Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-01-21
Agricultural.
World Of Agriculture.


Instructions given from the expert
meHs stations are Of valuable assistance
to those who use fertilizers, but. unfor-
tunately, every farmer must take into
consideration the wants of bis particular
farm, the kind of soil, the previous
crops, the drainage and other conditions
before be can apply any rules in the
matter of using fertilizers, The main
point is how can farmer use fertilizers
to the best advantage and at the least
cost, and he must, to a certain extent
determine it for himself, for the reasons
given; but there are some matters con-
nected with the purchase of fertilizers
which apply to all. No farmer should
buy something that he does not need
for giving immediate results, that is, do
not buy any kind of fertilizer that the
soil does not require, and do not pur-
chase any kind that is not easily con-
verted into plant food for the next crop
1t is true that many farmers are unable
to determine for themselves what kinds
to buy, they can at least save some :
thing on the most costly Of all-nitro-
gen. Then it may be asked: How is
the farmer to know when he has the
nitrogen u? He can only compare and
reason from his experience, as there is
no possible way to assist him, the con-
dition Of the land depending on its
treatment for generation
NITROGEN AND MINERAL ELEMENTS.
If farm is made to produce clover,
or la-ge number of animals are kept,
the sur Mise may be that the land is
fairly we'll supplied with nitrogen, espe-
cially if large share of the food pur-
chased for the cattle consisted of lin
seed or cottonseed meal, bran and mid
dlings, and which were used, but even
then something depends on the kind of
crops grown and sold off the farm. II
clover enters into the rotation of crops
regularly, however, then the farmer is
safe, for clover will derive not only
suficiency of nitrogen for itself, but also
a surplus, large portion Of which is
left over in the soil in the roots, and
another portion is returned 10 the hay
consumed. Being able to eliminate the
cost of nitrogen from bis fertilizers, the
farmer can then procure his plant food
at less than one-third the cost Of the
nitrogen, which saving will be more
than the profit from the crop some years
The mineral fertilizers-phosphates and
potash-are not only essential elements
for all crops, but are promoters of the
accumulation Of nitrogen also, inasmuch
as the nitrogen gathering crops thrive
best when we'll supplied with potash and
lime, and in thus using the mineral
salts the farmer not only adds plant food
but prepares bis land for an increased
supply of nitrogen.
WINTER APPLICATIONS
The fact that soils will leach, and the
soluble matter carried off by rains and
melting SHOWS, has caused much dis
cussion on the matter of blowing and
applying fertilizers Whether it is bet.
ter to leave the ground covered during
the winter with the weeds or stubble Of
some growing crop. or blowing ip the
fall aud allowing the frost to enter, are
unsettled problems. but it amounts to
something when the farmer applies his
fertilizers, however, and that depends
on the form of the fertilizers he uses
1t is possible that if the farmer is to use
ground bone or ground rock he should
pillow bis land during the late fall Or
winter if possible, and work those sub
stances in well with the harrow. as they
give off their PARTICLES slowly and may
not provide suficiency Of plant food if
applied in the spring. but if he defer>
the application until spring, he mus
use super phosphate or calculated rock
in order TO secure immediate results
In such case he must pay for the sui
phuric acid, which is of no value to hin
whatever. hence the cheapest kind Of
phosphate is that in the form Of meal,
and which should be applied now or
early in the year. The potash used is
nearly always in the form Of solubl"
salt, and may be applied when the laud
is plowcd in the spring (the earlier the
better aud if it is deemed advisable t.
to use nitrogen Gas nitrate Of soda or
sulphate of Of ammonia) the application
may be after blowing later, or when the
seed is about to he planted.