Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-07-30
~ @arifultural
Growing the Nitrogen.

The cost Of a fertilizer may be much
more than the value Of the crop, and
that is one Of the principal reasons many
farmers refuse TO use the artificial plant
foods. 1t is no theory on their part,
nor are they disposed TO reject fertilizers,
but they know, from experience, that
when they expend certain sum for fer
tilizers and the crop does not fulfill ex-
pectations, they have sustained loss,
and as long as this fact is demonstrated
to them BY practical experience all the
reasoning and argument that can be
used will not convince them Of the con-
trary. Nov. the substance that entails
the greatest oost on the farmer is nitro
gen, and in 3 recent article by Mr..
Samuel Peacock, who has given the
subject close attention, be advises farm
ers to use fertilizers to grow their own
nitrogen. He reasons the problem TO q
solution BY stating that as the cost Of
nitrogen as q fertilizer is II cents per
pound. while phosphoric acid and potash
cost only 8 cents per pound, the farmer
can use the cheaper substances to grow
clover, peas and other legumeA which
derive their nitrogen from the air for
the use Of the farmer, the nitrogen re-
naming in the soil through the agency
Of the large mass of roots turned under,
and BY the legumes being fed on the
farm.
A ten-acre field intended for four
years rotation, on which 80 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
Sl10.70 for the 10 acres. OF this large
sum 1850 must be credited TO nitro
gen, and would take about Is bushels
wheat to pay for that removed from each
acre. Should clover follow the wheat
there will be removed from the soil
1882. 80, of which SITS will be for nj
trogen. The third year. with timothy
a. a crop. the removal value is $225,
the nitrogen costing Sl51 30, and with
corn as the fourth crop the loss is
S1s0.50. the nitrogen costing $l13 80.
The clover, however, will restore 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
S77l 90, an average close 70 $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 10 lessened
at the same time and will not sell at as
high q price as before, for it is we'll
known fact that the riches Of farm is
stored in its soil.
II the farmer declines TO pay IL cents
per pound for nitrogen and resorts 10
the production of nitrogen on the farm
BY using potash and phosphoric acid. be
will at the same time 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
half to three-qusrters Of phosphoric acid
Omitting nitrogen, the cost for the four
years is $3.50 80. or 1925 per acre,
with the land giving good crops every
year. It is advisable to always use
potash with phosphoric acid, aud pbos
phoric acid with potash, or loss will
result. Ii is we'll for farmers TO pur-
chase nitrogen when it is required, but
the heavy cost Of nitrogenous fertilizers
has had great effect 10 creating preju-
dice against all kinds Of fertilizers, as
the crops derived do not authorize the
expenditure; but in growing the nitro
gen on the farm, the farmer eau meet
the cost with satisfactory profit. 10
resorting to clover legumes the soil will
be rendered poorer in mineral matter
unless potash and pbosphoric acid be
applied. and that is an important point
which sb ould also be considered.