Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-15

II Is time for grave consideration when
any question affecting the welfare OF the
people becomes Of suffcient importance 10
attract the attention OF the nation. The
condition Of our soils seems TO have az
tanned this degree OF prominence. and IL u
not surprising in view OF ali the facts that
President Roosevelt should have deemed
this matter OF SUFFICIENT moment to Justi-
". him I'm calling a conference OF state
executives and scientific men for the pur-
pose Of looking into this question. ana
devislng ways and means for meeting
condition which unchecked Is bound TO
have a most disastrous effect on the
future OF the United States. This con-
ference recently held in Washington con-
cluded from the statistics presented
among other things that crop yields are
decreasing and not increasing in this
country. and especially is this true in
the older sections. Also. that some steps
must be taken TO meet the present situ-
alton or Il is only a question of a short
time until our soils VIII become per-
n1anently unproductive- And. finally,
that II viii be possible to maintain these
soils and build up those which are run
down through the application OF CONNER
cial fertilizers according TO the practices
inaugurated and so successfully follow
ed for nearly half century BY the plant
ers OF the southeastern states. Since these
men have been able 20 accomplish the
end under discussion there might appear
TO be no Immediate cause for alarm.
There Is always a question. OF course, as
10 the continued availability Of COM
mercisl plant food IN sufficient quantity,
and there seems TO be az present no lack
OF raw material IL must be impressed
on the mind OF the farmer. however. that
the use OF small amounts Of plant food
win not be satisfactory. but that IN or
der 20 keep up crop yields and preserve
the soil. liberal fertilization must be pur-
sued and this means the application OF
as much as 500 to 100 or N e pounds
OF high grade goods per acre. At hrs
this might appear 20 be an excessive
amount but since q has been demonstrat-
ed that the largest returns are obtained
from heavy fertilization. there Is no rea-
son why the farmer should hesitate to
double and treble the amount he has
been using.
In the past II has been customary ali
too frequently TO use a low grade fertil-
izsr for an farm and garden .crnps,e A.
A matter Of fact. a formula suitable for
cabbage should contain at least 6 per
cent OF nitrogen. per cent OF phosphor-
Ic acid and . per cent OF potash. When
= fertilizer OF this kind Il used at the
rate OF luo POUNDS per acre ~ pounu~
OF potash. for Instance. have been applied
10 the soil, and there Is some prospect
Of meeting part OF the demand made on
this particular element by the cabbage
plant Peanuts. potatoes. tobacco and
tomatoes are all potash-loving plants
A good mixture 20 prepare for peanuts
would be 1910 pounds Of acid phosphate
containing is per cent OF available phos-
phoric acid. 900 pounds of dried blood.
containing 13 per cent or nitrogen. and 100
pounds OF potash. This mixture would
contain just enough nitrogen to stimulate
the peanut crop during its early stages OF
growth. or about 2 per cent: while II
would contain at least 10 per cent each OF