The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-02-21

the fertilizer was applied in the burrows
with the seeds While this result was not
contemplated, it was quickly explained
by the fact that the fertilizer that had
been i'll the ground two weeks had under
gone the chemical changes already aliud-
ed to. and its plant food was ready for
the immediate wants of the young plants.
This result suggests that it may be ex-
pedie;t, in any case, to apply a small
quantity-say 20 to 25 pounds-of nitrate
OF soda in the same furrow with the cot
with perfect safety with cotton seeds.
and without danger to corn if not placed
in immediate contact with the seed.
APPLYING FERTILIZER AT THE
TIME OF PLANTING.
This may be understood to mean either
Immediately planting the seed; or 1t may
refer to the practice of putting the fer
tilizer in the furrow with the seed. In
the latter case, there il always a mani
fest danger that the coming growing sea-
son may be unusually dry, in which event
the fertilizer, being SO lightly covered,
may not be dissolved and properly dis
seminated through the soil. 1t may also
follow that the fertilizer being so concen-
trated-en maSSe, as it Were-around the
tender rootlets Of the young plants that
the latter may be injured, or "burned''-
a not inconsiderable danger. The plan
is not advisable except when a very
light application is to be made per acre.
This caution is especially applicable to
burrows and but lightly covered, such as
cotton, and it is generally safer to inter-
pose some soil, or. better, deposit the fer
tilizer in one furrow and plant the seeds
in a furrow Immediately beside; or. vice
versa, plant the seeds first in the furrow,
and then the fertilizer in a furrow close
beside it. But the preferred plan Is to
bed on the fertilizer, and then plant the
seeds, after narrowing down the beds.
/ have often applied 80 to 100 pounds of
a complete, fertilizer per acre in the
furrow with the cotton seeds; but it was
away back in the late sixties and early
seventies when fertilizers sold at $40 to $50
a ton, and very light applications were
supposed to be in the interest Of wise
fertilizers in those days, and were afraid
to put too much guano on the cotton"
That time has passed and gone, and nd the
600 pounds of fertilizer for cotton, a
properly balanced high-grade fertilizer, to
each acre of cotton is not dangerous or
excessive but simply liberal and judi
arithmetic. If 100 pounds per acre is
profitable. and it costs no more labor to
cultivate acre with 500 pounds of ap-
piled fertilizer, then why not increase
the amount invested in fertilizers, and,
if thought advisable. reduce the area and
the labor account?
Now, the well-informed farmer only
ly balanced for the crop he wishes to
grow. and is sold at a fair price. and he
invests literally, just as he would do in
buying anything at such q price that he
may sell at q, profit of from 80 to 100 per
centum and upward. 4 high grade. hon
est fertilizer will meet this requirement.
There is another justification for the
practice Of applying fertilizers at the
time of planting-viz.. when the farmer
has failed to put in his order at the prop
er time. He may then. according to the
proverb-"better late than not at alp
put in the fertilizer with the seed, or at
the time Of planting.