The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-03-02

pOlub Is TO OOS6FV9 bl0 grown OF the
plants on the land in question. If they
grow very rapidly and make an abun-
dance of leaf and stalk it is evidence
of good supply of nitrogen. IF there
is not proportionate amount of fruit
it is sure indication that the soil
needs phosphoric acid. On the other
hand, if the plant grows slowly, has
not good color and natures its fruit
before it reaches fair size, it indi-
Gates that the soil requires nitrogen.
1t is now settled that as rule most of
the soils of the south are deficient in
both nitrogen and phosphoric acid,
and some in potash; so when we buy
commercial fertilizers we buy them for
their content of these substances. If
the farmer has saved all his manures
and has grown cow-peas abundantly,
as he should, he will rarely have to
buy nitrogen.
As commercial fertilizers perform
the double functions of supplying food
direct to plants and rendering avail
able plant food already contained in
the soil, their most economical use is
as supplements to the home supply of
manure. 1t is not possible to perma-
nently improve a soil by the use of
commercial fertilizers alone. In order
to effect permanent increase in the
productive capacity of the soil, these
fertilizers should always be used in
connection with stable manure, green
manuring and rotation of crops. BY
green manuring is meant that q crop
of vegetable matter, preferably cow
peas, should he 'urned into the soil at
least once every two years. We should
also be able to have our soil in the
very best mechanical condition posi-
Bile, and give it thorough cultivation.
The question of the right amount of
moisture is very important one, for
the best results cannot be obtained
with either too much or too little.
The final question is, how and when
to apply the fertilizer.
We recommend that where quantities
of from 200 to 400 pounds are to be
used, the fertilizer be applied from q
week to ten days before the time of
planting. With these quantities APP
ply as follows:
After the bed is thrown up, open
same with a furrow down the center,
being careful to open it at least one to
two inches deeper than it is intended
to put the seed. Distribute the ferti-
lizer either by hand or with machine
in this furrow, mix it with the soil,
running bull-tongue at least twice in
the drill, then close the drill with ahar-
row and reopen for the seed, or drop
the latter with planter, being careful
that the seeds do not come in direct
contact with the fertilizer. This mix
ing of the fertilizer with the soil and
preventing direct contact with seed is
very important. If the seed and ferti-
lizer are in contact the vitality of the
former will be wholly or partially de-
stroyed and the result will be poor
stand. IF the fertilizer is not mixed
with the soil the crop is apt to fare
badly with the first dry spell. When
larger quantities of fertilizer than those
mentioned are to be used, then it is
well to put one portion in the drill and |
at the first working bar off a light fur
row on both sides and apply the bal
ance, covering it with subsequent cul-
tivation.
Soils vary so much that it is not
possible in a general article of this
kind to tell just what mixtures to use.
AS a rule our farmers will find cotton
seed meal and acid phosphate the best
fertilizers, and unless large quantities
are to be used, they should mix these
substances themselves. Very poor
soils will do we'll with mixture of two
parts by weight ct cotton seed meal
and one part of acid phosphate for
corn. The same soils would require
equal parts of meal and acid phos-
phate for cotton. On better soils, es-
pecially those that have grown cow
peas the year previous, or to which
stable manure has been recently APP
piled, the latter mixture would do for
corn, but for cotton we should use two
parts OF acid phosphate to one of cot
nol M Sab. L. 4
very little nitrogen is required, and
three parts of phosphate to one of cot
ION seed meal would be about right.
An intelligent use of commercial fer
,ilizers is very important. When en-
Dloyed in this way they are valuable
aid to the farmer, and prove a great
actor in assisting him to fight the boil
Eeevil, but it will not do 20 depend
Upon them alone. If this is done he
'oon pays the penalty in a failure of
he crop. While soils do deteriorate
Vhen we depend upon commercial fer
ilizers alone, this deterioration is not
o much due to their impoverishment
" the action of the fertilizer as to the
destruction OF vegetable matter. A
oil devoid of vegetable matter is I'M
no matter how much plant
ood it may contain, and is exceedingly =
nbiect to the effects of drouth. There {
ore in order to derive the greatest !
enefts from the use of commercial
srtilizers it is necessary to use barn >