The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-10-20
THOUGHTS FOR THE FARMERS
TO FEED UPON.

Correspondence Of The Progressive Farmer.
We often see farmers trying to grow
crops OF corn, wheat grass, potatoes
and fruit without manuring their land.
and 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 not 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 fer
tilizery necessary to bring profitable
returns. But the average farmer,
while he may not work too much,
thinks too little. He also cultivates
to0 much land, or pretends to cultivate
it. Under the most favorable circum.
stances, the products of the farm bring
very small net returns If a good
farmer comes out at the end of the
year with little for his sweat and
thought, where must the mere plod-
ding swain find himself3 The question
| ought to arise in the mind of every
| thoughtful tiller of the soil: Am do
ing my best with my brains as we'll as
with my hands9
Where are, indeed, many farmers,
fruit growers and gardeners, who think
they are living up to their privileges,
that they are making out of their land
all that anyone could make, but who
are woefully self deceived. Let us see.
All will agree that it is the big crop
that pays. Of course drouth may cut
it short, floods destroy, insects devour,
prices rule low, and the commission
men some times steal good share of
what is left, but he who plants only
what he can thoroughly manure and
cultivate, and follows up the woIk K
with good judgment and vigor unto
the end, will not often be disappointed
by the result.
What are the mRnures that he must
apply3 That depends upon the kind
of crop. If it is forage, then a luxuri-
ant, 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 sup
ply in the air. All that ia obtained in
this way and stored in the roots Of
these plante, ready to stimulate other
crops, is clear gain. II the crop is to
be grain, tubers, roots or fruit, there
must be plenty Of potash and phos
phoTic acid. Potash gives vigor and
healthfuI, permanent growth to every
thing. 1t is a most active agent in the
assimilation of plant food. There are
vast stores of it in the soil, but they
become so depleted by continued crC p
ping that we must replenish them.
There is little danger of getting on too
much. Muriate of potash, kainit and
otherpotashsalts are common sources OF
supply. Phospboric acid performs an
important part in the development oi
every twig, leaf and cell, and is mostly
needed in the richer and more highly
organized parts, as in grains and seeds
of all kinds. In dissolved bone and
phosphate rock it may be had most
cheaply.
There are other things that vegeta,
tion needs, such as silico Cor glass; to
stiffen the stalks of grains, grasses and
other rapid growing plants; oxide OF
iron to give colors of every imaginable
hue to leaf, flower and fruit, but the
three upon which all others are de
pendent 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 bountiful 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 will make the crops
and the cropper laugh in the sunshine
of prosperity. H. E. VAN DEMAN
ARTICHOKES