The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-02-07

lCOOO ACCc
The amount used in 1895 has not
vet been computed but it was con-
siderably in excess Of the amount
used in any previous year.
Fertilizers were first used in Indi-
ana in the counties along the Ohio
river about 1873. Their use has
GRADUALLY extended northward, es-
Ipecially along the eastern border OF
1.-The state. Probably 80 per cent. OF
1.-THE fertilizers applied in the state
|are used south Of the line drawn
Iron Ft. Wayne to Terre Hate.
The land on which fertilizers are
most extensively and profitably
-lused are clay lane and most OF the
.Ifertilizer is used on the wheat crop.
For the most profitable returns dif-
,r ferent kinds OF fertilizers are re-
tolouired for diff erent soils. All the
,yItertilizers on our market have the
ch general composition that would nat
urally be used for clay soil. They
IT. contain far more phosphoric acid
vs than nitrogen orpotash. Clay soils
l are almost always deficient in phOs-
phoric acid. In 1894 fol every 100
bounds Of phosphoric acid in our
al -iertilizers there were only about IA
not pounds Of nitrogen and 8 pounds OF
~. postash. In crops, nitrogen is the
All most abundant, potash next, and
"a phosphoric acid least.
The annual exf enditure for fer
,rv ltilizers in Indiana is about 81 ,25O,
and 1000.
,ore The total amount Of plant foo'
ere sold in fertilizers in 1894 was phos
ling phoris acid $3.50 tons, nitrogen "
'uid tons. potash 407 tons. Thes
i OF amounts are Insignificant as com
8 sn pared with the quantity Ct these ex
IN .ne pensive plant foods that are annual
,ns iy exported from the state in graz
list alone.
,der The annual loss Of plant foo
re- from our soils is still greater frol
elm the failure to utilize for manuri
ther purposes great part Of the col
ina fodder, wheat and oat straw pr
or duced in the state. The amour
os, you of plant food drawn each year fro
wi, VIII the soil by these three side produc
represents value Of about $2s
coo 600. The results Of this hea'
drain on our soils are yearly b
!. coming more evident.
Tor d Commercial fertilizers have q
oney pitimate Part to play in helping
Is in keep up the productiveness OF {
'uble soil; but it would be unwise to d
pend on them alone when we ha
must such valuable side products al han
olu.e The rational course to pursue is
spe' utilize all material, including I
clover grown on the farm, and tn
every w If it can be profitably done to 81
.a,,. Iplement these with commercial I
"big |tilizers.
would There is wide range in the CO
,ntain pos;tion of the $50 different braI
ia. OF of fertilizers on our market, and
'emes. question often arises as to VIII
aimed kind can be most profitably US
II the The farmer must in many ca
answer this question by trial.
ty ior But it would be unwise to at o
WI. VIII give up the use Of line OF good
I !. !, a class that had proven satisfacte
III ,or TO make trial Of a different typ
goods. A trial on . small -
o.,,,on will involAe less risk. Yet
ting Of should not rest with simply a pr
X with able result. The real aim is to
tools the method OF combining the
mural material of the farm
such purchased fertilizers as
give the greatest net profit col
t num- tent with maintaining the pro
imct A. tiveness of the soil.
We. has II. A. HUsT0s,