The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-05-22
N. C., TUESDAY, MAY %, 1900,
Over Stimulation Of Grass,

ornament pastures and extensive
iaWfS arr subject TO much the S;lne
S'hefai treatment. and illustrate how
true fertli. 80 materials nar br con.
Nerfcd into >timuants: in This ease
however. stimulation means the raDid
exhaustion OF one or two Torces
where good results REQUIRE tbr.,
forces working toge her. Stated plain.
y. grass. as all other crops. REQUIRES
nitrogen. potash and phosphoric acid
II only one OF these is supplied as
plant iOOd. the result Will be 10 rap
idlN exhaust the supply Of the Other
two.
ne striking effects Of top-drpssincs
o. Nitrate OF Soda to lawns or per
minent grass fields. has leaG 10 Il
Wlde use OF Nitrate Of Soda for Il
grass fertilizer. and as ii ma <t.s a
prompt showing to the eve. too many
farmers rest With the Nitrarc aDDlI-
cation alone. IN this use. Nitrate
lS indeed the whip to the tired
morse. NOW. as mater OF fact. Nj
trate IS a valuable source of Nitro
senons plant food, and especially de
snable for top-dressings: but it CON
tains only Nitrogen plant food. Grass
needs also practically equivalent
siderable amounts Of Phosphoric
-hcid. For example. an AVERAGE acre
crop contains plant food as follows:
Meadow Hay 50 les. s. lbs. So lbs.
Timothy -. SO lbs. 81 lbs. % lbs.
Pasture Grass .. lbs. 80 lbs. 81 lbs.
1t Is evident that continuous top
dressings OF Nitrate without an aDpii-
cation oi corresponding amount Of
Potash and say. half as much phos-
ph0fIc Acid. Will re>,llt in the soil be
coming deficient in these two latter
ingredients OF plant food. The result
Is matter OF common sense iIdo-
mont the grass dies off more or less
fapidiN. Bare spots form often be-
ING covered With a thin growth Of
moss like plants: the grass simply
StaiNeS to death
This starvation means Il very com
pietc exhaustion OF the soil so far as
Potash and rhosphates are concern
cI, as the feeding roots OF grasses
cover the soil very fully. Simple
breaking up Of the soil. or lining.
Will Go little good. as the cause of
the damage is i lack Of available Pot
ash and E'hosphHtic plant food The
proper plant food must be applied but
II is rrobahle that in the process Of
StdiNi!S tdI. Int mechanical -rOnt'I-
IlOil Of the soil has also suffered and
mo OF three years must eIapSe even
WITH the best treatment. before the
sol! has recovered Il good normal CON
dtion.
The safest plan is to feed the grass
every year. for if plant food is un-
necessary. the crop will not fall OIL
or insight, bare spots appear i'm the
lawn. On heavy clayeN soils apply
IL the fall from Geo to 1000 pounds
OF fertilizer testing 6 per cent avail
able Phosphoric -\cid. and 9 per cent
actual Potash. On lands quite rolling
the application is best made in the
early spring. On lighter soils 1le
larger quantity should be used. and
applied broadcast in the spring There
need be 20 fear Of n.uring the grass
Of course. il q new lawn is Icing
seeded. or new pasture laid out he
fertilizer should he brOadcaSted be-
fore sowing the seed, and lightly har-
rOWed in. The Nitrate of Soda is
used to best advantage after the seed
has thoroughly cerminated. or on old
lawns and permanent grass lands
when the grass first puts forth new
growth in the spring. Nitrate 81 . ld
be applied at the rate of from 100 to
200 pounds per acre. brOaucaStc;I. and !
II IN mIdSeasOn the grass shows q
yeiloWiSh or light green color. Il
second application should be given
BRYAN TYSON
al