Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1907-04-18
EERrILIzINe THE CROP.

Is to produce q larger yield of the crop
already growing, on the land to which
the fertilizer Is to be applied. AS rule,
It contains from ten to sixteen per cent.
OF more or less promptly available plant
food. In other words, a commercial fer
tilizer contains in every hundred pounds
weight from 10 to IS pounds of available
phosphoric. acid, either alone, or that
amount of phosphoric acid and potash
combined or of these two and nitrogen
combined, making in the latter case, what
is called a complete fertilizer. Now,
this 10 to 1e pounds in each 100 pounds
OF the fertilizer is supposed to be, and
should be, practically soluble and avail
able at once, or within q week or two.
for the use of the crop, says Virginia
Carolina Fertilizer Almanac.
Tho remaining portion OF the fertilizer,
or the "a to 80 pounds In each 100 pounds,
hs O. mixture of insoluble phosphate and
eulphate of lime, some sand, water, Or
ganic matter and other things that are
necessarily incident to tho manufacture.
and ,annot be economically removed.
They are OF very little immediate value
to either the crop or the soil.
So when we apply a high grade fertil-
izer to the soil the object is to supply
the plants with soluble plant food and
increase the yield of the cotton, grain,
grass. or whatever the crop may be-.
heIp the land Because Il induces ae larger e
growth of stalk roots and foliage OF the
plants--or those parts that will be- re-
turned to-. and become part of the soil.
not only increases the yield OF seed cot
ton, but also the size of the stalks,
the foliage, huns and other parts that
go Immediately back and form a part of
the soil In the shape of humus- (decayed
vegetable matter). But the principal way
to improve the soil itself, is to add vege-
table matter to 1t in the form OF stable
manure, renovating crops, rotation OF
crops, ETC., in more direct manner.
1t would seem manifest, then, II we
wish to increase the yield Of corn, cotton
nuhaaf 0atq that the farfiltZeT
should contain the three elements" OF
plant food in the proportions that are
best suited to the particular crop. This
Is particularly true IL the purpose Is to
use liberal amounts of fertilizer per acre.
In. such case the deficient supply, In the
natural soil, Of any one or more Of the
three valuable" elements (phosphoric
acid, nitrogen and potash) need not be
specially considered
According to carefully conducted field
experiments, conducted at many Of the
experiment stations. It has been found
that cotton requires a Fertilizer that con-
tains about one part each Of nitrogen and
potash and 3 1-3 parts of available phos-
phorlc acid This demand would be met
by fertilizer containing 10 per cent.
available phosphoric iacid, per cent OF
nitrogen and per cent: Of potash; or.
as ordinarily expressed, a 1888 fertilizer.
One analyzing 9-2.70-1.70; or 8-2.40-2.40;
or 7--210-2.10, ETC., would answer Just as
well, provided these lower grades be. APP
piled In heavier quantities,
So, 1t has been found that corn, sugar
cane sorghum, grasses and other crops
belonging to the grass family respond
best, to fertilizer that shall contain 10
parts of phosphoric acid, parts Of nitro.
gen and 2 parts of potash. or q 1854
fertilizer. The following formulas are
in precisely the same. proportions, only
they. are of lower grade, and would give
practically the same results only when a
correspondingly, larger application Shall
be made per aere-viz, s-460-1.So, or
pradaq he QOld
at lower prices than the high, grades;
but, US q rule. the farmer win find 1t
more economical to buy the high grades.
per unit and also the saving OF freight
the latter being precisely the same per
ton. forsboth high and low grades.
APPLYING Y FERTILIZER WHEN
PLANTING.
While It is certainly true in our ex-
perience, that the greater part of the fer-
tilizer should be applied about two weeks
beSpre the crop, is to be planted, well
and bedded on, there are circumstances
that would justify a farmer in making
one; or more intercultural applications.
including one at the actual date of plant
ing. The following are such circumstan-
ces:
al When a. farmer has not been able
to secure the whole amount Of his fer
tilizers before planting time.
% When he concludes. after his crop
has been planted and is growing, that
ne ulu not Duy ana apply as mucn as ne
should have done before planting.
90 When the yellowish green color and
want of vigor In the appearance OF the
plants. indicate that more nitrogen is
needed by the crop.
We believe It may be safely accepted
ms a general rule that small portion
OF Virginia Carolina Fertilizer should be
applied with, or near the seed, at the
time of planting. The effect of this small
application Is to>supply the young plants
with available food during tine first stage
ofiftheir growth. inducing prompt and
: Vigorous development. For this purpose
40 to so pounds per acre may be applied
ofsfhe same fertilizer that had been bed
ded on two weeks before planting.
A second application OF high-grade fer
tilizers may be made at the second or
third blowing OF cotton. or at six or eight
inches height of the plants up to is inch
ess.or the middle to last of May. and the
The intercultural applications may be
made In the siding furrow, or the fer
tilizer may be strewn along in the middles
ahead of the plow or cultivator. There
is mo need to fear that the plants will
not get the benefit OF high-grade fer
tilizer If put anyhere, on or between the
rows. June 26th is the latest date at
which the writer has ever applied fer
tilizer In this way to either corn or cot
ton, although there is little reason to
doubt that even later applications would
benefit the crop: but probably not enough
TO pay the cost OF the fertilizer.
y Encourage Saving.
The wise father and mother will