St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-04-13
WHEN FERTILIZERS SHOULD BE
APPLIED.

As general rule, which has but few
exceptions, the greater part Of the fer
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
abundantly sustained 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. Redding, Director Georgia Experl-
ment Station, Department or Agriculture,
in Virginia Carolina Fertilizer Almanac.
The theory underlying the rule is the
fact that most OF the ingredients compos-
ing commercial fertilizer are not inn
mediately soluble and aya1lible, but must
undergo certain chemical changes 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. 1t Is @
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 ale
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 sui
plate of ammonia, highly soluble cheml-
cal salt, which sometimes enters into
the composition of a fertilizer in a very
limited amount, must undergo complete
chemical decomposition in the soil before
the plants can make any use OF the nitro
gen, which it contains in the form or
ammonia su1phate. 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 effect when
applied to a growing crop (and 1t should
be applied to none other).
Acid phosphate and potash may be ap-
piled to the soil and bedded on from two
to six weeks before planting time. 1t
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 to three weeks before planting
the crop, when the latter is a 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 /: shall be
applied and then listing" or throwing
two burrows on 1t.
Experiments on the farm of the Georgia
Experiment Station, projected for the
purpose of comparing on the one hand
the effectiveness OF 8 complete fertilizer
applied two weeks before planting, and
on the other hand, the effectiveness Of
the same quantity of the same fertilizer
were followed by an unexpected and sur
prising result-vfz., the cotton seeds plant
ed on the plats in which the fertilizer
had been applied and bedded on two
q more uniform stand Of more vigorous
plants than resulted on the pIats in which
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 1t may be ex-
quantity-say 0sto rs 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 it and
Immediately planting the seed; or 1t may
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
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
not inconsiderab1e danger. The plan
Is not advisable except when 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 a furrow Immediately beside; or, vice
versa, plant the seeds first in the furrow,
and then the fertilizer in a furrow 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
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 a 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, a
properly balanced high-grade fertilizer to
each acre of cotton Is not dangerous or
excessive, but simply liberal and judi
cious. Indeed, It 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?
Now, the well-informed farmer only
wants to know If the fertilizer be proper
Iy balanced for the crop he wishes to
grow, and is sold at a fair price and he
invests literally, just as he would do in
buying ANYTHING at such a price that he
may sell at a. profit of from so to 100 per
centum and upward. A high-grade, hon.
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
nut IN the Fertilizer with tho seed or as