Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-01-26
INGREDIENTS TAKEN FROM THE
SOIL.

Prof. G. L. Hotter. chemist of the Ok
laboma Experiment station. gives some
figures showing the value Of the in.
gradients taken from the soil by stand
ard crops, which It would be well for
farmers to consider. He says:
Should our farmers continue to raise
crops year after year without paying
any attention TO fertilization, It will be
a few years only until exhaustion will
be plainly seen. The sooner we recognize
this necessity ~ fertilization the better
Il IL not question FOR the upland farm
ers alone but for their nelghbors on the
bottom lands as well.
The three fertillzlng ingredients OF
most importance are nitrogen, potash
and phOsphOrlc acid. Nitrogen Is worth,
We will say, eighteen cents per pound:
potash five cents, and phosphoric acid
eight cents. In one ton 81 wheat straw
there are eleven pounds OF nitrogen,
twelve pounds Of potash and four and
one-half pounds phosphoric acid. At tho
above valuation these are worth as ma
nure 1894
In one ton Of cornstalks there are sew
onteen pounds OF nitrogen. thirteen
pounds potash and forty pounds phos-
phoric acid, worth as manure A,76.
Too frequently the straw and stalks
ere burned or disposed Of In some other
manner and not utilized as a manure.
These products usually remain on the
farm
Let us consider a few products that
are sold. When the farmer has disposed
OF thirty-five bushels Of wheat at 20
cents a bushel, he has In hand s26.25.
IF We care not for the value OF our
land and the necessity OF maintaining
fertility, the above statement Is correct;
but let US go little further. In dis
posing Of twenty-five bushels OF wheat
the farmer has taken from his soil
thlrty-slx pounds nitrogen. sixteen
pounds potash and ten pounds phos-
phorlc acid and has taken from his
land sS.0S worth OF fertllizlng lngredl-
onts. II he sells the same number Of
bushels OF corn. he has taken from his
land thirty pounds Of nitrogen. seven
pounds potash and ten pounds phos-
phoric acid. containing se.55 worth Of
fertllizlng ingredients. Should he sell
sevcnty-two bushels Of oats he has tak-
en- from his land thlriy-seyen pounds
Of nitrogen, eight pounds potash and
thirteen pounds phosphoric acid which.
IN natural value, Is worth $50. What
has been said OF wheat. corn aud oats
may be said Of everything that Is raised
on farm.
While II is not advisable 10 use wheat,
corn and oats for fertilizlng purposes,
II should not be forgotten that the in
gradients they draw from the soil
should be returned IL he would maintain
the fertility The wisest thing for our
farmers to DO u to begin right now. and
carefully and intelllgently consider the
question of how TO best retain the pres
ent fertility Of their soil
Work ell the straw you possibly can
through your stables. and when this Is
done do not be afraid 90 haul manure.
DO not have your stables located on
the bank Of creek In such a way that
every time II rains the water from your
harn-yard viii drain into said creek. Tor
in this way the water soluble portion
Of manure IL carried off, and nothing
remains but fibrous matter, which. es a
fertilizer. Is Of little value