will last for
many years. II he applies stable manure
this year, and leaves the farm the next
year, probably not less than half the
value of the manure will be left in the
coil, while il he uses nitrate of soda none
would be left in the soil. If he uses
phosphates and potash and the plants
take it all up none would be lett If he
uses more than the plants require the ex-
cess would remain in the soil.-Americdn
A0riculturist.
az Tomatoes may be sown In hot-bed
in early spring, or the seed may be sown
in shsllow boxes and placed in window,
where one does not wish the trouble OF
making q hot-bed. Transplant to the
open ground when all danger OF frost is
passed, setting the plants three or four
feet apart each way. Some support
should be provided for the vines to keep
the fruit. from touching the ground
brush, hay, or anything of the sort will
answer the purpose, or they may be tied
to stakes. Fruit may be had several
weeks earlier by sowing the seed quite
early, and transplanting to small pots ;
when these are filled with roots, shift to a
larger size. and transplant to open ground