Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-02
QUESTION AND ANSWER
The Origin and Domestication of the Peanut

prove Injurious, but this. will seldom II
ever happen until the entire system of
rotation now in vogue in peanut belt
changes radically In fact, few peanut
planters pay any attention whatever TO
the rotation of their lands and grow the
crop on the same area year after year.
AS a result, the nuts become small and
inferior, and the vines tend to lose their
leaves before maturity. A good physical
condition OF the soil is essential for this
crop.
The importance of applying lime must
also be emphasized in this connection,
as there is comparatively little of the
land devoted to peanuts which naturally
contains enough of this important ele-
ment. Any kind of lime may be APP
piled provided IL is very finely ground or
burned before applying. oyster shells are
accessible to farmers living near the
coast and answer very well, though
caustic lime is noe of the best and cheap
est forms in which to supply this ele-
ment. Mari may be used I'm sections
where there is an abundance of 1t and 1t
can be secured at a low enough cost. At
least 30 bushels of lime may be applied
per acre. and 100 to $50 bushels of mari.
AS a rule. lighter applications of lime
made more frequently will prove the
most profitable, and there is less danger
ply Of humus when lighter applications
are made.
A review Of the fertilizer proposition
therefore makes il clear that potash
and phosphoric acid are the two most
essential elements TO be applied to this
crop I'm a commercial form, and that
liberal applications will prove profitable
has now been fully demonstrated by
scientific experiments and practical oper-
H.
Of phosphoric are used. It is not so nee
essary to apply lime or gypsum since
there are between GOO and 200 pounds OF
the latter in each ton of phosphate.
Fertilizers Suitable for Spring Oats
T. H. Eastanollee, Ca, writes: Can
Is per cent acid phosphate be used with
stable manure to any advantage for
spring oats, and would muriate of potash
be OF any additional benefit? What
amount of acid phosphate, cotton seed
meal and muriate of potash would it take
TO make a fertilizer Analysing 2-1O-S?
Acid phosphate can be used with good
advantage in connection with farmyard
manure. II can be scattered in the stalls
under the horses or cattle I'm small
amounts each day. Large amounts should
rot be used as there is some danger of
the acid injuring the feet of the animals.
You should use about 80 to 100 pounds Of
phosphate to each ton of manure. Floats
have also been used to good advantage
with farmyard manure in similar
amounts floats consist of the finely
ground phosphate rock before treatment
with sulphuric acid. Its value as fer
tilizer depends very considerably on the
fineness with which IL is ground. A top
dressing of well-rotted farmyard ma
nure on spring oats to which acid phos-
phate has been added would be excellent
practice. The addition of potash would
not be so important or so likely to prove
beneficial as it would be somewhat slow
in its action. Phosphates and potash do
not readily leach from the soil and are
not taken up so quickly by plants as
some other constituents of plant food,
and may then be applied to the soil con-
siderably in advance of the seeding of
the crop. In other words, the longer the
plant has to get in proerp touch with
them the better are the results from the
use of these materials likely to be. A ton
OF farmyard manure contains from 10
Is pounds OF nitrogen, to 9 pounds of
phosphoric acid and to Is pounds of pot
ash. You will see that IT is not a we'll
balanced plant food and why it is bene-
fetal to use acid phosphate in connec-
ton with IL.
A fertilizer containing approximately ?
per cent of nitrogen, 10 per cent OF phos-
phoric acid and 8 per cent of potash may
be prearped by mixing together 800 pounds
Of cotton seed meal. 100 pounds Of acid
phosphate and 100 pounds of muriate Of
potash. To bring this mixture up to 1000
pounds add 100 pounds OF rich compost.