The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-04-09
FERTILIZER FOR CORN,
conclusions Which Have Been Derived
From Experiments and Experienos.

SoESIlON. = nave my corn land
Well and deeply broken, and have cot
tonseed meal, phosphate and potash to
use as fertilizer. In what proportions
would you advise me to mix these, and
Is IL absolutely necessary to mix before
applying? What is the best plan of
cultivation?
ANSWER. - Without some knowl-
edge OF the mechanical condition and
quality of your land, and its previous
cultivation, as well as the crops which
nave been grown on it, it is difficult
/ matter to advise you intelligently. We
can only give IL general way the con-
cluslons which have been derived from
experiment. and experience. AS rule,
Oh the majority of farming lands in
Georgia, we may apply the three ele-
ments OF nitrogen, phosphoric acid and
potash III about the proportions which
an analysis of the plant calls for, but
commercial fertilizers are not the best
form from which to obtain the highest
] results IN corn growing. In proportion,
as the land has been thoroughly cult
waited and highly manured for other
crops, the amount of nitrogen may be
reduced. The best preparation for a
corn crop is a highly MANFRED and well
cultivated cotton crop, and after stable
manure, the best form of nitrogen has
| been found to be cottonseed. In all the
reports of exceptionally heavy yields in
corn it is found that the land has been
very deeply broken and subsoiled, some
times to the depth of "a inches. This
| would seem to indicate that moisture,
perhaps, more than fertilizers, exercises
a controlling influence in the yield. The
following make good mixtures: Acid
phosphate. 800 pounds; kainit, 800
pounds; cottoaseed meal, 400 pounds;
or acid phosphate, 900 pounds; cotton
seed meal, 9O0pounds; muriate of potash,
90 pounds. These may be applied sepa-
rately, or mixed, before putting in the
planting furrow-except that the GUAM
tity of muriate of potash being small
its distribution might be more uniform
if mingled with the other ingredients
before applying. In either case open
the planting burrows with shovel, and
If the amount per acre is to be moder-
ate, drill it all into this opening furrow,
following with long, narrow scooter
to thoroughly mix it with the soil. Bed
on this, and before planting, run a
smoothing harrow up and down the
beds. Then open the planting furrow
in the middle of the bed and drop two
or three grains Of selected corn (good
kseed is very importantly every or 8 feet,
that is If the rows are more than feet
apart. If the land will bear it, make
your rows feet apart and drop the corn
the same distance. The first two work.
ings can be very profitably done with
the harrow, the first just as the plants
begin to peep from the ground, and the
second after they are well up. If the
harrow is directed diagonaily across the
second time in the opposite direction
from the first no injury to the plants
| will result, and the incipient weeds and
grass will be destroyed even before they
appear. This will also prevent the for
nation of a crust and save much un-
necessary hoeing. All after cultivation
should be exceedingly shallow, never
| more than 1 inch, using plows which
require the fewest trips to the row, re-
peating the work at least every two
weeks until the corn begins to bunch"
for tasselling. 1t should then be laid
by. The time to sow peas broadcast, as
renovating crop, is at the last plow-
ing.-State Agricultural Department.