The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-03-18
THE USING OF FERTILIZERS.
An Interesting Article on the Subject
from the Southern CuItivator.

IrOIh Tic southern CuItivatOr.
We wish to discuss briefly fertiliz.
ing, not fertilizers. We wish to call
attention to the using of fertilizers
themselves.
We gather, from our numerous in
quires upon this subject, that very
many do not fully understand this
important part Of farming.
There seems to be an impression
that we use fertilizers for the benefit
Of the soil. This Is great mistake.
They are intended to help the crop
and not the soil.
Certain element of plant food are
made soluble and therefore quickly
available to growing plants. We cal
these fertilizers. We use them tC
help make the crops grow more rapid
ly and mature earlier.
We use them because they are not
soil food, but plant food.
Now we see at once that fertilizer
to be good must be such that the
first plant will take 1T up. Hence We
use, should use them, SO as to get the
quickest returns.
WHY DO WE FERTILIZE?
Mainly on account Of our ignorance
and laziness. We don't know that
the same ingredient of plant food
which we are buying, already exists
in the soil in abundant supply Or II
we know this we are not willing to dC
the work necessary TO get these from
the soil.
We find that by scratching the sol
three or four inches aud using these
bought helps, we can force fair crop.
Hence we prefer to sit about idle all
the fall and winter, and then rely up.
on the fertilizer to make the crop.
If we break the soil deep and pull
verize it very finely, it will supply the
same things we buy. But that means
work, and most of us are lazy.
BY continuous bad preparation and
bad cultivation, and the stimulus OF
fertilizers, we greatly injure the soil.
That is we decrease its productive
power.
SHALL We CONTINUE TO USE THEN?
1t will pay us to do so. if we use
them right. DO all we can to get ou1
soil in productive shape, and then
help it out by judicious use of fertili.
zcrs. We should buy as cheaply as
possible. TO do this we must get the
ingredients and do our mixing, as faI
as possible. Buy the phosphorus and
potash and ammonia each in the
cheapest shape.
Then mix with reference to the cror
we are expecting to use it upon.
Plants all use much the same fOoC
and in very much the same proper.
tiOn.
Phosphoric acid, potash, ammonia
are the ingredients the crops need
Some need more Of one, and some
more Of another of these.
AS the Southern farmers raise al
the cotton seed, they do not need tc
buy more nitrogen. Ii properly
handled, the cotton seed will supply
this clement, at least as much of il
as is needed after we have taken care
of all the animal manureS and rottinp
vegetation.
The phosphoric acid and potash we
can not raise. We must work this
out of the soil or buy it.
Decn plowing, rotting of crops,
growing grasses and cloverS and peas
and cattle will soon supply all the
elements OF fertility. But until this
Is done, we must buy acid and kainit
or muriate of potash.
If we are fertilizing the grain crops,
and large number OF truck crops,
, s.S.l as cabbage ana tomatoes, then
we need some ammonia
For all Of the lcgumcDouS crops we
napl nnIy nnii and ,,ntnUE ~. 80
ton, we need very small quantity of
of ammonia.
Ii the previous crop was peas OF
clover or Bermuda grass we do not
need any ammonia for cotton or corn
But If the land has been badly hand.
led or planted in ordinary crops we
will need some.
In writing to inquire to fertilize il
is not necessary to describe your soil
The soil is the workshop, and varies
too much to enable any one to pre-.
scribe for it.
FORMULAS.
OF course these are merely guides.
You can vary them to suit your cir
cumstanccs. But they will fit most
cases.
For cotton:
Acid phosphate 80. 1900 pounds
@. S. Meal ...... 500 ''
kainit. ............ 300
If you use muriatc, 100 los. will do.
For corn:
Acid phosphate 49, 1000 pounds
y. D Meal .... .... 600
haihit ,............. 400