The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-15
Waste in the Use OF Fertilizers md Lot
Manure.

InOuaapQS OF QOllaTS are IusG eFcIy
year by the injudicious application Of
fertilizers. When one buys potaeh in
the shape Of kainit or muriate of pot
ash, and applies it to soil abounding
in potash, it is a4clear loss. Plants
|sneed; only a small quantity of phos-
phoric acid and the natural soil may
furnish some of this. These two ele-
mepts, as they exist in the soil, have
to be brought into a soluble condition
by deep breaking of the land and ex-
posing the subsoil to the two univer
sal chemical agents, air and sun light.
He who scratches over two to three
inches Of the top soil will never re.
ceiye any benefits from the manurial
elements in the subsoil.
When ammoniated manures are ap-
piled, the loss to the farmer comes
from teaching, evaporation and cul-
tivation. IF lands are allowed to
wash, the ammonia is carried away.
Covering the manure we'll, as soon as
applied, and level cultivation, with
judicious tcrracing, will prevent loss
by teaching. Evaporation may be
prevented by mixing the ammoniated
manures With the soil and not expos
ling them to the surface. If there is
much rain in May and the early part
Of June, about one-half Of the am.
.moniated fertilizers Ego to grass. y
That is the grass weeds allowed to
tgroW take up much more ammonia
than is used by the tender plants of
corn and cotton. Thus it may be seen
that many farmers, in one way and
another, lose about one-third to one
half their commercial fertilizers, or
stable manure.
Chemical analysis Of soils would in
dicate the kinds of manure needed,
but farmers are not chemists and they
have to reach results by experimental
tion. To ascertain whether the farm
needs potash, or not, let an applica-
tion of one sack of kainit, 200 pounds
to the acre, be made. That would
give "a pounds Of potash to the acre.
On the next plat use nothing. Then
apply to third plat 200 pounds of
acid phosphate, which would give at
the rate Of "a pounds of phosphoric
acid to the acre. Leave a plat with
nothing on it. It can soon be ascer-
tained whether the yields is increased
or not by the application of these ele-
ments. If tits not, there is no use in
buying them. All Of our upland soils
need nitrogen. There is no doubt as
to that statement.
Our Piedmont farmers do not use
enough fertilizers to secure the best
results. In the Peedee cotton belt,
where the best farmers make about
one bale Of cotton to the acre, they
use $50 to 500 pounds of commercial
fertilizers to the acre. Many Of them
make two applications, the first before
planting, and the second during the
month Of June. They claim that
they get best results by the two ap-
plioations. Their lands being level,
or gently rolling, are improved instead
of worn out.
: Another great waste may De seen
about the farm yard. One cow, well
fed, ought to make manure enough in
a year to fertilize about two acres Of
land, provided it is all taken care Of,
On many farms the COW manure is al
lowed to wash away and no account
taken of it. Almost any thrifty two
horse farmer will carry fifteen to thirty
chickens the year around. Much Of
Che manure dropped by them is al
lowed to go to waste. Two pigs put
ND in January and killed in December
will produce enough fertilizer for one
or two acres of land, provided it is
taken care of. 1t is generally allowed
to 20 to waste. There is not one farm
er in five all over the Piedmont sec
tion that takes first class care of all
the manure about his lot and hen
house.
We call attention to this subject in
the beginning of the year in order
that farmers may look around and
save dollars by taking care of their
homemade manure. This will be fol-
lowed in future issue with column
or more on commercial fertilizers and
their value.-Spartanburg Spartan.