Evening journal., 1903-05-19
Growing.

Useful Hints That Will Help in Good
Growing.
A large proportion Of the commercial fer
tnizers used on the farm Is applied in the
FAN, and especially on the wheat crop
which, in this section. is seeded down at
that season. Fertilizers are costly or
cheap according to the manner I'm which
they are used. There are three main in
gradients IN all complete fertilzers-nitro-
gen, potash and phosphorlc acid. The lat
ter is sold in a soluble form as super
phosphate, and IN the insoluable form as
ground bone or crude phosphate rock.
When used In the spring the safest mode
OF applying phosphoric acid IS as super
phosphate, in order to derive benefit from
II as speedily as possible, but on the
wheat crop, which allows quite a period of
time before the growing season, the cheap
er form of phosphate is ground bone, for
the reason that 1t will cost something for
converting the bone into superphosphate.
and because there may be a loss OF the
soluble phosphorio acid during the winter
from rains, which, however depends upon
the character OF the soil, the loss being
lighter on clay soils than on those that are
sandy. Nitrogen IS not 50 important in
the summer and fail compared with the
results derived from It in the spring, as it
is very soluble and quickly shows its ef-
fects when applied to the crop. Nearly
all the phosphates, IL derived from bone
contain nitrogen. and there will conse-
quently be no lack Of that material at any
period. Potash assists I'm dissolving silica,
which provides the bony structure Of all
plants, and aaso enter into the compost
ton OF the straw and seed. In the form
OF wood ashes. or in the shape Of muriate
or sulphate of potash, 1t is not very costly.
Although commercial fertilizers can be
made to supply the elements that are
wanting in the soil. the use OF barnyard
manure that has been thoroughly fer
mented will supply all that may be re-
quired by plants; but the point in selecting
fertilizers is to procure those that assist
TO make the barnyard manure more COM
plete. The farmer can Judge Of the quality
/ Of his manure, TO a certain extent, by
comparing its quality with chat Of the
/ food from which II IS produced. Rich food
makes rich manure, and yet IL the food Is
rach in nitrogen and deficient in the phos-
pilates IL Is only rich so far as dts use is
TO be applied to certain kinds OF crops
as scme crops prefer the manure rich ir
nitrogen; others desire potash, while agair
others thrive best on manure nboundine
In the phosphates. BY carefully selecting
the fertilizers that will balance" the ma
nure the farmer will save the expense OF
procuring substances Of which he is not
IN need.
One OF the cheapest methods OF enrich.
ing worn-out soils Is by the plowing in Of
green crops. In this process no assistance
from the chemist is needed TO analyze the
sold OF the manure, as one can safely de-
pend upon the vegetable matter that was
grown on the soil to nourish another
growth Of the same. and IL plowing i.
done at the proper season, so as to com.
pieteiy subvert the sod thus covering the
! growth, fermentation will be rapid enough
and viii pulverize the soil more rapidly
than repeated plowsngs. For medium, OF
clay lands no better plant IS known thar
the COW pea. 1t gives a rank folages, doe.
not draw the soil very much, and can be
turned in very easily. It has been claimed
that two applications OF it will make q
soil, with a slight application Of lime, fit e
grow clover. For sandy soils, the old
fashioned buckwheat comes in as a de
stroyer Of weeds and grasses crowdine
them completely out, and as it Is q quicl
grower, two green crops can be turned Il
the same season. A1llet is also a good
green manure, but for it the soil require,
feeding little. Spurry is known as th'
clover Of sandy soils, but It is doubtful 4
there are many who have tried 1t. Tn,
practice Of blowing in green manures ha.
long been known, even 10 the ancients, ans
has always proved to be beneficial when
ever TIED. Farmers seem to dislike it OF
account Of ITS being a slow way OF reno
walton, but when manure is high and th'
soil Ioor it comes I'm as the best thing tha
can be done. Even as a part OF the regu
iar rotation it fills a most important link