The Carlisle independent., 1907-04-04
WHEN FERTILIZERS SHOULD BE
 APPLIED.

tilizer should be applied to the soil be- fore planting the crop 1t Is intended to with theoretical considerations, but is also abundantly s"stained in actual practice, as shown by carefully conducted field ex- periments instituted for the express pur- pose of ascertaining the truth, says Hon. R. J. Bedding, Director Georgia EXpert- ment Station, Department of Agriculture, in Virginia Carolina Fertilizer Almanac.
 The theory underlying the rule Is the fact that most of the ingredients compoS- ing a commercial fertilizer are not ina- 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 fact also that some forms of potash, notably kainit, cause chemical changes fin the condition of the plant food already present in a soil, whereby the before in- 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, fish scrap, tank age. etc, also require time in which to undergo chemical decomposition and such change of form as will enable the roots to appropriate the nitrogen. Even sul- phate of ammonia, highly soluble chemf- cal salt. which sometimes enters into
 
 limited amount, must undergo a complete chemical decomposition in the soil before the plants can make any use or the nitro gen, which it contains in the form Of ammonia sulphate. This must be con- verted into nitrate, or nitrate of lime.
 Nitrate of soda Is the one chemical fertilizer salt that is immediately avail able, producing very prompt erect when applied to growing crop (and 1t should be applied to none other).
 Acid phosphate and potash may be ap- hre1l lad &rr-n 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 complete fertilizer from one to three weeks before planting the crop, when the latter Is corn, cot ton tobacco, or other summer growing crop always taking care to mix the fer tilizer thoroughly with the soil of the open bedding furrow in which It shall be applied and then listing, or throwing two furrows on it
 Experiments on the farm of the Georgia Experiment Station, projected for the purpose of comparing on the one hand the effectiveness Of a complete fertilizer applied two weeks before planting and. on the other hand. the effectiveness of the same quantity of the same fertilizer 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 B more uniform stand Of more vigorous plants than resulted on the 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.
 ct1cr hat f ha pedient, In any case. to apply a small Quantity-say 20 to 25 pounds-of nitrate of soda in the same furrow with the cot ton or corn 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.
 This may be understood to mean either applying the fertilizer, bedding on 1t and immediately planting the seed; or it may refer to the practice Of putting the fer tilizer in the furrow with the seed. In the latter case, there is always mani fest danger that the coming growing sea- son may be unusually dry, in which event the fertilizer, being so lightly covered, may not be dissolved and properly dis seminated through the soil. It may also follow that the fertilizer being so concen- trated-en masse. as it were-around the tender rootlets of the young plants that the latter may be injured, or "burned"-
 
 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 furrows and but lightly covered. such as cotton, and 1t Is generally safer to inter- pose some soil, or, better, deposit the fer tlIzer 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 1t: But the preferred plan is to bed on the fertilizer, and then plant. the seeds after narrowing down the beds.
 have often applied 50 to 100 pounds of complete" fertilizer per acre in the furrow with the cotton seeds; but 1t was seventies when fertilizers sold at $40 to ss0 a 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 500 pounds of fertilizer for cotton properly balanced high-grade fertilizer, to each acre or cotton Is not dangerous or excessive, but simply liberal and judi cious Indeed, 1t is question of simple arithmetic. If 100 pounds per acre is profitable, and 1t 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-informed farmer only wants to know if the fertilizer be proper ly balanced for the crop he wishes to grow. and Is sold at fair price, and hs Invests literally, just as he would do in buying anything at such a price that he may sell at a profit of from 50 to 100 per centum and upward high-grade, hon. est fertilizer will meet this requirement.
 There Is another justification for tho practice of applying fertilizers at the time Of planting-viz, when the farmer has failed to put in his order at the prop CT time. He may then, according to the proverb-"better late than not at aII'- put in the fertilizer with the seed, or AA the time of planting.