The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-03
COMMERCIAL Fertilizer.

A bulletin of the agricultural DEPART
ment says: AS a rule, commercial ferti-
lizers are used for the purpose of increas-
ing the single seasons crop to which they
are applied. Most farmers plan to give to
each succeeding crop by itself the plant
food it needs and to avoid supplying any
one crop with more material than il can
use TO best advantage. This is especially
true of those who do not own the
farms which they work and who
plan each years work by itself without
reference to the future. Under such cir
cumstances a farmer desires to use those
forms of fertilizing materials which will
be taken up most quickly and completely
by the crops. On the other hand the
farmer who owns his land frequently de-
sires to use materials the plant food of
which will be utilized gradually by crops,
and which will last through several sea-
sons. 1t will thus be seen that II one
and be largely used up by the present
crop, then he will need to purchase his
plant food in forms different from those
purchased by the man who desires more
lasting benefits extending through sew
cral seasons.
Nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda
acts most quickly upon plants. Under IA
vorable conditions its influence upon the
plant may be seen within twenty-four
hours after it's application. In the form
of sulphate of ammonia nitrogen acts
less rapidly Inan IN LnaI or nitrate OF
soda, but more quickly than in such forms
as dried blood, meat scrap, etc. Nitrogen
in the form of bone dust. ground fish and
bonemeal becomes available still less rap
idly than in the form of dried blood. In
the forms Of wool waste grouped leather
and similar materials, nitrogen becomes
available with extreme slowness.
Potash in the form OF carbonate. as in
ashes, acts more rapidly than in the form
of sulphate or muriate. Muriate acts with
a little greater rapidity than sulphate, but
the difference in availability between the
different forms of potash is not nearly as
strongly marked as in case of the differ
ent forms of nitrogen.
Phosphoric acid in the form of soluble
phosphate of lime (acid phosphates, SUI
perphosphates) acts most rapidly. 1t acts
less rapidly in the form Of reverted or pre-
cipitated phosphate of lime, and least
rapidly in the insoluble form, such as
ground rock. According to the weight of
evidence, soluble phosphoric acid, wheth-
er made from bones, boneblack or rock
has the same effect and value as plant
food, so far as the soluble phosphoric acid
is concerned.
1t is an important fact that plants show
preferences for different forms of food
This preference is indicated by greater
yield or better quality of product or both
Thus wheat seems to give better results
when nitrogen is applied in the form of
nitrate Of soda than in any other form
Spinach has been found to do better with
sulphate Of ammonia than nitrate of soda
while the reverse is true of asparagus. The
quality Of tobacco is injured by potash in
the form OF muriate, and hence only sui
phate should be used for fertilizing pur-
poses The quality Of sugar beets and of
potatoes appears to be better when sul-
phate of potash is used while peach trees
are said to prefer the muriate.