Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1893-11-23
MODERATE APPLICATION OF
AVAILABLE PLANT FOOD.
Feed the Crop at Intervals-A Good
Mouth a Good HOrss-Sweets for Stock
Farm Harness - Agricultural Notes
and Household Helps.
Feeding Plants.

mucn TO 40 Win tnelr prOHldDle
growth. 1t has certain analogy
with the feeling of animals, for in
both the growth depends on the way
the food is supplied. No one presents
to any animal all the food for three
moaths' sustenance at one time, but
the food is given as it can be digest
ed proftably, and in such quantity
that none is wasted. But for the
GRO IS. the food is supplied in bulk at
the beginning of the season for the
whole time and at first there is
a superabundance, and then a scare
lty. The growth of the crop is often
excited unduly at first, and a weak
plant is produced, that is of weak vi
tality, although it may appear to be
luxuriant.
Then when the most important
period of its growth arrives and a
greater draught on the plant is
made for the ;Da.3uring of the seed,
the supply - short, and great
quantity of st.:k or leaf may be pro-
ducel. but i..sle grain. TO apply
this to the corn crop, we may per-
ceive that the usual method is to
manure the soil as freely as may be
possible before the planting. The
first growth of stalk and leaf is too
rank, and as the food in the soil is
used up the plant needs more than is
left for the most exacting stage OF
existence, viz. the towering and ma
turing of the seed. Thus we so Of
ten find the ma jority of the ears are
only partly filled, for the reason that
the plant has not the materials to
fill out the ear with.
This fact is important. The crop
is shortened at least twenty-five per
cent on this account. and if there
is any way to prevent this loss it is
we'll worth finding and making use
of it, 1t has been found by long ex-
perimenting that the method of sup
plying food for the crop at intervals,
so as to provide for the most needful
periods of its growth, wholly removes
this difficulty and that full ears are
invariably produced. Thus it is
desirable that a mode, ate applica-
ton of Immediately available plant
food should be given at intervals as
the plant arrives at the exacting
periods, these being when the repro
ductive organs are appearing and
maturing. The last supply is given
when the silks are seen, which is
the time when the grain is about to
be formed, and this is the time when
all the resources of the plant are
called into action. This food then
being at once available and being at
once appropriated insures well-filled
ears and large and sound grain. The
full filling of every ear will easily
add one fourth to the ordinary yield
of corn.
,,. 1t is well-known axiom of trade
and commerce that reduction of
price always stimulates consumption
of any product, says the New York
Times. This necessarily applies to
farm. products as we'll as others. If
any product can be increased with
out proportionate increase of cost,
! and the consumption of it is in
creased, there is more profit to the
producer in the sale of the increased
quantity at the lower price.
Cotton growers have complained
that their product costs ten cents a
pound to make. This cost is based
on an average product of $50 pounds
10 the acre. But if the product is
increased TO 5 10 pounds or more to
the ace, the cost of it will not be