The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-03-05
THE sage Of POSSUM FORK
SHOWS HOW A LARGE PORTION
OF FERTILIZERS is LOST.
The UnWisdom Of Applying Fer
tiiizers All at Once-Make a
Second Application.


Editor County Record
The phosphate rock of Coosaw
river and other mines are made solu.
ble when pulverlzed by treating with
sulphuric acid. If these rocks were
soluble in their natural water-covered
state, the water would soon dissolve
all soluble portions and carry them
ont to the ocean.
But an all-wise Providence. in
natures great chemical laboratory,
has kept 1t in such insoluble combi-
nations as to save it indefinitely for
the use of intelligent creatures, who
prepare it for immediate use and
often put it in the ground in March
to BE- dissolved and Carried away to
the sea by heavy rains long before
the most critical period Of crop life
especially the corn crop. Cotton also
has a critical period-while it is
putting on most of its fruit-when
it will shed it shapes If not Supplied
with plant food, and that means a
a second application of fertilizer.
Some think that heavy quantity at
first is all right; but it depends upon
conditions. A wet spell will carry
away the manure if the water be
allowed to run down the rows.
Last year cotton held its shapes
and bolls much better than usual
:because the fertilizer lay in the
ground during the drouth until the
late rains set it to work when it sus-
tained the fruit and also produced a
lively scct.nd growth in the fall.
An old farmer, giving advice to
young farmers, said: "When you set
crop prepare fo- dry weather; give
distance." He should have. added,
''prepare also wet weather-don't let
the water run away with the ma
uure." This 10 one of the greatest
engineering problems for the farmer.
Many plongh up aud down hill, put
in their fertilizer early before plant
ing, put q furrow or two on 1t and
think they have it safe for the crop.
But If too much rain set in there is
great danger Of large amounts going
to the swamps.
Once our lot and stables were
down a bill and many times saw
rain water sweep in at one pair of
bars and into the stables and out OH
the opposite side of the lot, and take
the road in reddish stream for the
branch. 1: did not wash the land
away but the soluble portions of
the manure went all the same. l
had never heard of terracing or of
rows run on a level, but had sense
enough to move my stables out of
that low place, which improved my
manures very much.
But if your patience is not already
taxed too much and you will listen
to repetition OF tale already twice
told, let me tell you again how
nicely I saw it demonstrated on q
mud bank IN Georgetown. The
bank was new, and in June during
dry spell / was on it and saw patches
of white substance like salt in
many places, which found to be
alum, 80 / asked how it got on the
surface. There is but one way
capillary attraction. Moisture is
always rising in dry weather, so as
soon rs rising moisture touches the
particle of suy soluble substance it
is dissolved and when brought to the
surface the sun dries off the water
and leaves the substar ce on the top
where rains dissolve il and carry it
away, if allowed to run at all. But
if it is not allowed to run it soaks
back into the ground and there re-
mains for future or immediate use.