The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-16

foods. so the plant needs constant care
in being supplied with perfect. whole
some and iife-giving clements. The
farmer, gardner and fruiter collects his
profits from the abundance of his crops.
hence his mind should be informed on
the essential requisites of plant life TO
/ insure the largest yields in quantity ana
quality Of his various products.
All plants depend more or less on light,
| heat, air water. cultivation and a nour-
/ ishing soil Few crops can be produced
with profit II any of the important re-
quirements are neglected. In some 10
stances the soil has been Impoverished
by annual cultivation TO the same crops.
50 that il viii not produce satisfactory
results. In such cases il must be re
claimed-made more fertile-and its de-
hcient qualities replaced. This can be
done by systematic rotation, year after
year, by green ma0urirg or correct ap-
pEcatiOn of fertilizers. The elements OF
fertility constitute plant foods and can
be artihciaIy admins cred. The prime
forms of plant food, a. shown by cherni-
cal analysis, are phosphorc acid. potash.
and nitrogen. a portion of each form IS
taken from the earth every year and I'M
less il is returned. the land soon becomes
unprohtable
The lesuminous plants. such as peas.
beans, clover, vetches, alfalfa and similar
crops, gather nitrogen from the atmos-
sphere. BY blowing under heavy growths
Of such plants the soil is enriched in nj
trogen These legumes though. must be
supplied with potash and phosphoric acid
TO produce heavy growth. on an average
from 2C0 10 800 pounds acid phosphate or
dissolved bone, and 100 to $50 pounds mu-
rate of potash would be fair fertilizer
for clover or peas. As stated fertilizer
and phosDhoric acid are all that is need
cd, because legumes can get their own
nitrogen from the air.
Lime is needed on some soils 10 correct
the physical condition. If land is too sour.
lime sweetens it; if TOO heavy lime light
ems it, or if too light - dose of lime will
make it more compact. An application of
about forty bushels of lime, say, once in
five or six years is sufficient Lime is
an indirect rather Than a direct fertilizer
and if used in the proper way viii be of
benefit. 1t must not be confounded with
the nourishing elements of plant food,
phosphoric acid, nitrogen and potash. Nj
trate Of soda is valuable for Nitrogen. 1t
should be sprinkled over the surface. The
phosphoric acid and potash may be term
ed permanent fertilizers. They should be
applied in the fail or spring in their nat
ural state, through ground bone, potash
salts or a combination of commercial fer
tilizers.
Those VINO have never used the CONNER
cial fertilizers of the day hesitate before
purchasing and ask the question. "Wm it
pay?' In answer to that l would say that
in every instance where commercial fer
tilizers have been used, so far as l can
learn it has paid so much that there is
more wanted every year. The various
products are ground and mixed so as 10
give as nearly a perfect fertilizer as pos
sib.e Their values have been repeatedly
tested by government and state officials
and thousands of users testify to their
merits. 1t will pay to handle the soil and
its products intelligently, just as much as
it pays to look after the health of the
farm Earn amin animals, or insects o9d h5eases OF
| by the appearance of the crops and more
particularly by the yield, the elements
lacking and purchase what is needed to
produce profitable crops.