Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-02-14
Milford Grange.

At the Grange on Saturday the follow
ing resolution was offered by ]. J. Rosa :
"Resolved, That we most heartily
approve the late message Of President
Roosevelt to Congress, fully believing
that If the principles there in enunci-
ated are disregarded that our free insti
tutions and even our Republic are in
danger
This was unanimously endorsed by
the members present some forty in
number.
BE- B. Woodall took up the SUBJ
ject Of "Fertilizers." He considers COM
mercial fertilizers a great blessing to
this section and while five hundred
pounds per acre might be enough two
thousand pounds are not to much.
The better the land the mere fertilizer
that can be used prOfitably. Where
scarlet clover has been raised and there
is from six to eight inches Of soil with
plenty Of humus more phosphate can
be used with good results than on thin
soil with but little humus.
On any land where corn is raised the
phosphate should be applied broadcast
and turned down, whether put on early
or late. The crop will be better than If
same fertilizer is put on top or in the
hill. On thin land 400 pounds Of bone
meal drilled in after blowing is q good
investment for most any crop. Bone
meal is good and lasting and brings up
the land and returns q profit for more
than one year. Mr.. WOodall on thirty
acres used Between two and three hum
dred dollars worth Of fertilizers besides
seventy five loads of barn yard manure
and thinks it a big paying investment.
On land seeded to scarlet clover to be
followed by corn he would put on 400
pounds per acre Of rock and kainit.
half and half, broadcast the last Of Feb
ruary or early in March. II the clover
is thin it will increase the crop greatly
and make heavy growth Of hay. On
clover for seed less fertilizer should be
applied as seed, and not a heavy leaf
and stern growth is desired.
Fer white potatoes per acre, Mr..
WOodall used 400 pounds South Caro-
lima rock, treated, or 300 pounds Of dis
solved bone and $50 pounds Of muriate
Of potash we'll mixed In the fHrrow.
Just before the first narrowing after the
potatoes are up, he puts on 100 pounds
Of nitrate Of soda. On heavy sod one
third more acid phosphate and potash
could be used with profit.
For tomatoes, the general crop, drill.
10 per acre, 300 pounds acid phosphate
100 pounds muriate potash and in the
hill 200 pounds Of fish or tankage and
200 pounds Of dissolved bone. For early
tomatoes mix all the above and use
900 pounds per acre in the hill or better
still use 300 pounds Of this mixture and
half shovel well rotted manure into
the hill. Poor light land is best for
early tomatoes as you get early ma.
tured fruit and not a large growth Of
vines.
For cabbage use per acre 1900 pounds
Of fish or tankage and 1000 pounds Of
kainit. Mix and apply one half broad
cast and the rest in the hill. II the
land has had a coating Of stable man.
ure, omit the phosphate broadcast.
The most important ferti lizer for cab
bage is nitrate of soda in two applica-
lions Of 100 pounds each. The first just
after the plants start to grow. in the
hill, and the second two or theee weeks
later. This with plenty Of cultivation
is the only worm preventative Mr..
WOOdall uses.
Potash and acid phosphate are the
two most important commercial fertil-
izers and only with these, in connection
with clover, can the land Of this section
| be kept in a high state Of cultivation.
There must be sufficient lime in the
soil for these three fertilizing materials
to be put into q condition for plant
food. The cheapest form in which we
can getllime is from burned oyster shell
or lime rock.
Mr.. Woodall thinks there are very
few cases where it pays to purchase and
haul barn yard manure even as short a
distance as one mile. No farmer in
Delaware has succeeded in getting his
soil in q condition to reach the limit of
it's prOduetiveness. 1t is not enough
that every acrecaH feed a COW, but every
acre can be make to feed and cloth
human being. Mr.. WOOdall thinks
there are thousands Of men in the
cities, with fanatics, who il they could
have known this when boys, would be
living to-day in a comfortable home on
part Of the old homestead. The age
of the "BOy DiscOurager," the hoe and
especially the grubbing hoe, has passed.
Now the horse with improved farm inn
plements and machinery and brain to
use them m axes farming profitable and
a rival to the city in furnishing attrac-
tiOns for the young men Of the country.
ROBBINS.