The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-07-23

Inc Pnlladelphla hec0Fd, one or the
most reliable journals in the country,
recently published the article which
we reproduce below, giving it an I'M
poitant place in their columns. Our
agricultural readers can peruse the
same and take as much benefit out of
of it as possible:
The cost of a fertilizer may be much
more more than the value of the crop,
and that is one of the principal reasons
many farmers refuse to use the artifi-
cial plant foods. 1t is no theory on
their part, nor are they disposed 10 re-
ject fertilizers, but they know, from ex-
perience, that when they expend GER
tain sum for fertilizers and the crop
does not fulfill expectations, they have
sustained loss, and as long as this
fact is demonstrated to them by practi-
cal experience, all the reasoning and
argument that can be used will not
convince them of the contrary. Now,
the substance that entails the greatest
cost on the farmer is nitrogen, and in
recent article by Mr.. Samuel Pea
cock, who has given the subject close
attention, he ADVISES farmers to use fer
tilizers to grow their own nitrogen. He
reasons the problem to solution by
stating that as the cost of nitrogen as a
fertilizer is II cents per pound, while
phosphoric acid and potash cost only
Scents per pound, the farmer can use
the cheaper substances to grow clover,
peas and other legumes. which derive
their nitrogen from the air for the use
OF the farmer, the nitrogen remaining
in the soil through the agency of the
large mass of roots turned under, and
by the legumes being fed ON the farm.
THE COST OF FOUR CROPS.
A ten-acre field intended for four
years rotation, on which 300 bushels of
wheat and 200 pounds of straw are to
be grown the first year, will remove
from the soil plant food to the value of
Sll0.70 for the 10 acres. OF this large
sum $3.50 must be credited to nitro
gen, and it would take about Is BUSH
els of wheat to pay for that removed
from each acre. Should clover follow
the wheat there will be removed from
the soil $25290, of which SITS will he
for nitrogen. The third year, with
timothy as a crop, the removal value
l.OU
and with corn as the fourth crop the
loss is $lSO.5O, the nitrogen costing
Sll3.9O. The clover, however, will re-
store its nitrogen, the cost of which
may not be charged to the soil. For
this four years rotation the total cost
of the fertilizer is $77l.90, an average
close to $50 per acre each year, the sum
being the actual value of the plant
food removed from the soil by the crops
and which.must be again returned to
the land or the soil will be poorer to
that extent, and, of course, the value
of the farm is lessened at the same
time and will not sell at as high
price as before, for it is a well-known
fact that the riches of farm are stored
in its soil.
SAVING THE COST.
If the farmer declines to pay II cents
per pound for the nitrogen and resorts
To the production of nitrogen ON the
farm by using potash and phosphorc
acid, he will at the same tine reduce
the cost for fertilizer for the four years
to less than one half the total sum
named. Crops usually require equal
quantities of nitrogen and potash and
from one-halft to three-quarters of phos-
phoric acid. Omitting nitrogen. the
cost for the four years is $3.50. so, or
$6.25 per acre, with the land giving
good crops every year. 1t is advisable
to always use potash with phosphoric
acid, and phosphoric acid with potash.
or loss will result. 1t is well for farm.
ers to purchase nitrogen when it is re-
quired, hut the heavy cost of nitrogen
Gus fertilizers has Lad great effect in
creating prejudice against all kinds of
fertilizers, as the crops derived do no:
authorize the expenditure; hut in grow
ing the nitrogen on the farm, by Great
my the agencies for its production, the
farmer can meet the cost with a salts
factory profit. In resortlng to clover
and n'her legumes the soil will be rem
der poorer in mineral matter unless
potash and phosphoric acid be applied,
and his is an inii ortant point which
sbOul also I've considered.