Times-promoter., 1908-10-23
How Can the Farmer Know His Sol

4AlOu6n CASHliCd1 dudlySlS VI JuG
soil the quantity in which the neces-
sary nutriments for the plants are to
be found in the soil, can be determr
ined, but this examination does not
reveal whether or not these nutri-
ments are really available for the
plants. Lime alone forms an excep-
tion to this rule.
The question as to whether phos-
phoric acid, nitrogen or potash should
be added to the soil can best be de-
cided by the farmer himself through
careful study OF his particular soil.
The easiest and safest way to- decide
whether fertilization with nitrate OF
soda, sulphate OF ammonia, etc, will
prove advantageous is by plant ex-
pertinent. On each OF few we'll de-
fined strips of the plot one element
of plant food should be entirely omit
ted. Ii the crop ON either OF these
strips shows unfavorable results in
comparison with the other parts OF
the plot, to which full measure OF
the other elements of plant food was
applied, the proof is given that the
soil demands fertilization with the
element omitted Should the. crop, on
the incompletely fertilized strip show
as good results as the one raised on
completely fortified soil, the applir
cation of the element in question is
proven unnecessary and uneeonom1-
cal.
In order to decide whether or not
Fertilization with phosphorlc acid
would pay experiment with legumin-
GUS plant or cereal as above. Nitro
gen, phosphoric acid and potash
should be normally applied, but on
one strip the phosphoric acid should
be omitted, entirely or in part. By
the difference in the crop from this
strip, as compared with the crops
from the other strips, the advisability
of the use of phosphoric acid can be
determined In the same way the ques-
tion regarding the application OF pot
ash can be settled.
In order to determine the quantity
of fertilizer that should be given to
the soil, trial with different amounts
on small plots is recommendable.
The crops should be carefully COM
pared and the proportional weight
taken. After finding out which appli-
cation brought the best results the
farmer has yet to consider the ques-
tion how to increase in the crop
stands in proportion to the higher
cost of the fertilization.
Through these experiments the
farmer will soon learn what fertilizers
he should apply to his soil in order
to get better and best results. At the
same time. the carrying out OF these
simple tests will protect him from unr
necessary expenses.
However, these experiments should
not be made with ready-mixed fer
tilizers, as sold in the open market.
There are a good many mixtures
which contain nitrogen, phosphorlc
acid and potash without due consider
alton OF the condition OF the soal. As
people under different climatic con-
ditions require different kinds Of
food, so plants growing on aifferent
kinds OF soil, require differeat kinds
of nutriments. Finally it SHOULD be
remembered that an abundance OF one
element of plant food does not make
up for the lack OF another element,
If for instance. one plant on a GER
tain soil requires certain amount of
potash, mo other naant food element
can properly fill this demand, and the
application IT all other fertilizers,
even In the largest quantities, will
prove entirely useless, il the essen
tial plant food elements. or any os
them. is not contained In the soll.---
F. F. NJ ln Oklahoma Farmer.