Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-09

The essential elements Of fertility need
ed In the soil are. generally speaking
lime nitrogen, phOsphoric acid, potash,
and humus or vegetable matter. In the
growth OF the pea Il IS not often neces-
sary TO supply any nitrogen unless II De
on soils where the pea has not been pre-
viOusly cultivated. IL is, Of course, ad-
vfsable sometimes 10 use a small amount
OF nitrogen TO give the pea quick start
Under ordinary conditions the pea can
gather all the nitrogen it needs from the
air Being a deep. strong and vigorous
feeder. il makes heavy demands on the
supply OF phosphates and potash in the
soil and these II has no power Of seeur-
ing except through the medium Of the
soH. In order TO secure the best results
with the pea the land must be well sup
piled with these two elements, and II the
son is deficient in them by artificial
means. The phosphates can be applied
most CLEARLY In the form Of acid phos-
plate. and potash as muriate or sulphate
OF potash OF even kainit. though the first
Is probably the cheapest and most effec-
tive form Of potash to use
The value OF the eowpea as a fertilizer
is not only clearly brought out in the
following paragraph. but the necessity Of
applying certain forms Of fertilizer with IL
70 suit the varying conditions of soil and
climate is likewise demonstrated. In GER
tain experiments conducted with wheat
on an impoverished soil at the Tennessee
Experiment station. acid phosphate and
muriate OF potash used either singly or
in combination were found improbable.
When cowpeas were plOwed under on the
same land and these elements used, a
very gratifying increase was obtained.
amounting I'm one instance where 80
pounds OF acid phosphate and only %
pounds Of muriate Of potash were used,
TO 20 bushels per acre. While these fer
tilizers were used at a loss before the
cowpeas were plowed under. when used
IN conjunction with the cowpeas a
bushel Of Increase with winter wheat was
obtained az a cost Of q cents per bushel
At the Tennessee Experiment station.
where cOwpeas were grown for hay. Il
was found that the use OF 50 pounds Of
muriate Of potash increased the yield per
acre over no fertilizer by half a ton at a
cost OF a-E. The potash alone gave a
larger yield OF hay than a complete fer
tilixer lime farmyard manure, or phos-
pilates and potash and nitrogen and pot
ash together. showing the need OF potash
in clay soil typical Of the Appalachian
region.
These experiments indicate that liberal
applications OF phosphstes and potash
must be made to the soil where large
crop Of cOwpeas are sought. and Il is
wen 10 bear in mind that all the fertilizer
applied VIII not be available for the crop.
and hence the applications made should
be liberal good mixture for cowpeas
would be 80 TO 80 pounds OF acid phos-
phate. containing Is per cent available
phosphorus acid. and 100 pounds OF muri-
ate Of potash. containing 80 per cent Of
available potash Should Il be desirabfe
70 use kainit. 80 TO 900 pounds should be
substituted for the muriate. II a COM
mereial fertilizer Is used il should contain
10 per cent OF available phosphoric acid
and per cent OF potash. and 1t will be
necessary TO apply il at the rate OF $50
20 so pounds TO secure the desired
amount Of plant food. These proportions