The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1900-09-08
FARMER Randi PLANTER
FooD ZOE A PLANTs.
Plant Life Requires suatenance-
study OF Crops Necessities n
Of the Farmers Dutiess

3A44a Va CA0EA
OF b Farmers Dutiess
Plant life requires s~ustenance 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 ends of his animals. The day has
passed when the ignorant boy is only
fitted for a 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 demands continual it's
sue building, fat-giving and health
toning 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 n%ourishing soil. Few crops can be
produced with profit if any of the inn
poTtant requirements are neglected. In
some instances the soil has been inl-
poverished by annual cultivation to
the same crops, so that it will not pro-
duce satisfactory results. In such
cases it must be reclaimed-made more
fertfle-and its deficient qualities re-
placed. This can be done by system
attic rotation, year after year, by green
m%anUring 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 phosphoric acid, pot
ash and nitrogen, A portion of each
form is taken from the soil every year
by various products, and unless it is
returned, the land soon becomes I'M
profitable.
The leguminous plants, such as
peas, beans, clover, vetches, alfalfa and
similar crops gather nitrogen from the
atmosphere. By blowing under heavy
groW1hs Of such plants the soil is en-
riChed in nitrogen. These Iegumes,
though, must be supplied with potash
and phOsphoric acid to produce heavy
growth. On an average from 200 to 800
POUNDS of acid phosphate OF dissolved
bone, and 100 to $50 pounds of mu-
rate Of potash would be Il 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.
Lime is needed on some soils to cor
rect the physical condition. If land
is too sour, lime sweetens it; if too
heavy, lime lightens it, or if too light a
dose of lime will make it more com
pact. An application of about 40
bushels of lime, say Orce in five or six
years, is sufficient. Lime is an indirect
rather than a direct fertilizer, and if
used in the proper way will be of bene-
fit. Tt must not be COMPOUNDED with the
no%urishing elements of plant food
PhOsphOric 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 fertiI-
iZeTs They should be applied in the
fall If spring in their natural state
through ground bone, potash salts, or
a combination of commercial fertiI-
iXers.
Those who have never used the COM
mercial fertilizers OF the day hesitate
before purchasing and ask the ques-
ton, "Will it pay?" In answer to that
I would say that, in every instance
where commercial fertilizers have been
used, so far as 1 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 a perfect fertilizer as possible.
Their values have beer repeatedly test
ed by government and state officials
and thousands of users testify to their
merits. It will pay to handle the soil
and its products intelIigently just as
much as it pays to look after the
health of the farm animals OF 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
luce profitable croPs.-Jocl Shoemak-
er, in Farmers Home Journal.