The Van Buren press., 1895-11-02
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FEEDING THE SOIL.
Commercial Fertilizers VI. Stable =
mure


FEEDING THE SOIL
Commercial Fertilizers VI. Stable -
Since the introduction Of commerciaA
fertilizers, there has existed IN 'ne
minds of many farmers doubt as 'o
the value of cord OF stable manure
when compared with the market price
OF commercial fertilizers, and farmers
differ widely on this subject; whiie
one believes stable manure to be worth
eight dollars per cord, another does no.
believe it worth half that sum, ana
will buy commercial fertilizers in preI'
erence. even when he can by the ms
nure at four dollars per cord.
Why this difference of opinionp be
cause there is great difference In the
action of commercial fertilizers anu
stable manure that is too often over
looked. The moment the farmer COM
mences to use concentrated fcrtilizerS
that moment he has entered upon
work that requires higher inteih'
gence to enable him to use 1t to the
best advantage than it does to use sta
bic manure. There are so many variar
tions to be considered in using COM
mercial fertilizers that without intel
ligent application the result Will
be entirely uncertain. In the
first place, commercial fertiuzers
are in concentrated form and
are made up of materials, some
of which are very quick acting and
others very slow, some of which are
soluble in water. some are not. In the
second place, there is a great differ-
ence in the composition Of these fer
tilizers; one may be made up with
large percentage of potash and small
percentage of nitrogen; another. may
have small percentage Of potash and
large percentage Of nitrogen, and
still another may have large per-
centage OF phosphoric acid with
very small percentage Of either nitro
gen or potash; and, finally fertilizer
may be made SO as to contain large
percentage Of both phosphoric acid
and nitrogen. but both SO locked up
with other materials that the plants
will be able to get but small portions
of them for several years after the fer
tilizer has been applied.
Thus 1t will be seen how important
1t is that, whatever fertilizers are to be
applied. in buying them enough intel
ligence should be used to ascertain not
only whether they contain phosphoric
acid, potash and nitrogen in proper
proportions needed for the particular
crops to be grown, but also to ascer-
tain whether these substances are in q
form to be available for plant-food at
the time they may be wanted by the
growing crop. If crop of Indian corn
is to be grown without anything but
commercial fertilizers it would not
be wise to buy all superphosphate.
because the plant-food in it. being SOL
uble in water. it would be Immediate
ly available for plant-food and 1t
would form growth of leaves and
stalks in the first part of the season at
the expense of the grain at the last
part; but II ground bone and muriate
of potash be applied, two parts of the
former to one OF the latter, a more
equal growth would be obtained, be-
cause the ground bone would slowly
advance the plant-food, and at the time
wanted by the growing grain would be
in good condition to furnish just what
the crop would need.
When stable manure 10 applied, the
farmer does not have to exercise so
much judgment because the manure
contains the different elements OF
plant-food in fair proportions, and
while some Of it is Immediately avail
able for plant-food, much of 1t is not;
but it advances and furnishes plant
food though the growing season as the
crop may need 1t, providing the sea-
son be good one, and a sufficient
quantity Of manure be applied. But
there is another difference between
commercial fertilizers and stable ma.
nure that Is very often overlooked, yet
it is of very great importance; that
is, its action on the soil while in the
process of decomposition; 1t generates
large amount Of carbonic acid gas
this, or some other substance that II
liberated during the progress of de
composition, no doubt acts on the sol
to an extent that liberates considers
BILE quantities Of plant food that be-
fore had been locked up In the soil. *
that, although cord Of manure con
tains nitrogen, phosphoric acid ant
potash worth less than three dollars
the action OF the manure on the sol
liberates from 1t enough more of tn,
elements to make 1t worth on man,
soils at least twice three dol
lars; but there are some soil
that have been so decomposet
that they have become so deficient II
both phospheric acid and potash tina
whatever may be applied to them bu
little more can be extracted; on sucl
soils concentrated fertilizers can b.
applied with more profit than bari
manure.
Commercial fertilizers are very use
ful and may be applied with advan
tage to many crops, but, as rule. tn
common farmer had better use then
sparingly, in connection with bari
manure, until he learns the powers o
different qualities and the wants O
each particular field to be planted an
crop to be grown.-Southern Farm.