The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-02-18

ag tnelr respective content OF any conmO-
ingredient in any two that may be compared.
Acid phosphate being an Ingredient Of each
then the content OF acid phosphate, in each
formula represents approximately, the rela-
tive value Of that formula, and may serve as
a guide in determining the amount to be ap-
piled.
The foregoing formulas comprise the COM
mercial ingredients most generally used In
composing or mixing at home. AS already
indicated these Ingredients when provided in
the proportions given, may be mixed with
stable manure and other eruda or bulky home
materials in any convenient proportions Of
the latter. The larger the proportion OF sta
BILE manure, ETC., the greater the dilutioD. or
weaker the resulting mixture, and CORE
spondingy larger quantity should be applied
We may add that our own experience the
past year has tended to confirm us in the
opinion that nitrogen ia an indispens sable In
gredient In fertilizer for the old and worn
more exacting in Its demands for applied nj
trogen than corn. Ofcourse this element is
required and Is largely consumed by all cul-
lily and abundantly supply their requirements
OF nitrogen by draughts upon the air than
others. We have found that corn may be
easily overdosed with nitrogen. In other
words while the corn plant requires large
quantity Of nitrogen, at the same time 1t can
procure large percentage OF this amount
from the air. Cotton Is also rich IN nitrogen,
and must bavelt from some source, but as
titicial supply In the form Of fertilizers than
corn. or one thing we may rest assured
All poor worn lands require what is called
complete fertilizer. or one containing pbos;
phoric acid, nitrogen and potash, If planted
In corn, cotton grass, or small grain. II ck?-
yer or peas be the crop, nitrogen may be ell
ther entirely left out or used in very small
quantity according to the condition Of the
soil.
The use, therefore, of acid phosphate alone
or con tanning only potash, is not to be recon-
mended except in soils that 'cont tain more or
less ofvegetable matter rich In nitrogen, as
vious year. Fresh lands, especially when the
black or brown surface mould Is unusually
abundant, and bottom lands generally DO
just as well without nitrogen and often give
simple acid phosphate because nitrogenous
manures encourages too lu1urfant grown
Of weed and late maturity.
THE NATURAL METHOD OF ENRICHING
But nitrogen is the most costly ingredient
that enters into the composition Of fertilizer
If 1t be bought in either OF the several forms
in which 1t is sold In the market. Fortunate
ly for the farmer, however nitrogen is really
more abundant and near at hand than either
phosphoric acid or potash. Three.fourths by
weight, of the atmosphere that surrounds the
globe na Of IN r Il
cannot be bought with money. handled with
a shovel, or distributed in q furrow. 1t is
invisible and intangible, but free to adopt
plants, some one or more of which will grow
in every soil, can appropriate this nitrogen OF
air. and deposit 1t In the soil for The use of
other plants less capable of getting 1t from
this source. Peas, clover, vetches, and many
other plants are OF the class Of nitrogen gath.
erers, and afford the readies and most natu-
raj means OF restoring and building up our
soils We may grow such plants, and turn
hor col them QecaV
on the soil, or we may feed them, either green
or dry, to animals and apply the manure OF
the latter to the SOIL In either case, we are
drawing on the atmosphere for nitrogen as
In the first case, we return them directly to
the soil without requiring them to serve any
other use. In the second case, we use the ma
terIals thus gathered by these plants from
the soil, first to build up the bones and mus
cles and tissues of the animals which con
sumo them, and then by the means OF the
ry OF green manuring and green soiling in
nut shell. 1t is the prime factor In the eco.
nomical Improvement OF the soil; all others
are not supplemental and artificial.
such system as basis that all extensive and
permanent soil Improvement Is made. IL is
the natural method.
THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM.
Much has been written and spoken about
high farming, and the Intensive SYSTEM
and some farmers seem yet 10 have confused
ideas about what the system Is. Everybody
knows that the most successful merchant,
other things being equal, is the one who buys
his goods at the lowest prices and sells TO
good paying customers at the prevailing mar.
ket prices, and who gets the most work In
quantity from those in his employ. The same
principle is the foundation of the so-called
intensive system. There Is no mystery about
1t. 1t is to make the most Of every expendi-
ture OF money and labor; to make every acre
produce, the largest possible crop. Not sim.
ply large percentage OH small investment
of labor and SKILL but the largest possible
percentage Of profit on the liberal expendi-
ture of effort. \ broom sedse pasture may
return large percentage on the investment
of labor which may consist simply In occa-
sionally putting a few rails on the fence, but
the investment is too small to amount TO
anything. Diversity of crops Is also Implied;
IL is not wise to carry all the eggs In one bas-
ket, and on the other hand 1t Is not well TO
have 'too many irons inIthe fire" 1t Is not ad-
visable to attempt to produce everything on
the farm that may be required for comfort, or
desired az luxury. A farmer should not
breed all the domestic animals that may be
proftably bred in his climate or section, nor
should he attempt 10 produce supply Q!
-four rice, OATS corn, sugar cane. butter, peer.
pork, cheese, tobacco, vegetables and fruits OF
every kind, wines, liquors, vinegar, soap,
leather etc. Any one or more OF these may
be profltably produced In most sections anu
almost every farm, hut not all OF them on
one farm, or by one farmer. The true poiicy
is to produce those articles which are required
in largest quantity and which can be most
pro6tably produced at home, and sell or ex-
mand for others not convenient 10 proouce
Iof