The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-08-10
Fertilizer Catechism.
(BY A. NJ. METTETAL.)
) What is q fertilizer?

ID What is fertilizer?
A fertilizer is anything which i'm
parts vigor, food and elements of
growth to n plant. 1t is the amount of
fertilizer in any given soil, whether
natural or of artificial application that
determines the fertility of the land.
o. What are the principal elements
of plant food?
There are three principal elements of
plant growth. without which there is
no development of termination. These
are phosphoric acid, potash, and
nitrogen.
CO. Where are these elements found?
These elements are found in the soil
whore they have been placed by Nature,
and in the atmosphere in which the
earth is bathed.
a. } Is the quality exhaustless?
These elements are found in large
quantities in rich, alleyial soils, where
the process of growth and decay has
been going on for years, and where the
current of rivers and the waves of lakes
and seas have been depositing the rich
accumulations of other localities. In
places exposed to winds and rains
where the slope of the surface facilitates
the flow Of the water, these elements
have been washed away from year to
year until the soil has become almost
barren
(5.) When a soil is deficient of plant
food what is theremedyP
The deficiency must be made up by
the artificial application or fertilizer.
(6.) Which OF these elements is usu-
ally lackingP
Potash, which is one of the chief ele-
ments in the composition OF all plants,
is usually the first to be exhausted.
The decay of plants, the disintegration
of rocks, the assimilation of manures,
etc., generate large quantities of acid
the rapid growth of plants, particularly
leguminous crops, such as peas, beans,
clover, cow-peas, potatoes, lucern, etc.
draw from the atmosphere large quanti-
ties of Nitrogen, and by means of their
long penetrating roots, fix it in the
soil. Potash is found in considerable
quantities in the woody growth OF
plants, as can be readily seen in the
ashes after combustion, also in al
grains, of which it forms an essentia
part.
co. What means have we Of determi
ming when any or all of these elements
are lacking?
By an analysis of the soil we deter
mine the presence or absence of choni
cal elements. The intelligent farme
has also discovered that when his crop
Of corn, wheat, oats and grass are shor
and weak, that nitrogen is wanting
that when the ear fails to fill properly
that potash is wanting; that when tn
plants lack sufficient growth and ais
fail to seed abundantly, that potasl
and nitrogen are both wanting.
T.) Why are these elements Gem
bined in commercial fertilizers?
The chemist has demonstrated con
clusively that Potash alone is unayoid
able as plant food, hence the farmer
usually combine Acid with Potash
make the latter available. Nitrogen
when applied to the soil, seems to az
more Independently, vigorous growt
being the direct growth.
49, Does it pay to use commercit
fertilizers?
You might as we'll ask me, evil
pay to buy meat and bread for my fan
iTy?" "Will it pay TO buy corn an
hay for my horse?" If Your land
sufficiently rich in these elements I
produce good crops, and is becomin
richer through scientific farming,
will not pay you to buy commercii
fertilizers. / would think man TO b
a great sim pleton whose barn was fu
of hay and grainary full Of corn an
wheat, who persisted in buying fee
and bread. However, can safely OF
sure you that it will pay to buy fertil
zers, if by SO doing you increase yor
crop and the fertility of the soil.
o. What is High Grade Fertilizer
A High Grade Fertilizer is one col
tanning large proportion of plal
food.
| (10) What is Low Grade Fertilizer
A Low Grade Fertilizer is one col
tanning small proportion of plal
food.
Q1.) Is not a ton of Fertilizer q
plant food, whether Low Grade {
High Grade?
No, sir. A ton of Fertilizer contain
ing 10 per cent. available Phosphor
Acid only, is made up of $50 pounds
Phosphoric Acid combined with bod
i of 1850 pounds which is utterly wort
less. A fertilizer containing 10 p,
cent. acid and per cent Potash, HI
40 pounds of potash and $50 pounds
acid, and 1710 pounds of dead matte
A fertilizer containing 10 per cent aci
10 per cent potash and 10 Nitrate
Soda contains 600 pounds of Fertili
ing materials, and 14OO pounds of wort
less matter.
(12) OF what use is the worthle