Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-16

When a farmer buys fertilizer he
does II as q business proposihoni that
is. he believes that IN buying some
special brand OF plant food for MS son
he win increase his crop production
thereby. He seems 70 think that II ne
has applied the fertilizer his troubles
win dissolve Ike the morning dew ana
that II he does not obtain an increased
yield from his soil that the ferullzeE
manufacturer has buncoed him ana
given him a useless nostrum. 1t is true
that there fs much Iow-grade fertilizer
on the market which is not calculated
to stimulate crop growth very materials
" even when used in fair amounts.
gut Is the farmer not to blame for the
low-rrade material OF which he COM
plains. for is IL not true that ne Is
constantly asking for something eheapE
one can always obtain something
ehean. but the old adage or mot how
cheap. but how good is the only sare
motto to follow in the purchase OF
commercial plant fooc.
Let US view the question from some
other aspects and see II II is just or
reasonable to expect a return from
fertilizer. no matter how good unless
other matters quite as vitality concern
Al IN crop production are taken under
A0NlS2mG4L.
tant factors which enter Into the
Vrowtn OF a good crop no matter how
favorable soil and climatic conditions
NAV he Inc frst or these is SOIL
,,renaratfon: the second Is the proper
PRESERVATION Of the land; the third Is
the choice OF a selected and tried strain
OF seed: the fourth is the cultivation
Of the crop after planting. No man
can say that any one OF these Factors
a more important than another, but
when all are considered IN Que balance
and proportion the resuirs even IN tne
face OF unfavorable natural environ
u,ent are almost certain TO De satisrae-
tory 10 the land owner, at least so Iar
~ the collars and cents part OF the
proposition is concerned.
WV should the soil and its culti-
walton be considered. VIII no doubt be
a.ked by some who 40 not realize that
Eeldom IL ever is a sur1cient amount
OF ulaut food applied to the land 10
meat AN the needs OF the growing
cruo. Moreover, the soil contains OF
itself. even when in low state OF Ter
tiIitv. more or less plant food which
can be rendered available and made
usefui TO the crop. The stirring OF the
soil also promotes the areatfon or the
same and favors various fermentauons
essential to the wellbeing OF the plants
and enables IL TO absorb and hold more
water TO be given out Tor the support
OF the crop during dry period Inc
,,-so.-attor OF the seed bed. therefore,
"a quite as essential as --.e mere APP
nlfeatfon OF plant food. because the seed
bed Ia TO be the nome OF the plant, ana
the more favorable the environment or
tire plant the better its chance 10 win
IN the struggle with nature which IL
must make before seed time ana
harvest arrive.
when II comes 10 the application OF
commercial fertilizer. no nOstrum should
Re u~ad. and by nostrum we do not mean
any IeRftimately and properly prepared
fertilizer. The farmer should be certain,
however that the mixture he uses Is OF
hIRh-grade character. well balanced IN
the essential elements OF good 1t contains.
and adapted 70 the needs. first OF the
crop. and second to the soil. For in
stance. % bushels Of corn with the slower
will remove from the soil as much as s.
pounds Of potash. while a crop Of cotton
yielding a bale per acre. and including
the stalk and leaf will not remove but Is
pounds OF potash. The selection OF the
fertilizer. therefore. and the making GER
tain that Il contains a sufficient amount
Of potash 10 meet the needs OF the crop
20 be grown is an essential matter. and
the man who gives no consideration TO
the proposition need not expect the best
returns from commercial fertilizer, nor
shall he under the circumstances lay the
blame on the manufacturer or dealer for
his crop failure since he has not COM
piled with the natural needs OF the plant
IN certain elements OF plant food essen
tial 20 fits well-being. II is pretty gen.
orally recognized that one can not break
any OF the laws OF nature without suffer
ing; yet we constantly break this mex
orable rule In our farm practice by not
applying TO the soil a sufficient amount
OF such elements as potash and prosphor-
&c acid.
The other matters to be considered In
making money from fertilizer are first