Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-02-12


even setting of the fruit, yet g. farmer
must always keep in mind the posi-
bilities of the crop and work to them.
and measure his profits by what can
be secured from the average of a series
OF years. These results we consider
important and they apply in great
measure to the other crops fitted for
your purpose previously mentioned.
Large areas of the State now given to
grain crops are peculiarly adapted for
the various garden and fruit crops.
and their profitable production at
prices that would be possible for you
to pay is very largely question of a
sufticiency of plan'-food inf the soil.
Ihere is no good reason whya farmers
rotation should not consist of peas,
corn, clover and potatoes or toma-
toes. In fact, there is good reason to
believe that such rotation would be
more reasonable than the one now pur-
sued.
German chemists have proved, what
has been believed in a general way for
long time, that the leguminous crops
as peas, clover, beans, etc., have the
power in some way or other Of secur-
ing from the atmosphere full supply
of nitrogen. This element is the most
expensive of all those considered es-
sential or necessary to be added to
most soils. By adding clover to peas in
the rotation, we in troduce two legu-
m;nous crops, making it necessary to
add to the soil chiefly the relatively
cheap mineral elements, phosphoric
acid and potash, in order to secure
maximum crops.
Another point of Importance for the
farmer to consider is the amount of
plentfood elements removed by the
crops; clover hay was an abundant
crop this year and farmers are selling
it for from Sc to So per ton. Each ton
contains an average 40 lbs. of nitrogen
lbs. of phosphoric acid and "a lbs. of
potash, which if sold at the higher fig
ure, IS per ton, would bring when food
value is entirely disregarded but Is cts.
per pound for the nitrogen, s cts. for
phosphoric acid and cts. for potash,
less than he would have to be paid for
them in good commercial fertilizers. A
| ton of tomatoes contains 25 lbs. OF
nitrogen, IA lbs. of phosphoric acid
and 5 lbs. potash, which, at Sc per ton, q,
would bring the farmer 81 A per pound
for the nitrogen, 72c. for paosphoric
acid and 40c for potash. That these
ere not extreme cases could be easily
demonstrated, for on this basis pota.
toes at 75c. per bu. bring So 40 per
pound for nitrogen, $l.24 for phos
phoric acid and 62c. for potash. The
point is clearly shown that in rails
ing vegetable crops the farmer is con-
verting bis capital in the soil into pro.
titahle products. while the case of the
leguminous or grain crops, whether the
nitrogen comes from the air or not, he
sells his fertility at loss. In the mat
ter of corn and peas it has been de-
monstrated that tie part of the crop
sold to the packers contains less than
80 per cent of the total plant-food ele-
ments contained in the whole crop, the
remainder in both cases making excel.
lent animal food.
In the Central and Northern por-
tions of the State the peach, pear and
apple have been shown to be well
adapted to the conditions existing
there. These also remove compare
lively small quantities of plant-food.
The area of these crops could be al
most indefinitely increased and would
furnish valuable addition to your in.
dustry.
The second point, which is of more
immediate interest to yourselves, is the
quality of the produce. In our studies
chemical analysis were made of the to.
matoes, and while it was not possible
to measure those peculiar fiavors or
the valuable diuretic qualities, it was
clearly shown that the proper oppli.
cation Of fertilizers had tendancy to
improve quality and thereby enhance
food values. That this is also true in
the case of potatoes was shown this
year, and that it would be true for all
crops is an undeniable scientific fact.
The State of New Jersey has always
had the reputation ofproducinga high
quality of fruit and vegetables, this
was particularly noticed by people
from other States and even foreign
countries, at our centennial exposition
in 1876 If, therefore, our climate and
situations are naturally adapted for
these crops, the improvement of the
natural condition must benetis the
products fn direct ratio with the i'm
provement.
There is no good reason then why
the canned goods ofNew Jersey should
not include all the croDs now usad any