The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-14

ant matter Of commercial fertilizers,
which are soon TO b. purchased and used
! under growing crops during the present
wear
1t is unfortunate that the farmers gen
orally will not study the question of fer
tilzers more thoroughly. that is the fer
| tilzer requirements Of the soils they cul-
tivate and the makeup OF the fertilizers
they purchase. There are comparatively
but few men Who buy guanos who ever
take the trouble to study the true value
OF the plant foods contained in them or
| whether or not such plant foods ere prop
erly proportional 20 meet the demands Of
crops planted.
1t may also be said without fear Of
contradiction. that there are but a few
out of the great mass Of southern farm
| ers engaged il the production of cotton
who know anything about the analysis
of guano as they find it stamped on the
/ sacks of goods offered for sale. But un-
/ less farmer does post himself in regard
to the true value of the different ingrc-
dents as stamped on the sacks and the
mission Of each ingredient as a plant food
after being placed in the ground, he is
absolutely in the dark as 10 the value Of
the purchase that he makes. both from
1 the standpoint Of the investment in dol
| lars and cents and the value of the fertil-
| ger for the uses he intends to put ii tC.
| THE DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS
The three leading elements of plant
| food required in the development Of weed,
| foliage and fruiting in all plants are
| phoSphoric acid, potash and nitrogen,
! commonly called ammonia. It is nitro
gen before being applied to the soil, but
after the material decays and becomes
assimilated with the moisture and soil
/ SO as to be taken up by the plant IT be-
| comes ammonia. and is by far the most
/ costly Of the three principal ingredients
! as named above.
| The mission Of nitrogen or ammonia is
/ to furnish vigOr and energy TO the plant
! develop size to the stalk. increase foliage
and hasten growth and maturity
The mission of phosphorc acid is to de-
! veop and perfect the fruitinS qualities of
the plant and that of potash to strengthen
| the fibre of he plant and aid also in the
/ perfection and color Of the fruit These
1 are the separate and distinct missions Of
the three principal ingredients which
nature requires as the important factors
in plant life. each having it separate and
distinct ralt in the life Of the plant to
perform. One is useless without the aid
and cooperation Of the other. No plant
can exist without the presence Of all these
essentials IN he soil
Any soil naturally deficient in any one
of the three must be suppled-by the ap-
plic9tion of such deficiency from outside
sources or rather through the medium
Of q commercial fertilizer containing such
deficient ingredient. or the use of barn
yard manures which, in themselves, con-
tain all tho elements Of a complete fer
tilizcr. Herein comes the Importance OF
studying the needs of the different soils
we cultivate, because hardly any two
fields on farm contain in like proper
tionS the same percentages of the three
ingredients as discussed above Being
unable to analyze our soils as TO 1nd
out what percentages Of the plant foods
they contain are available. or can be utii-
lied in the growth of the plant are
forced to get such information from OK
pertinent or observation. Soil which Will
produce q luxurant weed and foliage and
but little fruit is deficient in pfosphoric
acid and potash vet is rich in ammonia.
Hence il the purchase of a complete fer
tilzer for use such soils the percent
age Of both phosphoric acid and potash
should he increased. On the other hand
plants growing on q depleted soil. fail.
under proper and favorable climatic con-
dition5 and cultivation. to develop a good
weed it shows deficiency in nitrogen.
and that element must also be literally
used in connection with the other tWo,
phosphorc acid and potash.
CONSERVATIVE USE or GUANO
The open area Of cultivated lands east
Of the Mississippi river. throughout the
south. have been 50 long planted in cot
ton without a proper system OF rotation
oF,- rI1I
tilizcrs has come TO be necessity with
the southern farmer except on the rich
alluvial and prairie lands of the south
west.
The iudicious use u these fertilizers are
, therefore necessary, but they should be
used with due regard to their value and
proper fitness for the crops thay are ex-
pected 70 feed during tho growing sea
son. enc grade Of fertilizer which may
meet all Tho requirements of ono kind of
crop might be totally untitled to III"
needs OF another.
There has never yet and r.rer viii tc
manufactured an all purpose fertilizer,
Il such fertilizer Is applied under the
guidance 0f intelligent management and
solely with a Eiev 10 meet tho exact re-
q1irenlent, Of soil and different crops.
Tho analysis Of the cotton plant shows
that it contains about three, times as
much phospLcric acid in its complete com
position and development IS either potash
or ammonia. Consequently I'll. most
Of our lands which arc generally deficient
in all three Of these elements or plant
foods. d proper fertilizer Tor cotton would
Eo one analyzing about as follows.
Fhosphoric Acid .......-....9 pet cent
Potash nor cent
Nitrocan
these elements Of plant food il tho pro-
portions named then secure q grade an
alyzln as near such proportions as posi-