The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-02-06

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 1t may be en-
pedient, in any case, to apply small
quantity--say 20 to 25 pounds-of nitrate
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 1t may
refer to the practice Of putting the fer
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,
senlinated through the soil. 1t may also
follow that the fertilizer being so concen-
trG ted-en masse, as 1t were-around the
tender rootlets Of the young plants that
the latter may be injured, or "burned-
a not inconsiderable danger: The plan
light application is to be made per acre.
This caution is especially applicable to
seeds that are planted in very shallow
burrows and bit lightly covered, such as
cotton, and it is generally safer to inter-
pose some soil, or. better. deposit the fer
tilizer in one furrow and plant the seeds
in a furrow Immediately beside; or, vice
versa, plant the seeds first in the furrow,
and then the fertilizer in flrrow close
beside it. But the preferred plan is to
bed on the fertilizer, and then plant the
seeds. after narrowing down the beds.
I 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
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"
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 but simply osTdn liberal and Judi.
arithmetic. II 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,
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 he
invests literally. just as he would do in
buying anything at such price that he
may sell at profit Of from 80 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
er time. He may then, according to the
proverb-"better late than not at alp
put in the fertilizer with the seed, or at
the time of planting. ,