The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-09-17
FREM $50
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MN.RAl. MANURES.
How to Apply Tor Best Results Effective
Nitrate of Soda.

How to Apply COR Best Results Effective
Nitrate of Soda.
There is diversity Of opinion as to
the profit III using commercial fertlli-
gers, most of which are mineral This
difference in opinion as To value beng
based on experience shows that it is
mainly question of how mineral ma
nures are used Those who apply min
eral manures to grow gram crops, with
out seeding either to clover or grass,
find that while the grain crop may tenn
porarily be profitable 1t leads to such
deterioration of soil fertility that the
land becomes too poor for any profitable
use. But when THESE mineral fertilizers
are applied in connection with stable
manurcs and are made to grow removal.
ing crops the result is not only an i'm
mediate profit III their use, but increase
of fertility.
In the early history of farming in
this country mineral manures were lit
tie used On the newly cleared lands
there was for number Of years an ex-
cess of potash, which made application
of this mineral unnecessary. By and by
came an era of poor crops and the ne
cessity Of resorting to clover and miner
al fertilizers. These should go together.
Each supplements the other, according
to American Cultivator, authority for
the following: 1t is a mistake to sup
pose that mineral fertilizers act only as
stimulants They will indeed enable
poor soil to grow grain crops for a few
years, but it Is by furnishing the kind
and amount of mineral plant food that
the grain crop needs. The plant can
only be made to grow rapidly by being
fed with nutrition in its most available
form. The fertility in the soil unused is
so much dead capital. The amount of
unproductive capital locked up in fer
tility that is not available is enormous
ON every farm.
To u considerable extent this cannot
be avoided. Stable manures must decom-
pose before their fertility can be used.
Most of the commercial fertilizers are
quick acting. Their value is largely for
the first crop. When these commercial
fertilizers are applied with stable ma
nure, they hasten the action of that
also 1t is also fact that the stable
manure makes the commercial fertilizer,
especially if mineral. more permanent.
One class of mineral fertilizer is moro
effective than any other, especially
where quick growth is desired. This is
nitrate of soda, which is now very
largely used by market gardeners for
starting cary crops. Combined with
stable manure it hastens its decomposi-
ton, SO that more Of its value can be
utilized the same season. 1t is too ex-
pensive a manure to be used on ordinary
farm crops except i'll small amounts to
give crops an early start. We think it
can also be used with advantage when
ever clover seed is sown with grain. 1t
is true the clover itself will secure nj
trogen from the air i'll the soil through
its roots. But this does not occur until
the plant has made IA considerable
growth. The clover needs the nitrate at
first to give it start, so that it can sooner
begin its work of decomposing air in
the soil. All farmers know the great
advantage of top dressing of stable
manure in giving clover vigorous start.
1t is reasonable to suppose that nitrates
applied early i'll the spring, so as to be
Immediately effective, will be no less
beneficial