Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-24
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT.
ASCERTAINING THE NEEDS OF THE SOIL

out manure and of a complete fertilizer
with or without manure. The test may
be elaborated further by taxing three
plats to which manure may or may not
have been added and testing the virtue
of nitrogen in the form of nitrate OF SODA,
dried blood, cotton-seed meal and cotton
seed. At least twice as much seed must De
used as meal to supply the same amount
Of nitrogen.
II every farmer would give plats next
year. he would obtain a fund OF infor-
nation of the most surprising charac-
ter. He would come into the possession OF
facts relative to the use and application
OF fertilizers which he could secure IN
no other way. and he would ind out In
a comparatively short time many Of the
most serious defects in his soil ana De
in positioo to correct them with intel
ligence and dispatch. A knowledge OF
the soil is fundamental to success IN
farming The method of acquiring den
mite data is sufficiently simple to be
adopted by every farmer. why negiecI
matter OF such importance any longer
SOIL SURVEYS IN GEORGIA.
There Is much interest manifested In
soil surveys in Georgia. The College OF
Agriculture is very anxious to undertake
a chemical survey Of the soils of the
state. This matter has been presented to
thousands of farmers In the state from
the institute platform. and they all seem
to be in sympathy with the idea. The
United States department of agriculture
is confning its attention altogether to a
physical examination of soils, and while
this Is important and essential, the
chemical investigation must accompany
or follow IL in order to render the two OF
the greatest value. for the chemical an
aIysis alone reveals the amount of plant
food in the soil and what il is most like
~ to be deficient in. and gives a cue as
10 how we must proceed to remedy this
defect
The board of trustees Of the college
have arranged for the establishment of a
department of agricultural chemistry.
and the professor who takes charge OF
this work will undoubtedly give much Of
his time and attention 10 the soil prob
lem. for IL is the desire of the board Of
trustees to develop efficient work along
this line as rapidly as possible, and I do
not think I am anticipating when / say
that an effort will be made at no dis
tant date TO secure a special appropria-
ton for the purpose of making a chemi-
cal soil survey of the state of Georgia.
The fact that We are spending something
like s16,Oo0.000 for commercial fertilizers
SONS
material defects in our soil, but to be
frank, we do not know Just what some
Of these defects are, nor how to remedy
them most efficiently. A chemical sur
vey, while not solving all OF these prob
lens, VIII aid materially in reaching eff
| fcient conclusions; conclusions I'm fact
which Will enable us to advise the farm
er with greater degree of accuracy
and intelligence than is now possible. and
will result In a material saving Of plant
food and in the conservation of our most
Important natural resource-the soil.
| NOTES FROM MITCHELL COUNTY.
The writer had the pleasure of attend
ing meeting at Pelham in Mitchell;
county recently and talking on the sub
tect OF fertilizers. Much interest WAS
taken in the discussion and among other
things the following suggestions were
made by some of the leading farmers as
70 the best results they had obtained
from the use OF fertilizers These sue.
gestioTfs are given for the benefit of the
readers OF the agricultural columns.
The most progressive farmers were
using from 300 TO coo pounds Of fertilizers
per acre. and 1t was found more profit
able TO use 800 pounds than 300 pounds.
Where 600 pounds were used, 400 pounds
were applied at the time OF planting and
early July. or course, the time OF appli-
cation will depend somewhat on the sea.
son. This method seemed to find favor
with many farmers. and is in accordance
with suggestions which have been made
| In these columns
AS to the grade Of fertilizer used. mix
lures containing per cent Of nitrogen. l6
lper cent OF phosphoric acid and s per
cent OF potash were highly recommended
by many. In this section of the state
there is a tendency for the cotton TO
make plenty OF weed, but not to fruit so
abundantly as in some localities. A high
per cent OF acid is helpful to such con-
oitions, and potash has been found EN-
Gent in checking rust and In increasing
the yield as well. When using such a
small amount of nitrogen in the original
mixture, the farmer can of course use
a top dressing OF nitrate OF soda later on
TO good advantage. There is so doubt
in the minds Of many farmers as to
the use Of nitrate for the pupose OF top
dressing, but this practice Is becoming
more general from year to year.