Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-06-11

the fertilizer was applied in the burrows
with the seeds. While this result was not
contemplated, it was quicklye 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 it may be ex-
peaIe?t, IN any case, to apply a small
qn~&rtity--say 20 to 25 p%eunds-of nitrate
Of soda in he same furrow with the cot
ton or corn seeds, which may be ions
viii perfect safety with cobton seeds,
and without danger to corn if not placed
in immediate contact with the seed.
APELYING FERTILIZER AT THE
TIRE OF PLANTING.
"'fi9 ray he understood to mean either
@qif.4 iIg he fertilizer, bedding on it and
refer 70 the practice of putting the fer
sit:-er i'll the furrow with the seed. In
t5e latter case, there is always a mani
TEST danger that the coming growing sea-
son may be unusually dry, in which event
the fertilizer. being so lightly covered,
may not he dissolved and properly dis
serpirated through the soil. 1t NAV also
follow that the fertilizer being SO concen-
fraJSr eaot naasse e I as it were-around the
the latter maybe injured, or ''burned"-
q not inconsiderable danger. The plan
IS not advisable except when a very
light application is to be made per acre
This caution is especially applicable to
seeds that are planted in very shallow
fa-rows and bit lightly covered, such as
cotton. and it is generally safer to inter
pose some soil, or, better, deposit the fer
tlllzer in one furrow and plant the seeds
III a furrew Immediately beside; or, vice
versa, plant the seeds first in the furrow,
and then the fertilizer in a furrow close
beside 1t. But the preferred plan is to
bed on the fertilizer, and then plant the
seeds, after narrowing down the beds.
l have often applied SO to 100 pounds, Of
q 'complete'' fertilizer per acre in the
furrow with the cotton seeds; but it was
away back" in the late sixties and early
seventies when fertilizers sold at $40 to $50
a ton. and very hight applications Were
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
600 pounds of fertilizer for cotton q
properly balanced h~fgh-grade fertilizer, to,
each acre OF cotton is not dangerous or
excessive, but simply liberal and judi
arithmetic. IF 100 pounds per acre IL.
profitable, and 1t costs no more labor to,
cultivate an acre with 500 pounds of ap-
piled fertilizer, then why not increase
II thought advisable, reduce the area and.
the labor account?.
Now, the weIl-infoFmed farmer only
wants to know 1t thef fertilizer be proper
~ balanced for the crop he wishe: 70,
invests literally. Just az he would do in
may sell at q profit Of from 80 to 100 per
est fertilizer will meet this requirement..
There Is another Justification for. the
practice of applying fertilizers att the
time of p~IAnttng-viz. when the farmer.
has failed to put in his order at the prop
p~roverb-"hetter late than not at alp
put in the fertilizer with the seed, or n
ths. tins o. -1n--+tre.