The log cabin Democrat., 1907-04-04
WHEN FERTILIZERS SHOULD BE
 APPLIED.


 As a general rule which has but few exceptions the greater part of the fer tilizer should be applied to the soil be- fore planting the crop 1t is intended to benefit. This rule is not only in accord with theoretical considerations, but is also abundantly sustained in actual practice, as shown by carefully conducted field ex- periments instituted for the express pur- pose of ascertaining the truth. says Hon. K. J. Bedding, Director Georgia Experi- ment Station, Department of Agriculture. in Virginia Carolina Fertilizer Almanac; fact that most of the ingredients compos- ing a commercial fertilizer are not im- mediately soluble and availible. but must undergo certain chemical changes in the soil before the plant food will be in the proper condition to be taken up by the roots of the plants. This is particularly true in regard to salts of potash, and in less degree to acid phosphate. It Is Q fact. also. that some forms of potash, notably kainit, cause chemical changes in the condition of the plant food already present in a soil, whereby the before ln- soluble and non available plant food al- ready in the soil becomes available.
 The organic substances which are large ly used in the make up Of commercial fertilizers for the purpose of supplying nitrogen to the plants-such as cotton seed meal dried blood, hsh scrap tank age etc, also require time in which to undergo chemical decomposition and such change of form as will enable the roots
  phate of ammonia, highly soluble chemi- cal salt, which sometimes enters into the composition of fertilizer In very limited amount must undergo a complete chemical decomposition in the soil before the plants make any use of the nitro gen, which it contains in the form of ammonia nllphate. This must be con- yerted into nitrate, or nitrate of lime.
 Nitrate of soda Is the one chemical fertilizer salt that is immediately avail able producing very prompt effect when a be applied to none other).
 Acid phosphate and potash may be ap- piled to the soil and bedded on from two to six weeks before planting time. It is claimed by some experts that potash salts may be applied with better results even several months before planting. A more practical and convenient rule, how ever, is to apply a complete fertilizer from one to three weeks before planting the crop, when the latter Is a corn, cot ton. tobacco. or other summer growing crop, always taking care to mix the fer tiizer thoroughly with the soil of the open bedding furrow in which 1t shall be two furrows on 1t.
 Experiments on the farm of the Georgia Experiment Station. projected for the purpose of comparing on the one hand the effectiveness of complete fertilizer applied two weeks before planting, and on the other hand, the effectiveness of applied in the furrows with the seed were followed by an unexpected and sur prising result-viz., the cotton seeds plant ed on the plats in which the fertilizer had been applied and bedded on two weeks before. came up quicker and gave A more uniform stand of more vigorous plants than resulted on tho plats in which the fertilizer was applied in the furrows with the seeds While this result was not contemplated 1t was quickly explained by the fact that the fertilizer that had been in the ground two weeks had under gone the chemical changes already allud- ed to, and it's plant food was ready for the immediate wants of the young plants. This result suggests that 1t may be ex- pedient, in any case, to apply a small Quantity-say 20 to % pounds-of nitrats 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 applying the fertilizer bedding on 1t and immediately planting the seed; or 1t may refer to the practice Of putting the Ter tilizer in the furrow with the seed. In fest danger that the coming growing sea- may be unusually dry. in which event the fertilizer @ being so lightly c1ye5ed. seminated through the soil. It may also follow that the fertilizer being so concen- trated-en masse.. as 1t were-around the tender rootlets of the young plants that tho latter may be injured, or "burned"- not inconsiderable danger. The plan is not advisable except when very light application is to be made per acre. This caution is especially applicable to seeds that are planted in very shallow furrows and but lightly covered, such as cotton, and 1t Is generally safer to inter- pose some soil, or, better, deposit the fer tilizer in one furrow and plant the seeds in 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. complete" fertilizer per acre in the furrow with the cotton seeds; but 1t was seventies when fertilizers sold at $40 to s60 ton, and very light applications were supposed to be In the interest of wise economy. We. did not know. much about fertilizers In those days, and were afraid to put too much guano on the cotton" That time has passed and gone and the up-to-date farmer has found that 800 and 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 fS profitable, and it costs no more labor to cultivate an acre with 800 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-fnformed farmer only wants to know if the fertilizer be proper iy balanced for the crop he wishes to grow. and is sold at a fair price. and hs invests liberally. just as he would do in may sell at a profit of from 50 to 100 per centum and upward. A high h-grade, hon. est fertilizer will meet this requirement. practice of applying fertilizers at tho 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 A1 the time of planting.
 Tantalizine Man.
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