The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-25

food in the soil or that which has been ar
tificially supplied, the soil should be
brought 10 the most perfect physical con-
dition. If the latter be too compact, it
becomes impervions to both air and water,
and thus deprives the plant of at least a
large part of the available plant food. Ac-
cordingly, If the soil itself be in a clodded
or lumpy condition, the plant rootlets are
retarded in their growth and reduction
in the yield viii be the inevitable conse-
quence. Proper draining and a thorough
working of the soil will go far towards
putting it in good shape. An occasional
dose of lime will also greatly improve the
mechanical condition of the soil. If the
latter should be too heavy, the lime will
tighten 1t; if it be too light, the lime will
make 1t more compact or sweeten it If 1t
be sour.
Experience has shown that 1t is poor pol
Icy to grow the same crop on the same soil
year after year, and every farmer should
therefore select a rotation suitable to his
particular soil. AS a general rule. how
ever, the farmer will find 1t to his advan-
tage to include some leguminous crop like
clover or peas in his rotation, which have
the faculty of absorbing the nitrogen from
the air and thus adding to the soils nat
ural supply of plant food.
Unbalanced fertilizers: The plant must
be fed and 1t must be fed properly. If Civ
en- too much of one kind of food and not
enough of another, natures balance is dis
turbed, and an unhealthy plant results.
The three plant food ingredients which are
the first to become exhausted in the soil
and which must be supplied in the form
of fertilizers, are nitrogen, potash and
phosphoric acid. When applied in the cor
rect proportions, and in a proper MAN.
ner, they will nourish any plant and cause
an increased yield. If the nitrogen is sup
piled through clover or peas the expense
Of this costly ingredient of plant food can
be saved and it remains only for the far
mer to set about putting in the necessary
quantities of potash and phosphates;
these he can determine by a little practi-
cal experimenting. BY putting different
quantities on different parts of the field
he can soon ascertain what would be the
limit of profitable applications.
Time for application: Often the entire
success of crop is dependent upon the
time of applying the fertilizer. Fertilizers
when applied to the soil, must first pass
into a liquid condition, before they can
be absorbed by the growing crop; if,
therefore, fertilizers are put on just at
planting time, and a season of dry wealth
er follows, they are prevented from pass
ing so readily into a liquid state, and the
plant is thus deprived of that nourishment
at the time when it is so essential to give
it a good start. On the other hand, if the
planting time. they have a better oppor-
tunity to disseminate through the soil, and
are ready for the plants when the plants
are ready for them.
Method of applica ton: This will depend
to some extent upon the crop to be grown,
and the previous treatment of the soil.
1t is intended to sow clover, following
on with some sale crop. the economical
plan would be to put all the potash and
phosphate on the clover, and depend on
the latter to furnish the nitrogen; then the
whole mass could be turned under the fol-
lowing spring. Such an arrangement
would insure good supply of plant food
and organic matter for the succeeding
crop. If, however, it is intended to ferti-
lie some sale crop direct, it would be best
to put on the mineral fertilizer referred
to some time before planting time and
harrow them into the soil. These ferti-
lizers will not leach out of the soil, but
will remain there for the use of the crop.
The nitrates, on the other hand, are solu-
BILE materials, and unless taken up by the
plants at once they are apt to leach out
of the soil and be lost. 1t pays best,
therefore,. to put ON the nitrogen as a top
dressing at planting time In the case of
small grain, 1t is well to apply the nitro
gen in broken doses at successive periods
OF plant growth. M. j. Shelton.