The Forrest City times., 1907-04-05
WHEN FERTILIZERS SHOULD BE
 APPLIED.

As general rule. which has but few exceptions the greater part of the fer 1 tilIzer should be applied to the soil be- | fore planting the crop it is intended to | benefit. This rule is not only in accord with theoretical considerations, but IS also abEndantly sustained in actual practice | as shown by carefully conducted field eX- | periments institJted for the express pur- pose of ascertaining the truth says Hon. K J Bedding Director Georgia Expert ment Station, Department of Agriculture, iu Nirgiuia-Caroltna Fertilizer Almanac. The theory underlying the rule "a the 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 te taken up by the roots Of the plants. This is particularly true in regard to salts or potash, and in less degree to acid phosphate. It Is a fact. also. that some forms Of potash. notably kainit, cause chemical changes in the condition of the plant food already present in 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 fin 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 fin which to undergo chemical decomp position and such change Of form as will enable the roots to appropriate the nitrogen. Even sul- phate of ammonia. highly soluble cheni- cal salt. which sometimes enters Into the composition of a fertilizer in a very limited amount, must undergo a complete chemical decomposition in the soil before the plants can make any use of the nitro gen. which IL contains in the form of ammonia sulphate. This must be con- Nerted 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 applied to growing crop (and 1t should be applied 10 none otherl.
 Acid phosphate and potash may be ap- piled to the soil and bedded on from two 10 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 10 three weeks before planting the crop. when the latter Is a corn, cot ton tobacco. CT other summer growing crop, always taking care to mix the fer tlizer thoroughly with the soil Of tho open bedding furrow Tn which 1t shall be applied and then listing" or throwing two fUrrows on it
 Expertnerts on the farm of the Georgta Experiment Station protected for the purpose ot 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 m unexpected and sIr- prisi1g result-viz, the cotton seeds plant ed on the rlats in which the fertilizer had been applied and bedded on two weeks before came Up quicker and gave a more uniform stand Of more viz prous plants than resulted on the plats in ,rhfch the fertilizer was applied in the fu rows with the seels. While this result was not contemplated. IL was quickly explained by inc fact that the fertilizer that had been In the ground two weeks had uf der gone the chemical changes already lud- sd to, and it's plant food vas ready for tFr E4ff fJf ,raF !
 This result suggests that il may be ex- pedient, in any case. to apply small 9aantlty-say p to 25 pounds-of Tit ats of soda in the same furroW with the ,ot- ton or corn seeds, which may be done with perfect safety with cotton seeds and without danger to corn If not placed h immediate contact with the seed.
 APPLYING FERTILIZER AT TIE
 TIME OF PLANTING.
 This may be understood to mean eft ger applying the fertilizer. bedding on 1t nd immediately planting the seed; CT Il IT y refer to the practice of putting the r. tIllzeT in the furrow with the seed. In the latter case. there is always ma li- fest danger that the coming growing SC a. son may be unusually dry, in which event the fertilizer being so lightly c0Verf d seminated through the soil. It may a 10 follow that the fertilizer being so COnCe l. trated-en masse, as 1t were-around u 8 tender rootiets of the young plants thi.t the latter may be injured. or "burned"- not ineonsderable danger. The plan Is not advisable except when very light application Ia to be made per acra. This caution is especially applicable b 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 seed, In furrow Immediately beside; or vic, versa plant the seeds first in the furrow. and then the fertilizer in furroy clos, beside 1t. But the preferred plan is tu ped on the fertilizer. and then plant thu seeds. after narrowing down the beds
 have often applied 50 to 100 pounds o a complete" fertilizer per acre fin thi furrow with the cotton seeds; but 1t wal
 away back" fn the late sixties and earl, seventies when fertilizers sold at s40 to SeJ a ton, and very hght applications werp supposed to be in the interest of wis, economy. We did not know much about fertilizers in those days, and were afrafi 10 put too much guano on the cotton l nat time has passed and gone. and tfe up-to-date farmer has found that 800 ar d 600 pounds of fertilizer for cotton. a properly balanced high-grade fertilizer. to each acre Of cotton is not dangerous or excessive. but simply liberal and judi efous' Indeed, 1t is a 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- nlled fertilizer, then why not increase the amount invested in fertilizers and II thought advisable. reduce the area and the labor account?
 Now, the wel-informed farmer only wants to know if the fertilizer be proper 'y balanced for the crop lie wishes to grow, and Ia sold at a fair price. and he Invests liherally, just as he would do In buying anything at such a price that he may sell at a. pront of from Q to 100 per i eentum and upward 4 high grade. hon. eet fertilizer will meet this requirement. There ia another justification for ths practice of applying fertilizers at the l time of planting-viz.. when the farmer has failed to put in lis order at the prop er time. He may then. according to the proverb-"better late than not at all'- put in the fertilizer with the seed, or as the time of planting