Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-27
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Fertilizer Facts,

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w. - d" Fertilizer Facts. -
A report OF the New Jersey expert
ment station says that fertilizers are
fertilizers only when they contain one
or more of the essential constituents
OF plant growth, i. e., nitrogen, potash
and phosphoric acid in such materials
as nitrate Of soda, sulphate of ammo
MIA, acid phosphate, ground boue, mu-
rate OF potash, etc., and when their
application to the soil will contribute
quite as much or more to the growth
OF crops and the constituents already
there. The chief cause of unsatisfac-
tory results from the application of
fertilizers to soils deficient in avail
able plant food is that the person u.s.
ing them does not understand the
character of the materials he is hand
ling or the characteristics Of growth
and specific needs of the plant whose
growth he intends to encourage.
While the value of a commercial fer
tilizer is determined almost exclu-
sively by the amount and form of the
nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid
which it contains, it does not follow
that all soils or crops will respond
equally to applications of fertilizers
containing those elements because
the needs of soils and the require
ments of crops vary. Soils differ in
respect to their need for specific ele-
ments owing either to their method Of
formation or to their MANAGEMENT
and cropping. A sandy soil is usually
deficient in all the essential elements
OF plant food, while clayey soil
usually contains the mineral elements
in abundance, particularly potash. On
the other hand, soil very rich in veg
etable matter is frequently deficient
in mineral matter, while a limestone
soil is likely to contain considerable
proportions of phosphoric acid.
Irrigation at the New Mexico Expert
ment Station.
In the October 9Th issue of the
Farmers Review there was an article
on Irrigating by Means of Steam
Pumps. It referred to experiments
made at the New Mexico Experiment
station. In some mysterious way the
word Arizona was substituted for
New Mexico, and the latter station
was thus deprived of proper credit.
The New Mexico station was prompt
in calling our attention to the matter,
and we hasten to make all amends
possible. The work being done by
the New Mexico station is certain to
bear abundant fruit, especially in
semi-arid America, That station has
demonstrated that a six-inch well will
trrigate a considerable area of terri
tory, when the water is applied as
mentioned. Moreover it has been
shown that the cost is much lighter
than was supposed. It further dem.
onstrated that ordinary fuel can be
used, such as wood of various kinds.
There are many localities where fuel
is a positive nuisance, but where ir-
rigation would be very profitable.
Since the publication of the article
October 8, the Farmers Review has
received a further communication
from the station on the subject in
which the writer says: "Since the
press bulletin was issued our work
has been even more successful, and
we have thrown from the six-inch
well already described a stream of
over 1000 gallons a minute"
The Capon.
T. Greiner: 1t is easier to castrate
young cockerel than a pig or a lamb.
1t is profitable in more ways than one.
Once operated on, capons become the
most tractable and peaceable animals
imaginable. They do not run nor
capons while young grow faster or lay
on more flesh from a given amount of
food than unaltered males Of the same
age do. AS long as the cockerel is
young enough so that no energy goes
into the reproductive organs, l think
their development is about at an even
rate. But there is change after a
time. The development of the organs
of reproduction in the male and his
growing activity and restlessness con-
sumo energy, which in the capon is
saved for flesh production Water
comes to certain degree of heat only.
All the excess above this is utilized
for the production of steam. 1t is the
same thing. with the rooster. He
grows to certain size or weight, and
all the surplus energy above this IS