The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-12-12
FARMER AND PLANTER.
A FEW THOUGHTS
Fer tho Farmers of the South TO Runi-
nate Over.

Fer the Farmers of the South TO Rusni-
nate Over.
We often see farmers trying to grow
crops of corn, wheat, grass, potatoes
and fruit without manuring their lane;
kad a poor job they make of it. The
net returns often fall below the cost of
the labor. Some laugh at them, and
some pity them. Perhaps they deserve
both. Certainly, anyone is to be pitied
for aot having more sense than to try
to make something out of nothing and,
If he has had no chance to supply his
crops with proper stimulants, the pity
should be very sincere. There are many
cases where renters and persons in
Strengthened circumstances are not
able to make the small outlay for
fertilizers necessary to bring profit
able returns. But the average
farmer, while he may not work
too much. thinks too little. He
also cultivates too much land, or
pretends to cultivate it. Under the
most favorable circumstances, the
products of the farm bring very small
net returns. If a good farmer comes
rout at the end of the year with little
for his sweat and thought, where must
the mere Flooding swain find himself?
The question ought to arise in the
mind Of every thoughtful tiller Of the
soil: Am / doing my best with my
brains as well as with my hands?
There are, indeed, many farmers,
fruit growers and gardeners who
think they are living up to their priv
ileges, that they are making out of
their land all that anyone could make,
but who are woefully self-deeeived?
Let us see. All will agree that it is
the big crop that pays Of course,
drought may cut it short, floods de-
stroy, insects devour, prices rule low,
and the commission men sometimes
steal a good share of what is left, but
he who plants only what he can thor
: oughly manure and cultivate, and fol-
lows mp the work with good Judgment
and vigor until the end, will not often
be disappointed by the result.
What are the manures that he must
npply? That depends upon the kind
of crop. II it is forage, then luxu-
RANT, leafy growth is desired, and this
calls for nitrogen in abundance. This
can be had in rich stable manure, ami
NAL refuse, fish scrap and the mineral
nitrates. The clovers and the cow
pea gather it from the inexhaustible
supply in the air. All that is obtained
In this way, and stored in the roots of
these plants, ready to stimulate other
crops, is clear gain. If the crop is to
be grain, tubers, roots or fruit, there
must be plenty of potash and phos-
phoric acid. Potash gives vigor and
healthful, permanent growth to every
thing. II is most active agent in the
assimilation of plant food. There
are vast stores of itin the sol, but they
become SO depleted by continued
cropping that we must replenish
them. There is little danger of get
ting on too much. Muriate of potash,
kainit and other potash salts are
5 common sources of supply. Phos-
phoric acid performs an important
part in the development of every twig,
. leaf and cell, and is mostly needed IN
the richer and more highly organized
parts, as IL grains and seeds of all
kinds. In dissolved bone and phos-
plate rock it may be had most cheaply.
There are other things that vegeta-
ton needs, such as silica, or glass, to
stiffen the stalks of grains, grasses
and other rapidgrowing plants; oxide
OF iron to give colors of every imag-
Unable hue to leaf, flower and fruit,
but the three upon which all others
are dependent are potash. phosphoric
acid and nitrogen. No tree. vine or
plant can exist without all of them.
The more abundant they are in the
soil the more beautiful the crops.
Make all that is possible in the way of
barnyard manures, set the nitrogen
traps in the fields, and do not be afraid
to invest literally, but discreetly,
when needed, in the trio which make
the crops and the croppcr laugh in the
sunshine of prosperity. Texas
Farm and Ranch.