The Colfax chronicle., 1900-09-01
FARMER AND PLANTER.
FOOD FOR FARM PLANTS.
P1Snt Life Requires Sustennnce-
study of Crops Necessities One
of the Farmers Duties.

Plant Me requires sustenance the
| same as animal life. 1t is the duty
OF every farmer TO study the necessi-
ties of his crops as thoroughly as the
den apds of his animals. The day has
passed when the ignorant boy is only
fitted for farmer, and his educated
brothers must take Up the professions.
The successful agricuIturist must be a
student of plant life and familiar with
the elements of plant foods. AS the
human system demal-Gs continual tis-
sue building, fat-giving and health
ton;ng foods, SO the plant needs con-
slant care in being supplied with per-
feet, wholesome and life-giving ele-
ments. The farmer, gardener 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 and quality
of his various products.
All plants demand more or less
light, heat, air, water, cultivation and
a nourishing soil. Few crops can be
produced with profit if any of the inn
portant requirements are neglected. In
somc instances the sell has been inn
poverighed by annual cultivation to
the same crops, so that it will not pro-
uuce satisfactory results. In such
cases it must be reclaimed--iilade more
fertile-and its deficient qualities re-
placed. This can be done by system
attic rotation, year after year, by green
nanrring or correct application of
fertilizers. The elements OF fertility
constitute plant foods, and can be
Grtiticially administered. The prime
forms of plant food, as shown by chem
ical analysis, are pl,osrhoric acid, pot
ash and nitrogen. A portion of each
form is taken from the soil every year
by various products. and unless it is
rctrrned, the land soon becomes un-
profitable.
The leguminous plants, such as
peas, beans, clover, vetches. alfalfa and
similar crops gather nitrogen from the
atmosphere. BY plowing under heavy
erow1hs of such plants the soil is en-
riohed in nitrogen. These legumes,
though, must be supplied with potash
and phosphoric acid to produce heavy
growth. On an average from 200 to 800
Iounds of acid phosphate or dissolved
bone. and 100 to 15o pounds of mu-
riatc of potash would be a fair fertil-
izer for clover or peas. As stated. pot
ash and phosphoric acid are all that is
needed, because legumes can get their
own nitrogen from the air.
Line is needed on some soils to COR
rect the physical condition. If land
is too sorr, lime sweetens it; if too
heavy, lime lightens it, or if too light a
dose of lime will make il ,norc COM
pact. An application of about 40
bushels of lime, say orce in five or six
years, is sufficient. Lime is IN indirect
rather than direct fertilizer, and if
used in the proper way will he of bene-
fit. IT must not be confounded with the
nourishing elements of plant food
rhosphoric acid, nitrogen and potash.
Nitrate of soda is valuable for nitro
gen. 1t should be sprinkled over the
surface. The phosphoric acid and pot
ash may be termed permanent fertil-
izers. They should be applied in the
fall or spring in their natural state
through ground bone, potash salts, or
combination of commercial fertil-
izers.
Those who have never used the COM
merc;al fertilizers of the day hesitate
before purchasing and ask the ques-
ton, "Will it pay?" In answer to that
would say that, in every instance
where commercial fertilizers have been
used, so far. as / can learn, it has paid
SO much that there is more wanted
every year. The various products are
ground and mixed SO as to give as
nearly perfect fertilizer as possible.
Their values have beer repeatedly test
ed by government and state officials
and thousands of users testify to their
merits. 1t will pay to handle the soil
and its products intelligentIy just as
much rs it pays to look after the
health of the farm animals or insects
and diseases of fruit trees. Farmers
can often determine by the appear
ance of the crops, and more particular
ly by the yield, the elements lacking,
and purchase what is needed to pro-
duce profitable crops.-Jocl Shocmak-
or, in Farmers Home Journal.