Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-09-09
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Eln wood, S. C., Aug. 2s-'O3.

Editor ADVERTISER:
This communication is prompte
by the editorial III your last issue en-
titled "Fertilizers, Facts and Fig
ures." Comparatively few farmers
realize the immensity of the annual
outlay for commercial fertilizers. l
have no reliable data for making any
estimate, but from observation we
must calculate that we are not using
commercial fertilizers either econom-
ically or proftably. In this section
of the county it is customary to apply
200 pounds of guano or acid ] hos
phate to the acre. This has been
costing about S2.10per sack and $l.60
for the acid on time. 1t takes about
three acres to make one bale of cotton.
Now. it is obvious that the farmer is
indirectly taxing himself from $l.SO
to $3.50 on every bale of cotton that he
makes. Taking one year with another
the farmersdo not make profit of So 90
per bale on cotton. The entire crop,
may say, is consumed by the cost of
labor and fertilizers. Most of those
who read this article will, i believe,
agree in tins statement, but will there
be one to suggest remedy?
Theoretically, the remedy would be
to reduce the area in hoed crops,
thereby reducing accounts for labor
better ploughing and more of it;
more acreage in pastures and more
live stock; more grain, clover, pea,
hay and corn stover. We want to see
more farm machinery, such as bind.
ers, mowers, hay presses, corn shred
ders, etc. We want to see the farm
ers make an effort to save what is
thrown away and washed aroun q
their yards and lots. / do not recall
the name of single farmer VIII is
making domestic fertilizers in busl-
ness way. We are right now in search
of materi al for winter -bedd ng and
are hauling saw dust and straw and
putting under shelter Tor winter use
1t is said that fOur-tifths of the ferti-
l,zer propert ties of the dropping of
farm animals Is in the liquid, and that
33 l-3 per cent of the ammonia in the
solids is lost Immediately by evanoI a
ton. Now with an occasional load of
wet pine straw thrown into a horse
stable and the cows left in an open
lot there is not much manure made.
Absor beats or cement floors must be
relied upon to catch the drOppings.
Cement is out of question with the
average farmer so he will have to rely
upon absorbents, and OF these dry saw
dust is the best we have been able tO
get. All bedding should br put in dry
and il should be used literally. AL
most anything that will absorb water
will make good bedding. We prefer 3
mixed bed of dry saw dust and dry
pine straw. Wheat straw is too heat
ing. 1t is uncomfortable for stock,
burns up the manure unless often re-
moved aud used with liberal amOl mt
of saw dust.
AS regards the treatment of the
solid droppings barrel or box OF
road dust or guysum should be kept
convenient aud enough sprihkl I'll over
them each day to absor tie ammonia.
Domestic fertilizers should be han.
died as infrequently as possible. We
prefer to carry them Immediately
from the stables TO the field and COM
post them in the open furrOw with
acid phosphate, but where there are
deleterious seeds oil weeds, onions, or
Objectionable grasses i. is best to COM
post in heap sufficiently long enough
to destroy the termination Of seeds.
When manure is 'mpOsted in heaps
it should have a liberal amount OF Il
mixture of acid phosphate and kainit
thoroughly incorporated with 1t to
conserve the nitrogen. And if very
dry it should be wet in order to pre-
foD h n ha