The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-02-06
much good, and its field of
usefulness could be enlarged
if it was properly provided
for by the legislature.
The USE OF FERTILIZERS.


the coming year, it would be well
for the farmer to review carefully
the work for the past season, that
he may derive profit from the sue
cesses and avoid the repetition of
his mistakes.
The question of the proper use of
commercial fertilizers is perhaps
one of the most important consider
atoms of the Southern planter, for,
outside the rich alluvial deposits of
the river valleys, the use of fertiliz-
ers becomes practical necessity in
profitable farming.
After many years of continuous
cultivation, lands once rich enough
to bring profitable returns for the
labor expended, become exhausted
through the removal of immense
quantities of plant food in the sue
cessive crops. In many cases this
soil exhaustion is much fastened by
the washing of land. Where no
cover crops are used, the alternate
freezing and thawing of the winter
loosens the soil, and the finer par
ticles, together with much soluble
plant food, are carried away by the
winter and spring rains.
1t is we'll known that potash,
phosphoric acid and nitrogen are
the necessary elements of fertility,
and if one or all Of these elements
are deficient in soil, paying crops
cannot be made. 1t, therefore, be-
comes a matter of the greatest inn
portance to the farmer to return to
his soil, in some proportion at least,
these three elements contained in
crops sold and carried away. In the
case of crops fed to animals, the
manure should be, Of course, care
fully saved and spread upon the
land, but it is a we'll known fact
that few if any Southern farmers
have anything like sufficient sup
ply of manure. The question of
the proper use, value and preserva-
ton of farmyard manure is itself a
broad one, and it is we'll to mention
here that, while manure does con-
tain the elements of complete fer
tilizer, these are not combined in
the proper proportion. Stable ma
nure always contains an excess of
nitrogen, and, to obtain its full eff
feet, it should be supplemented by
the addition of phosphoric acid and
potash.
There is an inexhaustible supply
of nitrogen in the air, but this can
be used only by certain crops like
the clovers, vetches and peas. The
cow pea has been called the clover
of the South. A good crop turned
under will store a large quantity of
nitrogen i'll the soil. This nitrogen
comes from the air, and the soil has
been, therefore, enriched by the pea
crop. These elements must be sup
piled from other sources. 1t does
not matter how much nitrogen a
soil may contain, it will be of no
practical benefit if the potash and
phosphoric acid are not also present
in proportional amounts.
If good crop Of peas has been
turned under, liberal application
of fertilizer, containing potash
and phosphoric acid, sh ould always
follow. If no peas or other nitro
gen gathering crops have been en-
ployed in rotation, a so-called COM
plete fertilizer is necessary. By com.
plete fertilizer | mean one contain
ing potash, phosphoric acid andnitro-
gen sometimes given as ammonia).
In purchasing fertilizers it should
be remembered that those of the
highest grade are usually the cheap
est to use. Many farmers are mis-
led by the low prices of some mix
ture on the market. We must not
forget only low grade fertilizers can
be sold cheaply and these cheap fer
tilizers usually prove themselves the
most exp ensive in the end.
Fertilizers generally return larg-
er profit on land that is well drain
ed and in a good mechanical condi-
ton. In as much as it cannot pay
to cultivate poor land, our soils
must be enriched by commercial fer
and the gradual increased
Use of fertilizers is sure indication
Of the Improvement in our agricult-
lral practice. J. D. WOODS,
Hickory Valley, Tenn.
BIDS WANTED.