The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-03-02
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS
What They Are, How They Act and How
to Buy and Use Them.

/ w nat 1nSy are. HOW An6y ACT anu HOW
to Buy and Use Them.
The time is rapidly approaching
when farmers should give their atten.
tionto the purchasing of such CONNER.
cial fertilizers as they will need for
the coming crop, and in order to buy
intelligently they must know just what
these commercial fertilizers are and
also their method of action. Since
the prime object of all substances OF
this kind is to increase the production,
commercial fertilizers must be used
either to supply plant food directly or
amount of its nutritive elements will
be placed at the disposal of the plant.
In actual, practice most commercial
fertilizers combine both effects. AS
they are used principally to make up
for the soils deficiency in plant food,
they must necessarily contain this
food. Of all the various substances
of which plants are composed, except
three, nature has provided that there
shall be an abundant supply for all
plants in even the poorest of soils.
The three that are frequently INSULT
cient are nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash. Of these nitrogen is of
the most Importance, not only because
there is the most frequently an INSULT
Gent supply in soils, but because it Is
the food most abundantly used by
plants. While this is so, it is rather
singular fact that nitrogen is one of
the most plentiful of natures elements.
Nearly four-ffths OF the atmosphere
we breathe is composed of this sub
stance; unfortunately, however, it ex-
lists as gas and plants are not able
to use it in this form. Before being
available it must be combined with
other substances. It's familiar combi-
nation is known as ammonia. Nitro
gen combines with great many sub
stances, but is always trying to escape
from them, and it is because so much
difficulty is experienced in holding it
IN these combin ations that it is expen-
siVe. The chief function of nitrogen
in plants is to promote growth, but it
Is also OF very great Importance in
the perfection of fruit.
Since nitrogen enters so largely into
the composition of plants, it follows
that everything of vegetable origin is
a valuable source OF this substance.
It is very essential that this should be
appreciated in order that
as much of it may be saved as posi-
bic. When vegetable matter is burned
upon the farm, the nitrogen is released
from its combination and escapes into
The atmosphere and is lost. On the
other hand, if this vegetable matter be
to the soil, when it decays
The combined nitrogen is placed where
it is available for plant food. Nitro
gen is available in number of forms
in commercial fertilizers, among the
most important to the farmers of the
south being cotton seed meal, bone
neal and the products of the slaughter
pen Ia what is known as tankage.
Next in Importance as plant food
8 phosphoric acid. This substance,
Or rather phosphorus, of which it is a
is familiar to all in phos-
wood and the common |
match. 1t is largely needed by the |
'lant in growth, but is absolutely es-
ential in the perfection of seed and is
great factor in fastening the matur-
ty of crops. When wood is burned |
acid and potash, together
With number of other substances, are
eft in the ashes, and it is the presence
i these two that makes ashes Valua-
lie as a fertilizer.
Phosphoric acid is also found COM
lined with lime, in bones and in a
state in combination with lime.
IS found in nature, phosphoric acid
J difficult of solution in water, which
lust be overcome by treatment, as
lants are able to take up food only
hen it is dissolved in water. 1t has
cen found that by treating this insol-
bic lime phosphate with acid it is
hanged into two forms, one of which
] known as reverted phosphoric acid,
nd the other as soluble phosphoric
cid. The former is soluble slowly in
'ater or weak acids, such as are found
4 the soil, while the latter is readily |
issolved by water. These two are
allied available phosphoric acid, be-
ause the plants can use them where
lie insoluhle does them really no good.
he most accessible form OF phosphoric,
cid to the farmer is known as acid
hosphat This is the product of the
eatment Of the insoluble rock phos-
hate with acid, and thus treated it
the phosphoric acid ia all
ree of the above forms. Potash is
ore directly effective in the perfec-
On OF fruit, but it is rarely very def.
ent in soils and especially the soils :
the Gulf states. It is found in album
snce in ashes, and is there known as
g. Commercially it is the most
eaply obtained in the form of kainit. !
Since the elements of plant food
love mentioned are required in diff :
rent quantities by different plants, !,
ID since the soils vary in their supply !.
these different requirements, it be.