The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-06
Nitrate of Soda as Fertilizer for
 0atH.

Nitrate of Soda as. Fereiher TOT
 Oats.
 The winter killing of large propor tion of fan sown oats and the srhaii planting of spring sown oats py reason of wet weather make it doubly impor- tant that every acre of oats now grow inc he made to yield its maximum In thIs connection we should remember that it is important for Alabama to rrow her own seed oats to avoid the possibility of introducing the DOH weevil in seed oats brought in the fall from the boil weevil region. This danger is now greater than it has been before by reason of the fact that the boil weevil has only recently invaded the northeastern part of Texas which constitutes the principal oat-growins region of the State. Indeed there IS now quarantine against the bringing in of oats from the infested territory. Hence every farmer ought to proVloe for an abundance of seed oats next 1ail. Those who grow more oats than they need will doubtless find good sale TOT them as seed oats for their neighbors next fall. It is now too late to employ on oats either cotton seed or cotton seed meal, since an application of these fertilizers on the surface is wasteful. ana since they rot and become available too slowly to be applied to oats this late: Indeed about the only fertilizer that can be applied with advantage now to oats or wheat is nitrate of soda. The nitrogen in this material Is immediate 1y and entirely available, differing In this respect from the nitrogen in cot ton seed and cotton seed meal, which must decay before plants can use the nitrogen.
 Let us see if it pays to use nitrate
 Nf ft,a q 0 T Experiment Station issued seven years ago, the writer gave the results of tests at Auburn on this point. Eighty pounds of nitrate of soda per acre ap- piled to fall oats on March 2Sth gave an increase of 12.9 bushels of oats per acre. The increase due to the nitrate would doubtless have been greater 1T cotton sed meal had not been used as fertilizer for these oats when planted. The same year 120 pounds of nitrate of soda applied to spring sown oats afforded an increase of 9.9 bushels per acre. no nitrogen whatever having been applied at the planting.
 Results published by the writer In Bulletin No. P just issued by the Cane brake Experiment Station at Unlon- town show an increase of from 11.3 to 32.2 bushels of oats per acre according to the amount of nitrate used. Taking average results on prairie land at Uniontown for two years, the increase from 200 pounds of nitrate of soda was 2s.S bushels; from 100 pounds of nitrate of soda 155 bushels, and from 50 pounds 11.3 bushels. Likewise the re- suits at Auburn show that the smaller amounts were relatively more effective. For example, one year at Auburn the increase for 160 pounds of nitrate of soda was 17.7 bushels and from so pounds the increase was 129 bushels. Ordinarily I would recommend the ap- plication of about so pounds per acre. However where the acreage of oats surviving the winter is small, it may pay well to use the larger amounts even though the larger amounts may not pay so large a per centage of the investment in fertilizers.
 Putting the matter in another light. we find that at Uniontown every bushel of Increase due to the use of 200 pounds of nitrate per acre cost 21 cents. and every bushel of increase due to 100 pounds of nitrate cost 19 cents. The writer's earlier experiments at Au- burn from 1890 to 1898 indicated that nitrate of soda should be applied at least fifty-five days before the time of the expected harvest, and it would be still better if 60 to 75 days should elapse between the date of application and that of harvest. This means that itI Ldll OdIS III pOItlOHS Ol lHS ctdtS where they ripen about the first of June, nitrate of soda may be applied as late as the first of April. Indeed it may be said in general terms that any date in March is suitable.
 For the best effect, the soil should be rather moist when the nitrate is ap- piled.
 In this case it immediately dissolves and it's effect may become visible with . in week. Heavy rains imme ately after application are wasteful of ni- trate of soda, hence it is generally better to apply it as the weather clears after rain. Not only does nitrate of soda greatly increase the yield of grain of wheat or oats. but it increases the yield of hay or straw to at least an equal extent. For example in one experiment at Auburn an application of so to 100 pounds of this fertilizer in- creased the yield of oat hay three- fold
 One farmer, after his first years ex- perience in using nitrate of soda. said to the writer that with nitrate he could make oats in spite of dry weath- CT, meaning that the prompt start thrifty growth. and reserve of plant food in the vege.ative organs rendered a failure from drought less complete with oats thus fertilized.
 I am not quite so independent cf weather, but am equally convinced of the importance of this fertilizer for crops of small grain.
 J. F. D. MeIiIotus the Best Crop for Poor Prai-
 rie Soils This Year.
 An Arkansas correspondent asks