Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-30
APPLYING FERTILIZERS.

There are four prime factors on which
the most successful results of the appi-
cation of fertilizers must depend: The
character or composition of the material
to be used. The quantity to be applied,
that Is, the rate of application. The ma
turc of the soil to which the application
is TO he made. And, last, the crop to be
grown. The influence of each of these
factors. the bearing of each on the prac-
teal results of the use of the fertilizer,
will be separately considered.
First, the character Of the material to
be used. We must take it for granted
that the material Is n complete fertilizer
that Is, contains the three essentials of
plant nurtiment: Nitrogen, phosphorc
acid and potash present in some form and
proportion. In the event OF either of
these materials is absent, the particulars
of its application do not apply, and may
be omitted from the practice recommend
ed
The most important consideration in this
connection is the fact that crop utilize
| food only in the form of solution. Any
thing, therefore, influencing the solubili-
~ of the material or the degree with
which it passes into or remains in solu-
ton, is of vital Importance in controlling
the use of the fertilizer. Nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash are each effected
differently by the factors controlling solu-
| ton.
Nitrogen in the form of mineral salts,
nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia,
/ Is perfectly soluable and therefore If APP
! piled to the soil in quantities in excess of
the immediate demands of the crop u
portion, becoming solvent In the soil
waters, passes into the drainage water
and escapes beyond the reach of the crop.
Other forms of nitrogen, like tankaEe.
dried blood and cotton-seed- meal are
comparatively free from this property,
hi, ~. a.
while the so-called combined nitrogen
like leather is nsoluble, so much as to be
practically valuelcss as plant food.
The more Immediately available the
more valuable is any fertiliZing material;
among nitrogen forms the nitrates stand
/ first in this respect. The practical precau-
ton in their use based on the facts stated
is the division OF the total nitrogen appli-
cations during the growing season, culti-
waiting or hoeing each application n~by
itself.
i Phosphoric acid exists in three different
forms, each with n different composition
and degree of solubflity. The soluble. re-
verified and the insouble forms. All are
derived from the same sources and their
value is in no way effected by origin
bone and rock being equally valuable il
in the same condition of solubilityf Either
form may be applied without fear of loss
by teaching. The reverted, or half-solu
BILE form, is the most economical form OF
application, inasmuch as 1t is less costly
than the soluble but Is equally available
to most crops
| Potash is least effected by conditions
effecting losses in fertility in the soil
Whatever the form of application, ashe,
or potash salts, potash Is acted on by sol
constituents to form stable compounds
comparatively insoluble in soil waters
though soluble and available TO the crop
| ig ipflnopCp1
of combination, oxide, sulphate and muri
ate being equally effected.
Soluble silicates of potash are the forms
chiefly assumed in the soil and this fac
has a most important bearing on the de
tails of application. The more sandy thu
soil, the greater the degree of this com
binaton, because the more silica Is avail
able. Thus the soil must subject to thu
loss of the potash applied; fact partl!
explaining the well recognized benefit!
of the use of ashes on sandy soils.
Second, the quantity of fertilizer to b.
applied bears directly on the method o
application to be followed.
, on general principles there is but on
best method of applying fertilizers or o
doing anything else, but conditions modi
fy the character of the best itself. Broad
cast surface application and thorough
mixing with the entire surface soil Is TIL
method to be insisted on and followe
expected, and the improving of the con
dition of the soil Is one of the ends aimee
at. Where, however, the mere feeding o
: the individual crop and the greatest i'm
, mediate return from the minimum ap
plication is the object, and small quaint
, ties must be depended on for results, loca
= or furrow application must be adopted
: For grains. potatoes and most other crop
drills or planting machines with fertilize
: attachments are the best dependence
3 Hand strewing in the furrow accomplisho
I the same end, though with greater labor
e In this event care must be exercised tina
Q the fertilizer Is mixed with the soil befor
e the seed in planted, lest termination b
4 prevented by contact with the corrosiv
Il fertilizer.
e This form of applying, by concentratin
o the entire action OF the pant-food near tn
young plants, gives the crop a start an
Y renders the fertilizer all accessible to tn