The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-10-18

ZerS, and il we can maintain our needle,
supply Of nitrogen ard even increase
IL which can readily be done if we sc
determine by means of clover, cowpeas
or other lcguminOus crops, or by barn
yard or stable manure or cotton seed
and purchase such phosphatcs and pot,
ash as may be needed, we will have
accomplished great saving and will
have inaugurated a system OF ccono,
mlcal fertilization that cannot pos
sibly be cXcclled on tie score of eco
| nomy.
The sowing or planting Of lcgumin-
Gus crops, while at the same time omit
ting the application Of phosphatcs and
potash, is IL species of one sided Icrtili-
zation and no system OF fertilization
that Is one sided can possibly be made
permanently profitable.
While on the subject Of one sided
fertilization, we wish to call attention
TO system Of fertilization that has be-
come altogether too popular, we sup
pose on account Of It's chcapness. We
refer to the use Of phosphatcs alone
and indiscrimiEatcly, for all crops, and
on all soils. This is not an economical
system, but on the contrary, the very
reverse of it, for the reason that if per-
sisted in, 1t eventually leads to barren
ness and absolute stcriity.
Now let us examine into this little
and see if we cannot find out how this
stcrility is brought ab0dt. l'hoSphatcs
contain but one plant food, viz. phos-
phoric acid, now if the application Of
r,b hn ,,inlI #
crop say - per cent. more potash
and phosphorc acid and nitrogen
than il no ferliliZing agent had been
applied, hence 1t has actually impovcr-
ished the soil to the extent of amounts
Of potash and nitrogen taken from the
soil by said crop.
II does more than tins, Geld phos-
phatc consists simply Of finely ground
limc-phosphatc rock trcatcd with
about an equal weight Of strong sui
phuric acid. This sulphuric acid com
bincs the limc-makin" lime ulphatc,
gypsum or alud plaster, so that it
forms nearly one half Of the total
weight Of the acid phosphate. That
without its application would have re.
NAMED insoIubIc; hence, acid phos-
phate supplies phosphorlc acid direct
ly and Potash indirectly and hence
again phosphoric acid gets credit foy
the increased yield when ii is often
times not entitled to it, and Il great
deal Of it was actually due to the pot
ash SO liberated. Anyhow the soil Is
depleted To the extent Of amount of
potash So liberated.
Now no possible objection could be
brought against il or its use no matter
how much plant food it might set free
II only there were incNhauStiblc stores
Of said plant food to draw from. but
unfortunately in the South at least
tins is not the case, and more cSpcc.
ally in the sander portions of il.
We are well aware of the fact that
there are soils scattered about here and
there over the country that are dclici.
cnt, some III ph"sphoric acid, some in
potash and some in nitrogen, and some
in each and all Of these equally valI-
able, equally important, and in fact
equally indispensable fcr,ilizing sub
stances. Now il stands to reason that
thC'mrst economical system, that could
possibly be pursued in fcriizlng these
widely diSsimilar soils would be to first
to supply, correct or make good any and
all known deficiencies in the soil itself
and second, supply each and every crol
planted with plant food specially adapt
Ell 20 !ts peculiar requirements and III
such quantities rs shall insure maxi
mum yltl Ids whenever other intlucnc.
ing or controlling factors are favor
able.
This is economical fertilization. it is
IN fact the most economical system OF
fertilization thai can be formulated on
ut beast, III the present state Of ayricul
tural science.
1t would be just as reasonable tC
put pair of green goggles on horse
or COW and undertake to fattcn them
on pine shavlnSs, under the belief that
you were furnishing them with AT
abundance of excellent forage, us i,
would be to undertake to make a gooc
crop of any description when fed OF
phosphatcS alone, or potash alone, Of
on nitrogen alone. All three sub
| stances are needed in the making Of ;
! good crop, all three arc equally impor
tant, all. three are as absolutely inuiS
| pensablc, the one as the Olhcr ant
the animal can be made to thrive OF
pine Shavings just as easily as The
plant can be made to thllvc on phos
| pilates, when used to the exclusion O
more suitable a)mcnt.
G.. II. TURNER.
Burgess. Miss.
~ J..