The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-01
KINDS OF FERTILIZER.
Complete Manure, PhOsphates, Bone
meal, Nitrogen Compounds, Etc.

CLASSIFIED and described as follows by
Professor kedzie of the Michigan sta
ton:
First.-Complete manure, which con-
tainS nitrogen in some combination,
such as a salt of ammonia, nitrate of
soda or organic nitrogen; potash, as
muriate or sulphate German stass-
furth salts or wood ashes; phosphoric
: acid, as a sulphate of lime 1t is called
complete manure because it contains
all of the three materials most essential
for plant growth and most likely to be
deficient in field after long cropping
Second.-Plain phosphate, which may
be in the form of superphOSphate, sOlu-
Bile in water or solution of citrate Of
ammonia, these being called available
because they are readily taken up by
the roots of plants and ground phoS-
phate rock, an inSolublc form. I he
bone phosphate and rock phosphate
are changed into Supcrphosphatc by
the action of Sulphuric acid. removing
a part of the lime as sulphate. The
I soluble phosphate is especially bCncfi-
cial to plants in the early state of their
growth. giving them a good start. In
later stages of growth. when the plant
by its roots can forage for food in the
soil. the insoluble phosphate may have
nearly as beneficial an effect.
Third.-Phosphates promote the for
nation of flowers and fruit and secure
earlier ripcning. They may he wisely
used on vines and Succulent fruits that
are liable to be cut by early froSts
in autumn, securing carly crops with
better prices and avoiding the loss of
the entire crop by untimcly frosts be
fore most of the crop had ripcncd.
Fruit trees sometimes blossom year
after year without producing fruit.
This is often caused by storms at the
Towering period, but it may be caused
by constitutional weakness, in conSe-
qucncc of which pollen of vital power
is not formed. In such cases the use
of active phosphates is worthy of trial
Boncmcal contains phosphate of
lime and animal matter rich in nitro
gen and hence is very valuable for
manure where we desire 4 prolonged
influence. 1t is well adapted 20 grass
lands and is free from the bad OdurS
often given off by mixed fertilizers.
Moist meadows are benefited by
dressing of boncmcal If the bones
that nov adorn the back yard and pas
ture lot should be ground into Il pow
der and scattered on a crop worn field,
the results would surprise some farm
CrS.
Fourth.-Potash manure The best
and cheapest is that neglected home
product, wood ashes. These contain
an average of > per cont of potash, he
sides Il sensible amount Of phosphate
and very large amount Of carbonate
of lime and magncSia. They are an ali
around plant manure so far as mineral
matter is concerned. supplying each
gas element.
Unless the farmer can bring into
active form The great store of potash
in his soil he will then have to tG- t'.n
German potash salts, the mvIiatc or
sulphatc. T hcSc salts are yearly com
ing into greater prominence as potash
fertilizers but their sale in Michigan
in separate form has not been large.
The influence of potash on plant life
is mastcrful, no plant can grow with
out it, and its influence in developing
the carbohydrates and maturing fruits
is marked and apparently controlling.
Fifth.-Nitrogcn compounds. Nitro
gen is the bottled wine Of the Vcgc-
table feast. If the term stimulant can
be applied to any organization dcsti-
tut2 of Il nervous system. then nitro
gen is the stmulant of plant life In
any of its combined forms it gives
depth of color and cXubcrance OF
growth to vegetable life and when in
abundant supply it causes the plant to
break forth into rotous growth The
| great reservoir of nitrogen is the air
but the leaves of plants, though con
stantly bathed in nitrogen. cannot
drink in Il particle. 1t is only nitrogen
in combination that can be appropriate
ed by the plant and this enters the
plant by the roots and comes from the
soil A small amount is brought to the
soil by the rain. washing out the am
monia and nitrates of the air, but the
amount is not large and entirely in
adequate to supply crop.
y large amount of active nitrogen
in the form of nitratcs is yearly form
( ed in every well cultivated field and
this is the cheapest way of securing
supply of this costlicst element of
| plant growth. The raising of legumi-
nous crops, like the clovers, is the next
cheapest way of securing a supply
] Combined nitrogen is purchased in
! three forms-salts Of ammonia, nitrate
of soda and organic nitrogen in the
/ form of dried blood, fish scraps, cot
tonseed meal. etc.
SiXth.-Tankage is a complex and
variable material obtained from the
waste residues at the slaughter houses,
the garbage collected by the scaven-
! gers in cities, etc. These materials
are dried, the grease extracted in tanks.
and this tarfage, by itself or mixed
with phosphates, potash etc, is sold
: as fertilizer. 1t is mainly used to
give bulk to the concentrated fertilizers
made from bone and rock phosphate.
The Green Pea Louise.
ApnOp1inr Ia OF H.,