The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-07-26
Ghelemnrraf-St
SPECIAL

In response to an inquiry, Hugh
Starns, ho%rticulturist Of the Georg.
experiment station, has given the 10
lowing to the press Of that State:
l am glad to have an opportunity [
correct an erroneous impression qui,
generally prevailing in regard to til
special Observation-Disclosures
by manufacturers of commercial fel
tlllzers and put on the market and aG
vertised as infallible for the particr
lar crops after which they are named
There are lettuce fertilizers and cab
bage fertilizers and caulifower. an,
spinach and beet and onion ant
potato and turnip fertilizers-and S,
on through the entire catalogue O,
garden truck.
Now, practical truckers know full
well that there is little difference in
the effect of one kind OF these fertil.
izers as compared with another. II
used In anything like large quantities
and that is the only way it pays to
use fertilizer for turnips will produce
equally as good results for beets, and
Vice versa. A special potato fertili-
ger will be found to do equally as well
with onions, and vice versa. A special
lettuce manure will produce fine crops
OF cabbage, and vice versa.
AS a rule there is little variation in
either the guaranteed or ascertained
analysis Of the various special vegeta-
Die fertilizers, and the difference ex-
fists chiefly in the name, by which the
manufacturer hopes to reach a larger
class OF customers at prices higher
than they ought to be-the purchaser
usually being willing to pay more for
what he regards as a special prepara-
ton than he would for a torula for
general use. Therefore, pin, as a rule,
little faith to Especial fertilizers" ex-
cept where the character of the crops
uiueTS materially.
CABBAGE AND LETTUCE.
Cabbage and lettuce, for instance.
DO not greatly differ in their require
ments, as both are strong feeders on
nitrogen, and, to a great extent, on
potash also. Hence the following
formula will do we'll for both: Nitro
gen 4 per cent, phosphoric acid 5 per
cent, potash I per cent. This may be
represented by the following: $40
pounds nitrate of soda, 1,1SO pounds
acid phosphate, $50 pounds muriate
OF potash. Fully this quantity could
be used with advantage per acre, and
no land should beemployed for truck
Eng purposes that is not sufficiently
Hlled with humus to admit of the
safe application of from three-quar-
ters to a ton OF commercial fertilizers
per acre. The chemical ingredients
mentioned can be purchased from
wholesale dealers in fertilizers in the
principal business centers of the
State, II not readily o%btainable, an ap-
proximate substitute for the formula
given may be made at home by taking
any good brand of complete fertilizer
and adding, say 80 pounds kainit and
10 pounds cotton seed meal to each
100 pounds of the fertilizer. A com.
plete standard fertilizer in Georgia
Will probably run at least 5 per cent
OF available phosphoric acid, 2 per
cent of nitrogen and | per cent of
potash. The addition of meal and
kalnit as prescribed would produce a
lOw-grade fertilizer Analysing about 4
per cent phosphoric acid, 3 - per
cent potash and something over 2 per
cent of nitrogen. Double the quanti-
ty OF this mixture will approximate
in results the higher grade formula
previously given, in which nitrate
OF soda and muriate OF potash were [
used, and which Was intended to con
tain 4 per cent nitrogen, s per cent $
phosphoric acid and I per cent potash. |
Thus, at comparatively small cost, a
fertilizer practically as good as the d
best special fertilizer for cabbage or y
may be obtained. Rather /
Shan use manipulated goods it would
perhaps be best to compound the entire u
at home, preferably by the @
Use OF nitrate of soda and muriate Of
as sources, respectively, of
nitrogen and potash. If these are N
not obtainable cotton seed meal and
kainit may be substituted. The fol-
formula would suffice: Thirty
pounds each of acid phosphate, cot. is
ton seed meal and kainit, with 10
pounds OF leached ashes or loose soil
TO pad out. Apply at rate of two tons it
per acre, II desired 20 pounds kainit
and 20 pounds unleached ashes NAV Il
replace the 80 pounds kainit and 10 "
pounds of leached ashes or soil,
POTATOES AND ONIONS. d,
Fol a potato OF onion fertilizer use P
a formula yielding, say 3.75 per cent o
nitrogen, $50 per cent Of phospho- sc
nc acid and $50 per cent of potash. 70
This would be represented by about I'll
% pounds nitrate of soda, 60 pounds M
'cld phosphate, Is pounds muriate of
If muriate Of potash and nj. bt
rate OF soda are not convenient, the
ollowing formula may be used: 26 ri
pounds cotton seed meal, 81 pounds ii
'cid phosphate, 80 pounds kainit. II IN
)ounds s0il-to pad out. This will
'nalyze about half the percentage of IN
ne foregoing and can be safely dou.
leo on the crop. The | l DO unds soil ca
VAC g11nuacta 6 In tl1