The Somerset reporter., 1896-01-23
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FlELRaNp GRRpEN
ECONOMY WITH FERTILIZERS.

Statements of an Eminent Authority on
Question of widespread Interest.
The low prices of farm products have
nude it necessary TO use the utmost
economy in all farm operations, but
economy III the wrong place is often
waste of money. In this connection
American Cultivator calls attention to
an article by Professor Maercker, direct
or of the experiment station at Halle,
Germany.
Professor Maercker takes in order the
four elements Of plant food-viz, potash,
phosphoric acid, nitrogen and lime. He
inquiries whether 1t is possible TO save
by using less quantities of any of these
ingredients than the farmer has done
heretofore.
With regard to lime Professor Maerck
err says this material should by no
means be discontinued or limited. Where
lime is necessary it should be used. He
recommends only a slight change of the
system Of applying lime. He recon-
mends to use smaller doses Of lime and
frequent applications rather than large
applications intended to last for several
years. 1T would be highly detrimental
to profitable agriculture, he says,
"even at the present time of low mar
ket prices to reduce the ordinary apph-
cations of lime and mari where they are
needed.
Professor Maercker arrives at SINH
lar conclusion with regard to nitrogen.
He reviews the subject very thoroughly
and shows on the whole that too little
rather than too much of this costly ele-
ment is used. Therefore not to use nitro
gen where it is needed means to cut
short the crop and is false economy.
Professor Maercker pays attention to the
importance Of green manuring, whereby
nitrogen is obtained from the air in or
binary rotation Of crops or by planting
legnmes to be plowed under. Of course
it is not possible to dispense altogether
with the artificial application of nitrog-
enous fertilizers, and i'll certain soils
judicious rotation and green manuring
are not always practicable, and hence an
artificial supply Of nitrogen must be
given.
With phosphoric acid an entirely diff
ferent state of affairs must be faced.
Professor Maercker presents figures and
facts concerning quantities of phosphor-
ic acid which are generally nsed by
farmers npon various crops. he Is posi-
tive that phosphOric acid is usually sup
piled in larger quantities than required
by plants. Therefore farmers can afford
toreduce the amount of phosphoric acid,
and where an oversupply of this ingre
dent has been given for some years its
use may be dispensed with for some
time. 1t is, moreover, wasteful to apply
phosphoric acid in larger quantities than
can be taken up by the crop which it is
intended to benefit and the ensuing
clover crop.
The use of potash i'll farming is dis
cussed and at length. By Investigations
which are confirmed i'll practice it has
been shown that on certain soil about
tWo-thirds of the total amount of potash
applied becomes directly available to
plants. Upon a sandy soil i'll common
rotation, consisting of rye, oats, potatoes
and clover, an average amount of about
G3 pounds of potash per acre is needed
annually, even including a certain
amount Of potash supplied by the Gus
tomary application of stable manure
This quantity, Professor Maercker says,
is absolutely necessary in order to keep
up the productive capacity of a sandy
soil If less potash be supplied, the yield
of crops will fall off. Moreover, the in
telligent use of potash salts has become
one of the most important factors i'll ag
riculture. 1t has been proved that by
the system of green manuring and pot
ash phosphate fertilization, even on the
poorest soils. most remarkable yields Of
farm crops can be obtained. But it is
only possible to reap the full benefit of
this system if enough potash be supplied
to the soil.