The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-03-22

clays being richest in available potash
which have not been too thoroughly
ieachad. Sandy soils are not rich in pot
ash, and when it is applied to them it is
readily leached out by the rains. The
soils Of the ',ppcy half Of the state should
as rule contain more potash than those
OF the lower half, as the clays of the lat
ter portion have been subjected to more
washing and transportation. and hence
teaching.
A common amount of fertilizer used
to an acre of ground in Georgia is 200
pounds. Fertilizers average 10 per cent
available phosphoric acid and . per cent
OF potash, SO this would be an application
OF 20 pounds Of available phosphoric acid
and four. pounds of potash, or in, other
words over four times as much phos-
phoric acid is put back as the water
melon takes off, yet it would take over
four years of such fertilization to put
back the potash taken away by the one
single crop of melons. No wonder mel
ons do not do well thus starved to death.
AS potash and available phosphoric
acid cost about the same, chemical ma
nuring can be done much more. advan-
tageously and fully as cheaply by using
more potash and less phosphoric acid.
The potash should be used in the form
OF sulphate of potash and not as chloride
or muriateeof potash, as the watermelon
prefers the former, as there was only a
minute amount of chloride found in the
watermelon upon analysis. but consia-
cradle quantity of sulphates.
The following is suggested as form
ula for a watermelon fertilizer, which
will furnish liberal amount of potash
and other fertilizing material per acre.
Acid phosphate. Observation-Disclosures 100 lbs
Su!phate OF potash. ................ so lbs.
Dfleu oIoou Misunderstanding. ...... 20 lbs.
Of course much larger quantity can
be used per acre if the land is well pre-
pared and large crop is desired M.
Georges Vile, the eminent agricultural
chemist of France, states as a general
propositions:
"Return to the soil by the aid of ma
nure more Gallo phosphate, potash and
lime than the crops have taken out of it;
restore to the soil about so per cent of
the nitrogen of the crop"
The acid phosphate in the above for
mula furnishes ample Gallo phosphate
and lime.
Cotton seed meal can he used in the
above formula in the place of blood. If
this is done, the quantity should be
| doubled, as cotton seed meal contains
only little over half the percentage of
nitrogen found in blood.
| These investigations were undertaken
in the hope that they might be of some
direct benefit to our people. If they
should prove so, the time spent upon
them, which was principally at night
after Office hours, will not be regretted.
DR.. Payne adds these additional sug
gestions to those who desire to raise very
early melons, nitrate of soda furnish
| ing nitrogen in a more quickly available
form than either blood or cottonseeC
meal, its use is desirable for very early
crops. The following will make a goo(
proportion:
Sulphate of potash. so lbs
~
| Nitrate of soda. ...:............. 10 lbs
The followinaAare the proportions pc
ton instead of pei acre as above:
Acid phosphate. 1880 lbs
Sulphate of potash ................ $40 lbs
| Dried blood Observation-Disclosures. 21O lbs
Nitrate of soda. Observation-Disclosures. 10 lbs
One ton, or 1000 lbs
With acid phosphate containing l.
per cent available phosphoric acid, sui
phate of potash containing so per cent
available potash, dried blood containing
nitrogen equivalent to IS per cent OF
ammonia and nitrate'o of soda containing
nitrogen equivalent to per cent of am.
monia-the percentage of available plant
food in such goods would be:
Available phosphoric acid. $50 per cent
| Potash ...... .......... 1850 per cent
| Nitrogen calculated to am
monla. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 3.15 per cent
The cost to the manufacturers of such
goods would be:
7.56x sos sos for phosphoric acid.
| 1350x. 80-S1060 for potash.
315x2 Cos $40 for nitrogen.
| S 2.60 for mixing sacking, etc
Cost, 1874 per ton.
One hundred and eighty-fve pounds OF
such goods to the acre will return the
phosphoric acid and potash, and half the
nitrogen removed by crop of half q
carload of melons.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Given BY the Georgia Department of Ag
riculture for the Month of March.
SEED POTATOES.
Which do you consider best to plant
southern or northern potatoes?
| + F. O. Marietta Ga