The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-02-21
Using Fertilizers Economically.
Wilson Co., N. G.

Using Fertilizers Economically.
The area of land to be planted and the location
of each crop should now be definitely fixed and
preparation be made for making these areas ready
for planting in the order in which they should be
planted. Orders should at once be given for the
fertilizer needed to be used, so that it may be on
hand when required, and time not be lost wait
ing for it's delivery. In connection with this sub
ject of fertilizers, we want to urge upon each
farmer the Importance of not buying fertilizer
simply by the name, but of studying the require
ments of his land and of the. particular crop to be
grown, and of meeting these by buying only the
ingredients needed and not some fertilizer having
a high sounding name, but in all probability only
containing the minimum quantity of the actual
ingredients needed. Thousands of dollars, yea,
probably hundreds of thousands of dollars, are
thrown away every year in the South in buying
fertilizer with an analysis of s-2-2, when a
plain acid phosphate. with an analysis of u to IA
per cent of phosphoric acid would have met all
the requirement of the land. We have never been
able to see what possible benefit any crop can be
supposed to derive. from a fertilizer containing
only 2 per cent of nitrogen and 2 per cent of
potash. Let any farmer weigh forty pounds of
any fertilizer and look at it. and then at an acre
of land, and try to imagine how any plant in that
acre can get any benefit from the infinitesimal
small quantity of the fertilizer which even the APP
p~lication of a ton to the acre of a fertilizer with
an analysis of S-2@2 could supply, and then let
him try to imagine what an application of 200
pounds to the acre-a very common application
means, four pounds of nitrogen and four pounds
of potash to the acre. The crop that can flourish
with this can surely flourish without it. Except
for such crops as Irish potatoes or tobacco, we be-
lieve that what all land in the South mostly needs
is phosphoric acid and nitrogen. The phosphoric
acid should be supplied by making the inert phos-
phoric acid always present In all soils available by
fine and deep breaking of the soil and repeated
cultivation, and the use of lime, and then supple
ment this by 800 to 500 pounds to the acre of II
to IA per cent acid phosphate. The nitrogen need
ed should be got from the atmosphere by the
growth of leguminous crops. These get it much
more cheaply than it can be bought from the fer
tilizer dealer. Where these crops have not been
grown, or where more nitrogen is needed. it can
be best supplied i'll the South by cotton-seed meal.
where only a slow action is required, and by nj
trate of soda where quick action is needed. In
using these ingredients instead of the mixed fer
tllizer a man knows what he is applying and the
degree of availability of form used. Wherever
possible, let crops of corn, cotton and tobacco fol-
low crops of clover or cow-peas turned down.
1hese Will enable heterogeneous fertilizers to be dis
pensed with, and thus cut off the heaviest item
In the fertilizer bill. Use barn-yard manure to
the greatest possible ~extent.-Southern Planter
for February.