Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-19
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS.
PRINCIPLES OF PLANT FooD-wHEN AND
HOW TO APPLY.

OF all the articles used by the Amer
lean farmer. it is doubtful if there is one
so little understood as the artificial plant
food. While many are well posted, some
look upon commercial fertilizers as so
much powder in bag, all brands look
ing alike, and they take gambling
chance in applying.
To others il is surrounded by an air
of mystery, understood only by the
manufacturers and skilled chemists.
What should be done is to consider
commercial fertilizers as commercial
plant food, materials that are sup
plying to the crop the needed nitro
gen, phosphoric acid and potash. We
as just so much litter and refuse from
the stable or stock yard, but rat her as a
substance that furnishes our crops with
the three prime elements of plant food,
and the manures are of value only as
they are rich in those ingredients.
Another thing that often confuses
the farmer is the name given to special
mixtures by the manufacturers. There is
no such thing as Especial Wheat
Grower" "A Sure Corn Catcher or
The Potato Planters Pride" That is,
there can be no brand compounded for
a special crop that will give maximum
yields on all soils and under varying
conditions. The farmer himself, if he
will study the subject, can best select
the food his crops require for favorable
growth. The careful reading of this
agricultural paper, the experiment sta
ton bulletins, and one or two good books
will be wonderful help and stimulus to
any farmer not now familiar with this
subject.
A word about the so-called complete"
fertilizers. Some manufacturers, desir-
Ing to catch trade on low priced goods,
make complete fertilizers that analyze
something like this: Nitrogen Ii per-
cent, phosphoric acid S percent, and
potash | percent. By glance down
the name column some farmers are i'm
pressed that since all the three prime
elements are listed, it is a complete fer
tilizer and buy accordingly, without
consulting the amount column. l find
this to be common mistake among
farmers. The first and last element are
present in such small quantities that
they might just as we'll have been omit
ted. If clover, cowpeas or other legumes
have been grown, the lacking nitrogen
will not be felt so keenly; but with pot
ash it is different. Since it is valuable
ingredient, as essential as either of the
others, with an individual mission to
perform in plant growth, its absence will
be shown in the yield. Did you ever
determine what a paltry amount l per-
cent potash is? That means but twenty
pounds per ton, and when applied as
some farmers do, at the rate of 80
pounds per acre, is only furnishing pot
ash at the rate of l-2 pounds per acre,
an amount plainly too small for profit
able results. A mixture containing
percent potash, costing perhaps $3.50
additional would undoubtedly add IS
per acre profit.
Much of the success from the result
of fertilizers depends upon the time and
method of application. 1t stands with
out reasoning that the growing crop can
not utilize the plant food in its granulat-
ed form. 1t must be reduced to liquid
before it can be assimilated by the tiny
rootlets and promote plant growth.
Hence the advantage of an early applica-
ton, since portions of the mineral ele-
ments, and nitrogen when applied in the
form of cotton seed or tankage, will be-
come dissolved, furnishing immediate
food for the seed plant.
1t is good practice to apply fertilizers
for potatoes and other quick-growing
crops early in the spring. This can be
done by breaking the soil early, applying
the fertilizers broadcast and narrowing
in. Use from 800 to 1000 pounds per
acre of a fertilizer containing at least s
percent actual potash If application is
not made until time of planting, it is
not advisable to distribute seed and
fertilizer together. Put the plant food
in hill first, cover slightly with dirt be-
fore dropping the seed. Never put the
fertilizer on top of the potato.
Corn roots grow to an astonishing
length even at an early age, and they
will soon be feeding on the fertilizer be-
tween the rows or hills. AS with pota-
toes, don't use a drill that drops the
fertilizer in with the seed, or directly on
top of IT'D. |. Duncan, in New Eng
land Farmer.