, 1892-08-06

economical or ratlonal, and may sometimes Dc
injurious. This is particularly true of soluble
~phosphates, the form recommended for i'm
mediate results. This form is preferable to
all others, where fertilizing the crop is prac-
tised rather than fertilizing the land. For al
though this form sooner or later after the ap-
~plication becomes insoluble, before becoming
SO it is largely diffused through the upper
layers of the soil by virtue of its initial veloci-
ty due to solubility in water.
With all othe. forms, fnenes of division and
careful incorporation with the soil are essential
to successful results. Phosphoric acid hastens
the maturity Of plants, particularly in the abb
sence of nitrogen. 1t is said to have a quick
ening effect on all the vital functions of the
plant, causing it to prematurely ripen and die.
This ripening process is but a cessation OF ac-
tivity in the manufacture of vegetable material
and the transference of these ready-made pro-
ducts through the leaves and stalks to the fruit.
The presence of a surplus of nitrogen prevents
or rather retards this cessation of activities by
prolonging and enlarging growth. From the
above it would seem that soluble phoSphates
may be applied nearer the surface than the
other forms.
Potash, though needed by very few soils (f
any in Louisiana, can be cheaply supplied
through some OF the German salts. All forms
of potash produce their best results when APP
piled sometime before the growing of the crop
which they are intended to benefit. Kainit is
rich in common salt, the binding effect of
which, on a soil, is we'll known, Frequently
an application of this salt upon very light
soils is productive of great good, even where
potash is not needed. The power of these
soils in re aiming moisture Is thus enhanced.
On stiff soils, for the same reason, they may
prove detrin 3ntal. Potash does not leach,
Grt booOn,a, 6voJ 90 eOo,, % orNIioJ IN fLo
soil. Hence it should never be applied on
the surface. but incorporated with the soil
at the depth required by most Of the roots of
the plant.
Now we come to the question itself: Prop
er application of commercial fertilizers?
To answer this question properly the sta
tons under my charge have been making field
experiments with various crops for many
years. We have propounded the following
questions: l. Shall our fertilizers be distri-
buted broadcast, or in the drill? 2. What
depth shall we apply them? 3. Shall the
different ingre lients be applied separately,
or combined? 4. Shall NE make one
or more applications to the crop ?
These experiments under cane, corn and cotton,
are being continued, but our results, so far,
strongly Indicate the following:
Upon cultivated crops, growing through our
long summers, that a proper distribution Of the
fertilizer in the drill is most profitable. This
distribution, within somewhat restricted
limits, should be thorough and complete.
Fertilizing broadcast has developed extra
weeds and grasses which required labor
and time to eradicate, aud moreover has
failed in every instance to grow as large "a
crop as the same amount properly distributed
in The drill.
Fertilizers have been applied L at all depths
from the surface to nine inches below, and
the testimony is strongly in favor of that
depth at which the roots can live and thrive
III an ordinary season. This depth has
been found to I've about two or thee inches
below the surface. Separate applications
Of the different ingredients have been re-
peatedly made-in conformity to their
known difuSive capacities-as already de-
scrib6d.
Potash and rhosphoric acid have been
applied separately and combined at depths
varying from two to nine inches, while
nitrogen, OH account Of it's very diffusible
nature, has been applied on the surface
and at varying depths, combined and sep
arately.
Phosphoric acid and potash have invariably
responded best at depths of two to four inches
while nitrogen has varied with the seasons
in wet seasons, applied alone and on the
surface it has responded best. In dry