The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-01
On the Importance of Maintaining
an Equilibrium of Fertilizer in
Soils.


We promised to have something to say
on the subject of practical analysis of
soil Before so doing, and in order 10
better understanding Of the subject
when we do get to it. we think of para
mount importance 10 first obtain com
plete and thorough, and even intimate.
knowledge Of the preponderating role per
formed by each of the leading plant foods
when considered singly, separate and apart
from the other plant foods. without this
knowledge it would be found utterly i'm
possible TO tell what clements of fertility
were absent, present or in excess in any
individual soil while by this know edge
one can sufficiently near and for all prac-
teal purposes. decide what are the most
urgent and pressing needs Of LIST any soil
or class Of soil, and Ind any species or va
riety of crop that may be planted
thereon. We have been engaged in put
ting this plan or system TO the proof for
quite a number of years. and so prof.
cient do we think We have become that
we can, by watching the growth of any
cultivated crop, in any normal season,
or by making all due allowances for alb
normalities, come as near prescribing the
exact remedy Indicated in each individual
case dS Gdil d ShllltQ physician III pre-
scrbing for a sick patient or formulating
a specific course of Diet for a well person
Physiology and hygiene, in the case of
either the animal or vegetable kingdom
is much more important. interesting and
profitable a study than is that of pathol-
ogy and therapentics Ii is much easier
in either case 10 keep one well by close
study and application Of the laws of health
and nature than IL is to cure after they
h. -f,1
most its entire influence in the upbuild-
ing Of stalk, stem, vine, straw, or woody
grOWth-generally. il eXeTts but little in
huence5in the pTodue ton of fruit. with this
exception, that it IS q difficult matter to
gather well-deVeloped, plumb ana heavy
fruit from off stunted, understood plant
vine or tree Where the value of
a plant resides in It's leaves, as in
the case of cabbage, lettuce, spinach.
ETC., it is oftentimes almost
an impossibility 10 furnish the hungry
plants with an excess of their favorite
food-nitrogen; but if fruit or seed is the
leading object, let that fruit be what It
may, whether peach, apple, pear or orange,
a stalk of cotton corn or a potato vine; or
the straw of wheat oats, barley or rye;
an excess of nitrogen in the soil at or near
fruiting time never fails to work an IRENE
diable injury by divesting the energy Of
and consequent fruit. TO the production,
and oftentimes abnormal, growth of stems
and leaves; said vigorous and super-luxu-
rious growth of stem and foliage invaria-
bly, being al the expense of the fruitage
of the plant. Did you ever see crop of po-
tatoes all vine, but with no tubers? A crop
of wheat oats, barley or rye that had all
gone to straw, but with heads so dimnu-
tives as 10 be altogether out of proportion
,f
growth? Fruit trees that at the time they
SHOULD have been putting on or perfecting
their fruit, take on renewed activity in
the formation of leaves and wood, and as
a consequence of the renewed activity in
wood growth the fruit is either conspicu-
Gus for it's absence, or rots before ii
ripens. This is the logical and inevitable
sequence of an excess of nitrogen in the
orchard, The grain patch, and the potato
patch. IL will take liberal applications of
both phosphates and potash to correct
the evl, and bring about that equilibrium
of all the elements of fertility, without
which 40 land. no matter how rich ii
may be supposed to be- can not bring best
results. We see great many barren stalks
in a corn field did you ever see barren
stalk where a hog heap or brush Pile had
been burned? We will venture to say that
you never did. Why not? Because these
same 0Sn-nGdpS COIldittQ an actual SA-
cess of phosphoric and more especially Of
potash, Instead of nitrogen; and this is The
condition we should try to get our soils
into il we desire hest results one year
with a--@~-er AT the risk of repetition, we
say. if excess there be, in every instance
where fruit, and not leaves or stalk, is the
leading object. let that excess consist of
phosphoric acid and potash, and never of
nitrogen. Now, a word as to this excess of
nitrogen: unless it was in
an actual manure pile, it is
almost an impossibility to get nitrogen in
excess. when judicously balanced by
| corresponding amount of potash and phos-
! pilates. In other words, the apparent ex-
| cess is not an excess over and above the
needs of the crop, or the powers of that
same crop to assimilate 1t; but it is an
| excess over and above the amount OF
phosphoric acid and potash present. and
in an Immediately available condition in
that individual soil. In many such in
! stances we have heard the expression that
| land is too rich for such and such crops
when the trouble was 1t was-it was not
! rich enough its fertility was too one-sid-
ed; It had lost its equilibrium. Occasion
/ ally we are treated 20 dissertation, and
from supposedly scientific sources at that
| that too much potash Is injurious TO crops
| Now, in all candor and honesty, we would
ask How much would one have TO ap-
ply before he got too much? 1t has been
| found that fertilizer which does not
contain as much as 4 per cent of potash
utterly fails to give best results in the
cotton field, and that containing per cent
is still better. That one containing as
much as per cent. is best for potatoes
| both Irish and sweet; that young nursery
| stock and peaches demand per cent
while bearing trees of either apples or
pears demand not less than II per cent
Now. If. above named crops actually de-
mand and require these seemingly large
amounts and yet there is danger in APP
plying large amounts the interesting ques-
ton comes upi How much can l apply
| of the stuff without doing actual damage?