The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-12-21

although it contains but little OH, II
is even .tworse balanced than tue
whole seed. The remedy is easy, con
sisting in mixing with the meal the
proper quantities each OF some loIIl
of potash and Of phosphorlc aciu. -
has only to buy acid phosphate aug
muriate of potash, or o.
potash. or kainit. and make his own
guano.' 1t is q fact that with THESE
three Observation-Disclosures meal, aclu
~ospha and muriate Of potash cor
other potash salt) q farmer may com
pound a fertilizer that Will pe eN-
actly balanced and suitable for any
CROP that grows and for any SOL
that is on the earth's surface. mat
is TO say he may easily secure any
desired relative proportion OF the
three so-called valuable elements.
He can get an s-2-2, or an ST.,
or an S-3-4, or q 10-2-2, or any
proportion whatever. 1t is simply d
matter OF ~caluation and q little
weighino OF the ingredients.
OF course every constituent lemen
that is found in plants must be taken
by the roots from the soil. or by
means OF the leaves, from the air. AS
a matter Of fact, the only elements me
farmer needs to consider are the
three valuable elements" that we
have just been considering. to-Wlt:
Phosphoric acid, potash and nitrogen.
These three are formed III all plants
and these three must be present IN
every soil and might well be called
the T~riumyirate Of the tertll1zef
World.
There are some soils that contain
all three in large quantity; and if
at the same time such soils are IN
good physical condition, full Of
humus and free from undue acidlty,
we them rich soils. They are ca
pablo Of producing full yields of al
most any crop for which the climate
is suited.
But if one of these three elements
is lacking. or is available in INSULT
cient quantity, It viii be impossible
to secure any crops OF value from such
a soil. There are many peaty, muckY
soils that have all the Indications OF
richness, but they fail to yield good
crops because they are deficient III
potash and in lime. On such soils IL
is useless to apply u fertilizer that
contains no potash.
The worn hillSideS and hilltops Of
the hill country from the state OF
Maine to the mouth Of the Mississippi
all need potash for the production Of
Iall crops of corn. cotton, legumes,
grasses, tobacco Tin particularly, COW
peas, peanuts, and the Lord knows
what not. The coastal plain is in still
worse fix, the term comprising a large
part OF all the States OF the Union
bordering on the Atlantic ocean, and
covered with pine forests. On these
latter potash has been found to be not.
indeed, the one thing needful," but
in truth the thing most needed. 1t
proves more effective in increasing
the yields OF crops than does any
single plant 100 ingredient. The ex-
p~ericnce OF farmers all through the
Middle and New England States, both
independently and collectively corfir-
matOry Of the results Of scientific ex-
PRONUNCIATION, to the effect tina pot
ash, in some or other. is absolutely in
d~ispenSable. 1t is a great waste OF
costly material to apply liberal GUAM
titles Of phosphoric acid and nitrogen
to the soil and at the same time with
hold q proper and due proportion OF
potash.
r. J. REDDING.
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