The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-10-17
TRUE ECONOMY IN FERTI-
LIKING.
PART |.
From The Cotton Plant.

least for fertilizers who fcrtilizc most
economically, not even when and
where stable manure, clover, cowpcas,
and other lcguminous crops, that
be raised right at home, and with COM
paratively no cash outlay, arc the whole
and sole dependence. On the Other
hand: it is not those who spend most
for fertilizers annually who fertilize
most economically ana we might add
most intelligcntly.
Economical fertilizing is the most
scientific of fertilizing, and yet, at the
same time, it is, at once the simplest
and most m sensible plan that
can be studied up.
Economical fertilization and what is
known rs the intensive system of cul-
ture go hand IN hand, are inseparablc
and the one car hardly be put in prac-
tice without the other.
Economical fertilization demands the
raising of ones own needed supply of
nitpogcn by means Of the lcgumlnous
crops, as clover, cow-pcas, etc, light
at home, on the farm and even on the
very spot Of ground whore it is needed,
saving all unnecessary expenditure Of
money and also cost Of haulins.
AT the same time that one can, by
the raising Of lcguminous crops, raise
all the nitrogen they want to the fact
that nitrogen is really and truly all that
is actually gained by the raising of
clover or cOwpeas, or indeed any of the
legumes. Not only do they fail to fur
nish either phosphoric acid or potash,
but they are, n and all of them, such
greedy consumers Of these two impor-
tant substances that, wherever and
whenever these two latter are not Judi
ciously and regularly applied, the land
finally becomes 50 badly impoverished
that it is utterly incapacitated for the
growing OF even cowpeas or clover; and
we may safely add, of any other cult
waited crop. We mention this fact for
the reason that so many of our brother
farmers SOW clover or plant cowpcas,
without making any application of
either phosphates or potash, and find
their yields increased possibly a hun
dred per cent. thereby, that they then
and there conclude that it is well
enough to let well enough alone, and
that in their case at least, the applica-
ton of phosphates and potash is I'M
necessary.
it is hardly necessary to add that
in every instance they find out their
mistake O n OF later, and it is very
apt to be sooner a continual sowing
or planting of the lcgumes and without
a liberal application of both phosphatcs
and potash regularly applied is not an
economical method of fertilization, but
OH the contrary, is sufficient if persist
ed IN of impoverishing any soil.
1t should be borne in mind that nj
trogcn compounds are the most expen-
sive constituents of commercial fertili-
zers, and if we can maintain our needed
supply Of nitrogen and even increase
it which can readily be done if we so
determine by means of clover, cowpeas
or other lc%guminous crops, or by barn
yard or stable manure or cotton seed
and purchase such phosphates and pot
ash as may be needed, we will have
accomplished a great saving and will
have ~inaugurated a system of econo-
meal fertilization that cannot DOS
sibly be cxcelled on the score of eco.
nOmy.
The sowing or planting of legumin-
GUS crops, while at the same time omit
ting the application of phosphates and
potash, is a species of one sided fcrtili-
cation and no system of fertilization
that 10 one sided can possibly be made
permanently profitable.
While on the subject of one sided
fertilization, we wish to call attention
to q system of fertilization that has be-
come altogether TOO popular, we sup
pose on account of its cheapness. We
refer to the use of phosphates alone,
and unfortunately, 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
hess and absolute sterility.
Now let us examine into this a little
and see if we cannot find out how this
stcrility is brought about. Phosphatcs
contain but n plant food, viz. phos-
phoric acid, now if the application of
phosphates alone increase the yield of
a crop say rs per cent. more potash
and phosphoric acid and nitrogen
than II no ferLilizing agent had been
applied, hence it has actually impover-
ished the soil to the extent of amounts
of potash and nitrogen taken from the
soil by said crop.
1t does more than this, Geld phos-
phate consists simply of finely ground
lime-phosphate rock treated with
about an equal weight of strong sui
phuric acid. This sulphuric acid com
bines the lime-making lime-sulphate,
gypsum or alnd plaster, so That it
forms nearly one half of the total
weight of the acid phosphate. That
without its application would have re.
NAMED insoluble; hence, acid phos-
phate supplies phosphorlc acid direct
ly and Potash indirectly and hence
again phosphoric acid gets credit for
the increased yield when it is often
times not entitled TO it, and q great
dea. of it was actually due to the pot
ash so liberated. Anyhow the soil is
depleted TO the extent of amount of
potash 80 liberated.
Now no possible objection could be
brought against II or its use no inatter
how much plant food it might set free,
If only there were inexhaustible stores