St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-02-20

AGRICULTURAL.
Commercial Fertilizers

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
a 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 insoluble form. The
bone phosphate and rock phosphate
are changed into superphosphate by
the action of sulphuric acid, removing
a part of the lime as sulphate. The
soluble phosphate is especially benef-
cial to plants in the early state Of their
growth, giving them a good start. In
later stages Of growth, when the plant
by it's roots can forage for food in the
soil, the insoluble phosphate may have
nearly as beneficial an effect. t
Third.-Phosphates promote the for
nation of flowers and fruit and secure
earlier ripening. They may be wisely
used on vines and succulent fruits that
are liable to be. cut by early frosts
in autumn, securing early crops with
better prices and avoiding the loss Of
the entire crop by untimely frosts be-
fore most of the crop had ripened
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-
quence Of which pollen of vital power
is not formed. In such cases the use
of active phosphates is worthy of trial.
Bonemeal contains phosphate of
lime and animal matter rich in nitro
gen and hence is very valuable for
manure where we desire prolonged
influence. 1t is well adapted to grass
lands and is free from the bad odOrs
often given off by mixed fertilizers.
Moist meadows are benefited by a
dressing of bonemeal. If the bones
that now adorn the back yard and pas
ture lot should be ground into a pow
der and scattered on crop worn field,
the results would surprise some farm
ers. 4-.--.-.
Fourth.-Potash manure. The best
and cheapest is that neglected home
product, wood ashes. These contain
an average of per cent Of potash, be-
sides a sensible amount of phosphate
and very large amount of carbonate
of lime and magnesia. They are an all
around plant manure so far as mineral
matter is concerned, supplying each
gas element. nr
Unless the farmer can bring into
active form the great store of potash
in his soil he will then have to buy the
German potash salts, the muriate or
sulphate. These 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 masterful; no plant can grow with
| out it, and its influence in developing
the carbohydrates and maturing fruits
is marked and apparently controlling.
Fifth.-Nitrogen compounds. Nitro
gen is the bottled wine of the vege-
| table feast. If the term stimulant can
| be applied to any organization desti-
tute of nervous system, then nitro
| gen is the stimulant of plant life. In
any Of its combined forms it gives
depth of color and eXuberance Of
growth to vegetable life, and when in
abundant supply it causes the plant to
break forth into riotous growth. The
great reservoir Of nitrogen is the air,
but the leaves of plants, though con-
stantly bathed in nitrogen, cannot
drink in a particle. 1t is only nitrogen
in combination that can be appropriat-
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. ......,-.
A large amount of active nitrogen
in the form of nitrates is yearly form
ed in every we'll cultivated field, and
this is the cheapest way of securing
supply of this costliest element Of
plant growth. The raising Of legumi
nous crops, like the clovers, is the mex
cheapest way of securing supply.
Combined nitrogen is purchased il
three forms-salts Of ammonia, nitrate
of soda and organic nitrogen in tn,
form of dried blood, fish scraps, cot
tonseed meal, etc. ....... ..... Bale.
Sixth.-Tankage is complex ant
variable material obtained from tn,
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 tankage, by itself or mixed
with phosphates, potash, ETC., is soil
as fertilizer. 1t is mainly used t.
give bulk to the concentrated fertilizer
made from bone and rock phosphate.
Death from using Fertilizer.
In view OF the general use OF bone dus
as a fertilizer by farmers and gardeners