The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-03-19

Talks With Farmers.


prices Of cereal CROPS and OF fertillzinc
materials respectively the profitable
production OF corn. wheat and oats
upon chemical or commercial fertiIi-
zers, or upon barnyard uanures. if
its cost be proportionate 10 that Of the
chemical constituents OF fertility found
II. commercial fertiiizers.N is a hone
less undertaking. unless these crops
be grown in systematic rotation
with clover or q similar nitrogen-stor-
ing crop. and the poorer the soil in
natural fertility the smaller the prnb-
ability Of profitable crop production
by means OF artificial fertilizers ."
rms was true when written and il
Is still true. and the further the in
vestisations go the more evident il is
that the true use of the commercial
fertilizers is 10 aid in the production
of the crops that 9pable Us TO get
the costly nitrogen without cost from
the air and which al the same dime
furnish the means for increasing the
humuS content of the soil. both
through the roots and etubble left ara
the organic matter returned To the soil
from the feeding Of forage We have
often said and our experience has
been backed by Station Investigations
elsewhere, that we never could find u
pfoht III the use of 4 complete arti-
flclal fertilizer on the corn croD ut
the usual prices Of grain and fcrtili-
ZerS. OF course, one can largely in =
crease the crop by liberal applica-
ton of d good fertilizer. but if the
farmer would test the matter by leav-
ing q portion. Of the field uafertilized
and would then compare the croD with
that produced by the aid of fertilizer.
he viii usually find that the
+ increased crop has not paid
the cost of the fertilizer. when q com
t plete mixture, or one containing q due
percentage Of nitrogen with the phOs-
phoric acid and potash has been used
The true method of growing corn is
always to have a clover or grass sod
for it, on which all the farm manure
has been evenly spread with the MAJ
nure sDrcader. Then he can follow
this with a small grain crop to which
i It viii pay To apply partial fertilizer
or one containing only phOSphoric acid
] and potash, and by practicing 4 short
rotation, in which clover or other
s1egumes come in often. he need never
> spend Il cent for nitrogen in any form
! The American farmers are today vast
/ ing more money in commercial ferti-
i liZers than in any other thing bought
for the farm. Not that the, should
not use the fertilizers, but that they
should use them judiciousiy and in the
proper form, and always have in view
! the Improvement of the productivity
Of tn" soil rather than the immediate
= sale OF crops produced Q1fecllN rs me
result Of the application Of the ferti-
] i4ler
IN common with farmers in general
the National Grange has been tryins
/ to get the parcels post established
i Put SO far the influence of the rail
| roads and express companies has pre-
vented anything being done Ship
pers wonder at the delay in the ordi-
/ nary freights. but there is no mystery
| about it, for the railroads try to com
! pei people to use the fast freights anC
| express companies, which are com
bned With the railroads against the
ordinary shipper and are opposing the
/ parcels post. a friend Of ours re-
| Gently had two trunks shinDed by faS
| freight from Washington 10 Salt Lake
City and the freight was s4S. The
charges pay the railroads better thar
| ordinary freight and they want, ol
course TO have as much sent for the
| high rates as possible In Great Brit
! ain. a parcel Weighing / pounds car
be sent bN mail for "a cents In the
/ United States such d parcei would nave
| to be divided into three packages anC
| would cost by mail, $1.16. Grea
Britain will send q parcel OF | pounds
/ to the utmost parts of the British Em-
| nire for 70 cents. while 10 send the
| same in three parcels from Phllade!-
| Dhia to New York costs s1.f6