Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-09

can 1 have my soil analysed and what
amount would It require2 How would
you advise preparing the soil to be an
alyzed? I wish this information so I may
know what fertilizer is suited to certain
soils and crops, as I do not wish to pay
for something that 1 would derive no
benefit from.
There IS probably no place in the state
where you could have your soil analysed
at this time without paying for the same
There are, of course, professional an
alysts who will do the work for fee.
Our finances have been in such condition
that the board of trustees have felt 1t
impossible to appoint an agricultural
chemist up to this time in connection
with the State College of Agriculture. AS
soon as funds are available, this will be
done, and we hope then to be in position
TO undertake a systematic soil survey on
the state.
While analyses do not reveal the
amount of plant food contained in the
soil, furnish an excellent guide as to what
the soil Is most likely to be deficient In
and how to proceed with a system Of crop
rotations and in the purchase and use
of commercial fertilizers to correct these
deficiencies, and make the land more pro-
ductive. A sample for soil analysis
should be taken as follows: One should
remove the soil to a depth of say twelve
inches by making a hole about one foot
square. After one side of this hole has
been carefully dressed, you should shave
of a thin column of the soil from the top
TO a depth of six inches and put it in a
bottle; and then another shaving should
be taken from six inches to a depth OF
one foot and put in a separte bottle.
These bottles should be carefully labeled.
Several holes should be dug in the field
where the soil seems to be of uniform
character and similar samples taken.
When these are sent into the laboratory
they should be thoroughly mixed and
ground together. and what is called
composite sample taken from the mixture
for an analysis. In this way you would
get a fair average Of the amount of plant
food contained in a field where the soil
was of quite uniform character IL dis
tinctly different soils were found in the
field, 1t would be necessary to analyze
the several samples separately. Inc
work of taking soil samples must be done
with great care or else inaccuracies VIII
result therefrom that would prove mis-
leading. For this reason a good chemist
generally wishes to go out and investi-
gate the soil areas for himself and take
the samples that he may be familiar with
the conditions and be certain to get sam
pies of soil that will represent the area
under examination.
Since we are not in position to make
soil analyses, you may conclude that
nothing can be done which will help you
at this time. We would suggest, how
ever, that you take some plants or
ground of small size or an acre In area,
and make certain tests this year. we
would suggest, for instance, that you use
a 2-s-2 fertilizer on one section, S-l0-3
on another, and 3-s-4 on another, and
then use these same fertilizers in differ
ent amounts, say at the rate of 300, 500
and 1000 pounds per acre. In this way
YOU will get a line on the plant food re-
uuirements of your soil. III you are maxi
ing plenty of stalk at the present time,
YOU may be quite certain that you do not
need nitrogen. If your plants are not
F-uiting as well as you think they should,
It is a pretty good indication of the need
OF phosphates and potash
BY making some simple tests, such as
have suggested, you will be surprised
how much information you will obtain
that will b eof real service to you in
ascertaining the plant food requirements
of your soil.