The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-03-06

the fertilizer was applied in the burrows
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 its plant food was ready for
the immediate wants Of the young plants.
This result suggests that it may be ex-
pedient, in any case, to apply small
quantlty-say 20 to 25 pounds--of nitrate
Of soda in the same furrow with the cot
ton or coin seeds, which may be done
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. 49,. ~
This may be understood TO mean either
applying the fertilizer, bedding on it and
refer to the practice of putting the fer
tilizer in the furrow with the seed. In
the latter case, there Is always a mani
fest danger that the coming growing sea-
son may be unusually dry, in which event
the fertilizer, being so lightly covered,
seminated thro1gh the soil. It may also
follow that the fertilizer being so concen-i
trated-en masse, as it were-around the
tender rootlets Of the young plants that
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
seeds that are planted in very shallow
burrows 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 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 so to 100 pounds Of
a complete fertilizer per acre in the
furrow with the cotton seeds; but 1t was
away back" in the late sixties and early
seventies when fertilizers sold at $40 to $50
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 500 and
600 pounds Of fertilizer for cotton,
properly balanced high-grade fertilizer, to
each acre Of cotton is not dangerous or
excessive, but simply liberal and judi
cious. Indeed, 1t is a question of simple
arithmetic. II 100 pounds per acre Is
profitable, and 1t costs no more labor to
cultivate an 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? . ...E
Now, the well-informed farmer only
wants to know If the fertilizer be proper
1y balanced for the crop he wishes to
grow, and is sold at fair price, and he
invests literally, just as he would do in
may sell at a profit Of from so to 100 per
centum and upward A 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
~ time He may then, according to the
.overb-"better late than not at alp
put in the fertilizer with the seed, or at
the time Of planting. ,t... +.