The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-08
PROF. Iksx's WEEKLY LETTER.
WHAT FERTILIZER SHOULD THE FARMER

WHAT FERTILIZER SHOULD THE FARHER
UsRl
This is the same old perplexing ques-
tiou that has come up year after year,
and at the end Of each year many
farmers at least wish they had tried
something else. The days of prascrip.
tions in fertilizers are about over with,
and now we are settling down TO
common seI SO way of looking at the
matter. That is, We know that so
many elements are needed by the
plant. and if the air furnishes certain
number, OF course we need not add
them, and if the soil is abundantly sup
piled with them, then there is no use
APPLYING those, so We find what Is lack
ing, or most needed by experiment,
and either apply these directly, or in
directly. For instance, we can make
the air give up part Of it's nitrogen
indirectly by growing q leguminous
crop as q renovator. This crop not only
returns good profit in the direct yield,
but it pays handsomely indirectly, by
storing up nitrogenous plant food IN
the soil for future use. So here We
have an economical means Of furnish
ing our nitrogen and we are then com
pelled 60 buy but two of the : rec essen
tial elements to be added to che soil In
a fertilizer. That is, phosphorus and
potash. Now is 90 happens that here
in the South we have ga abundance of
phosphate rock in South Carolina and
Florida, and that narroWs US down TO
ipooo-ti7s bsIt one element, which ie
sotash. Tdis can be bought cheapest
in the form of kAinit. When say
cheapest, l mean it in the fullest senBe,
so the actual figures are low, and | say
cheapest b cause in my experience it
does most good for she money invested.
On our Southern farms, especially on
the light sandy soils of the coast region,
the system Of fertihBng Is almost In
dspensable. and in fact might cay
that all the most progressive farmers
are crest advocates for the use Of com
merc!al fertilizers. In some parts Of
our country very little il any CONNER
eiAl fertilizers are used, ss the people
depend on stock raising and removals
ing crops to bring up their lands. There
ia no OBI .ction to this system except
that i5 takes too much time to bring
the lands up to high state of cultiva
ton. In that respecs We are blessed in
she SouGh, as we can use some quick
acting terGll.zsr and grow our money
crops in the spri-sg and summer and
SOW some renovating crop in the fall
like crimson clover, and the land is
practically resting, as far as the sx
Rsusuve crop grown is concerned, and
the crimson clover stores up plant food
through the winter, in the roots ana
stuo6e for the succeeding crop, fur
nlShlng grszng or hay for the stock,
and prevents leaching through the
winter, Co say nothing OF leaving the
soil IN q nice, porous condition. In
fact the lano is in perfect mechanical
condition attera crop of crimson clover.
On the other hand, We can apply fer
uzsr to crop Of oats, wheat, or rye
planted IN fall or winter, and then
harvest them IN plenty Of time to plant
another renoVsEing crop, such as field
peas, and their crop will benefit the
land IN the same way that the crimson
HoVer does, except that it does more, a.
0sns It's 1t by shading the soil throuRh
sae not months, and comes OF in plenty
" 'lAe to allow the planting of another
:I0p IN the late summer or fall. For
E-1'~nee, crop of oats can be BoWGd
tL ''S IN January, harvested i'm Nay,
-S lAna soWed TO peas thesamO mOath,
lu pea vines cut In August or Sep
'0'lOor' making from two 70 three tons
- LAY a0ou5 equal in quality TO clover,
.Is Iano csn be soWed TO some fall crop
better condition than il was in the
Ou'h OF May previous, or even JGnu
> when oats were soWed.
NOW the point wish TO make iS
.llnply this: Here in the South we can
'AAe poor lands and grow our money
S.oPS ct Profs by using plenty of
commercial fertilizers and then restore
SS8anlc matter or humus in the soil by
-0Se renoVatlng crops, and at the same
"ule Improve the general condition Of
eur lands.
Lac phoSphoric acid hastens the de-