The Opelousas courier., 1896-12-26
FERTILIZERS.

The greatest saving on the farm is
in the ability to buy fertilizers that
are best adapted to the soil. No two
farms are alike, and for that reason
no formula can be placed before
farmers that will prove satisfactory
to ali. AS the majority of farmers
know but little of chemistry, it is diff.
ficult to explain the action of chemi-
calls in the soils, and their relations to
the growth of plants. It has been
but a short period since the discovery
was made that the changes in the sell
were due to the work of billions Of
bacteria, and that they are of various
kinds, operating under certain con,
ditions which best conducted to thetr
efficiency as natural agents for con
| yert1ng the inert substance contained
in the soils into plant foods, and that
their work is best performed under
the influences of sunlight, air and
moisture, according to the work to be
p%erforl. ed and the kind of plant food
which thy natu' ally provide. Every
year the ts'"o~ are brought in con-
tact with w theories which upset
the old, al hicbfMey must consider.
knowledge viz OF ~lnealculable adj
vantage IN ena. -1g them to use fer
t~ilizers judici' 1sIy, and to secure the
best results . the lowest cost.
EXPERIMENT. show that fertilizers
Astounding in nitrogen promote the
growth of plants which have abundant
and large foliage, giving that intense
green tlnge SO noticeable in thrifty
and healthy plants, but nitrogen must
be reinforced by G proportionate sup
ply of potash in the soil. Fruits and
plants which produce seeds in album
dance require more phosphoric acid
than that Of potash. while root crops,
such as turnips,, potatoes, beets, cur
rots and parsnips are benefited by
potash, It is important, however, for
the farmer to know something OF his
soil, as it may contain an ample sup
ply of potash or p%hosphoric acid, and
in such cases he will require more nj
trosen than mineral matter, All soils
which are fertile contain substances
which the farmer need not procure,
and he can effect o saving by using
only such as his soil may require. No
nitrogen is needed il the land has
been in clover, but the soil will be
benefited by applications Of phospho-
rio acid and potash.
The fall is tie season when lime can
be most protitably used, and in pro-
portion to its cost it gives better re.
suits on most farms than any other
substance. 1t should always be used
where o Gro or sod is turned under,
as it not only contains within itself an
important substance utilized by
plants, but assists in efecbing certain
chemical changes in the soil by which
plant food is liberated from the hard
substances whiI otherwise could not
be rendered soiHAle. Lime has a ten.
dency to go dowlgards, and hence it
is only necessary to~Sroaacast it on
the surface of the soil. 1t has been
acknowledged by scientists and expert
mentors that where lime has been used
ana assisted by anu and fertilizers
the soil has given satisfactory results
with all kinds Of crops, due probably
to an alkaline condition OF the soil be.
ing more favoraple to the work OF the
bacteria in changing the substances
existing in the soil into plant food.
In applying fertilizers in the fall, how
ever, the phosphates and potash salts
should be used, reserving the nitro
genous compounds for application in
the spring.-Farmers' Friend.