The Florida agriculturist., 1905-11-08


soil if they are lacking.
While the clay soil may contain
large amount of potash in the silicate
form. it will not be safe to assume
that sufficient amount is available
to balance the phOSphOric acid tine
form in which we use phOsphorus). Tor
it has been found that neither
phosphoric acid nor potash will have
it's full effect unless there is a due
percentage of both available in the
soil or applied in a fertilizer.
There are millions of dollars thrown
away i'm North Carolina and adjoining
States every year in the purchase of
nitrogen (Or ammonia. as the fertl1zer
men prefer to put it. since the figures
look large) and it is easy. as l have
said to improve the fertility of the
soil and to get annually increasing
crops without buying an ounce of
nitrogen. provided the farmer farms
and does not merely speculate on the
chances with formula.
I am perfectly familiar with the
| finest wheat growing sections OF East
ern Maryland. and visited there about,
ten days ago. While riding on the train
I conversed with a leading farmer and
said that i'm the long time since [ had
been there could see a great improve
ment i'm the crops. though good farm
ing always been the rule there. "Yes."
said he. ''we used to think that 40
bushels of corn was pretty good
crop. but now we get 10 or more
bushels of corn and 40 bushels of
wheat per acre" They formerly used
Peruvian guanO and afterwards the
formula mixtures and made 10 to 10
bushels per acre. For the last twenty
years the best farmers there have not
bought an ounce of nitrogen and have
used nothing but an application of
acid phosphate on their wheat and
have Dracticed three year rotation
of corn wheat and clover One of
these farmers told me that during the
last twenty years he has averaged 40
bushels of wheat per acre. and this
on similar land no better than any of
our red clay upland, if as good. natur-
lally.
The grain farmer and the cotton
farmer have no need for buying nitro
gen. This is especially true of the cot
ton farmer. if he feeds the meal from
his cotton seed and the hay he can
make from COW peas and the slower of
his corn well shelled. and carefully
saves the manure to return to the land
broadcast for the corn crOD. Then IT
the corn is properly cultivated and is
cut and shocked while the fodder is
, good and peas have been SOwn amOn@
, if before the last working. he can chOn
. these M with the cIItaway harrow till
, fine and all the organic matter left on
top the soil and can with a disk drill
seed small grain and have the dead
pea vines as a mulch and top dressing
. Then he will need on the wheat only
300 pounds of a mixture parts acid
phosphate and one part muriate OF
potash. Then follow the wheat with
peas. and the peas will do more fol
you i'm the way of getting nitrogen
and making forage if you give them a
similar application: both applications
costing no more than one of the Orili
{ nary complete fertilizer. Then cut the
meas and cure them for hay and SOW
I crimson clover and rye on the stubble
l the rye to guard AGAINST the failure OF
I tthe clover Turn these i'm the spring
for cotton without fertilizer of any sOlrt
, Sow among the cotton at last working
r more crimson clover and rye. and dur
f ing the winter get out and spread or
p il all the home accumulation OF
/. manure and turn all for corn and {
r,axx md Of nfn