The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-12-20
No. As

/ TO attach any value to the results OBJ
Gainad, he should see that everything
IL done with care and accuracy and on
uniform basis, so that correct COM
PARSONS can be made. Again, it may
be that unfa voFabIe conditions, such
as weather, insect depredatione, etc.,
may vitiate the results during the f1rsG
sea ason, to such an ex sent as to render
it impossible to make accurate deduC.
tioDs Under such circumstances Is
would be advisable to continue the
trials over q second and even third
season, so as to be perfectly sure that
the results are conclusive. This, OF
course, means time and trouble, and
involves a little expense, but on the
other hand. when a farmer has once
found just what his soil needs he will
be more than compensated for the time
and labor expended.
In choosing the location for the ex.
pertinent, the farmer should select that
portion Of his farm which is as uni.
form as pcssible, and one which msy
be regarded as a typical soil for the
locality. The size Of tn experimental
plots must depend somewhat on local
conditions, and the kind of crop to be-
grown. A very Convenient siz9 is one.
tenth of an acre. A strip 938 feet long
by 463 feet wide would represent just
one-Uenth of an acre in a conveDieut
al a ~ hn mi
certain number of rows to represent q
plot, but in such case it is we'll to leave
an unfertili8ad row between each plot,
go that the fertilizers from one plot
will not be used by the plants on the
adjoining one The yields from the
rows between the plots, of courses
must be kept separate and not counted
in with the others.
Having selected the field and pre-
pared the land, the next thing is to de-
eide on the number of plots and the
applications of fertilizers. The plan
can be made very simple or very com
plex. just as the farmer chooses. The
following has been found to be q vely
satisfactory plan and will give the
farmer a pretty good insight into the
needs of his soil:
Plot 1. unferti ICED.
Plot receives 60 pounds acid phos
phate, IL pounds muriate Of potash.
Plot 8 receives 10 pounds muriaSe
Of potash. 30 pounds nitrate Of soda.
Plot 4 receives 90 pounds acid phos
phate, 20 pounds nitrate of soda.
Plot 8 receives 90 pounds acid phos.
phate, - pounds muriate of potash, 20
pounds nitrate of soda
Plot 8 receives 60 pounds acid phos-
phate, 12 pounos muriate of potash, %
pounds nitrate of soda, 200 pounds Of
lime.
Each plot, as suggested, to be one
tenth of an acre in size.
1t is to be noticed, that in plot 2 there
is no nitrogen; in plot 3 there is no
phosphosic acid, and in plot there is
no potash. The results from these
plots, therefore, will show whether
any one of these ingredients is M Sung
from the soil, while plot will show
the effect Of a complete fertilizer. In
plot 8 lime has been added, because
come soils are in such physical Condi.
ton az to need an application Of this
ingredient.
The above plan doee not include any
plots on which only one ingredient of
plant food ia to be applied. If, how.
ever, the farmer wishes to experiment
with but one he can add more DlotG
. and put acid phosphate on one, muri,
ate Of p0tash on the other, and nitrate
( of soda on the other. Il might be well
4 TO say, however, thaE few soils lack but
one element Of plant food, and even il
there should be a continued Rpplica
ton of this one ingredient, it would
soon cause the soil to become exhausted
OF the two other and in time the crops
would fall of accoE dinghy.
After all the plots are ready, fertili
. 8ers should be applied in exactly the
, same way in e8ch case. 1t has been
, found that poor results are tr, QuentIy
obtained because fertilizers are app,i d
too near planting time, thereby hurt
ing the seed or tender plaots; to avoid
. this. it is advisable TO use the mineral
fertil8srs, that ls, phosphoric acid and
, potasp, sometime before sowing in
order that they may mix thoroughly
, with the soil. The nj rogeo, on the
other hand, in the shape of nitrate of
soda, will give better results if used as
a top-dressing at planting time. This
material is very soluble, and unless
taken up by the plant shortly after ap-
plying, it is apt to be washed away and