Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-09-25
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MINERAL MANURES.
H ~ TO Apply Tor Best Results Effective
Nitrate of Soda.

H ~ to Apply Tor Best Results-Effect
Nitrate of Soda.
There is a diversity of opinion as to
the profit in using commercial fertili-
GERS, most of which are mineral This
difference in opinion as to value being
based on experience shows that 1T is
mainly question of now mineral ma
nuros are used. Those who apply min
eral manures to grow grain crops, with
out seeding either to clover or grass,
find that while the grain crop may tenn
porarily be profitable it leads to such
deterioration Of soil fertility that the
land becomes too poor for any profitable
use. But when these mineral fertilizers
are applied i'll connection with stable
manures and a1c made to grow renovat-
ing crops the result is not only an i'm
mediate profit in their use, but increase
of fertility
In the early history of farming in
this country mineral manuros 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 rcsorting 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 III fer
tility that is not available is enormous
on every farm.
To a considerable extent this cannot
be avoided. Stable mauurcs must decom-
pose before their fertility can be used.
Most Of the commercial fertilizers are
quick acting. Their value is largely fo~
the first crop. When these commercial
fertilizers are applied with stable ma
nure, they hasten the action of that
also. 1t is also a fact that the stable
manure makes the commercial fertilizer,
especially if mineral, more permanent.
One class of mineral fertilizer is more
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 carly crops Combined with
stable manure it hastens its dccompOsi-
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 in 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 in the soil through
its roots. But this does not occur until
the plant has made a considerable
growth. The clover nCcGs the nitrate at
first to give it start, so that it can sooner
begin its work of docomposing air in
the soil All farmers know the great
advantage of IL top dressing of stable
manure i'll giving clover vigorous start.
1t is reasonable to suppose that uitrates
applied early i'll the spring, 50 as to be
Immediately effective, will be 10 less
beneficial