The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-04-12

the. fertilizer was applied In the burrows
with the seeds, While this result was not
contemplated, It 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 a small
quantity--say 70 to Do pounds-of nitrate
Of soda In the same Afurrow with the cot
ton. or corn seeds, which may be done
with perfect safety with cotton seeds,
and without danger to corn IL not placed
In Immediate contact with the seed,
APPLYING FERTlLIzER AT THE
TIME OF PLANTING,
This may be understood to mean either
applying the fertilizer, bedding on it and
Immediately planting the seed; or 1t may
refer to the practice Of putting the fer
tilixer In the furrow with the seed. In
the latter case, there 10 always q mani
fest danger that the coming growing sea-
son may be unusually dry, In which event
the fertilizer, being SO lightly covered,
seminated through the soil, 1t may also
follow that the fertilizer being 80 concen-
trated-en masse. as 1t were-around the
tender rootlets of the young plants that
the latter may be injured, or burned
= not ineSnsidsrable danger; The plan
- "SN uANtpN Vihui u Ntiy
light application is to be made per acre.
This caution 10 especially applicabl IL to
seeds that arc planted In very shallow
burrows and but lightly covered, such as
cotton, and II Is generally safer to inter-
pose some soil, or, better, deposit the fer
tilizer In one furrow and plant the seeds
In q furrow Immediately beside; or, vice
versa. plant the seeds first In the furrow,
and then the fertilizer In a furrow close
beside II, But the preferred plan Is to
bed on the fertilizer. and then plant the
i a v often applied 50 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 fertilisers sold at $40 to $50
supposed to be In the interest of a wise
economy. We did not know much about
fertilizers In those days. and were afraid
to put too much guano or the cotton"
That time has passed and gone, and the
CO pounds 'a q fer ras .Gan for !ne cotton tSS ana a
properly balanced high-grade fertilizer, to
each acre OF cotton ID not dangerous or
excessive, but simply liberal and judi
cious. Indeed. II Is q question OF simple
arithmetic, Il 100 pounds per acre is
cultivate an acre with 800 pounds Of ap-
piled fertilizer, then why not increase
the amount invested in fertilizers, and.
u thought advisable. reduce the area and
the labor account
Now. the well-informed farmer only
wants to know II the fertilizer be proper
ly balanced for the crop he wishes to
grow. and Is sold at a fair price, n he
invests literally. Just az 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. A high-grade. hon
est fertilizer will meet this requirement.
There is another Qualification for the
practice Of applying fertilizers at the
time Of planting-viI, when the farmer
has failed to put In his order nj 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 al
the time Of planting.