The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-02-24
SOME FACTS ABOUT FERTILIZERS.

In view OF tne annual use or the far-
mers of Mississippi of some 100000 tons of
commercial fertilizers, it seems we'll to
inquire as to whether the IL or 3 mil
lion dollars paid for these is wisely and
economically expended. Investigation
proves that this is far from the case, and
that thousands of dollars might be saved
annually by the elimination of unneces-
sary elements and by closer study of our
soil and crop requirements
In buying fertilizers the average Mis-
sissippi farmer wastes money in several
ways.
I. By buying, in factory-mixed ferti-
lizers, potash, which has never on any soil
in the state given profitable return for
its cost. See all of our experiment sta
ton tests.
2. Buying fertilizers on the ton basis,
absolutely without regard to their con-
stituents or their availability, and without
regards to the needs to the soil and the
crop to be fertilized
3. By depending almost entirely on
commercial fertilizers as source of plant
food, and overlooking the fact that cow
peas, stable manure or some other humus-
forming material can never be dispensed
with if maximum crops are to be grown.
Let us see how these defects shall be
corrected.
I. By eliminating our potash bill.
Refuse to buy factory mixtures contain
ing this element Buy high-grade 6.IS per
cent meal and I6 per cent acid phosphate
and mix them at home in such proportions
as will meet your soil and crop require
ments. Remember that each ton of fac
tory-mixed fertilizer usually contains from
$I.so to $z.oo worth of potash which is
worth no more to your crop than SO
much sand. About two parts meal to one
of acid for corn, and about two parts
acid to one of meal for cotton, will be
nearly right for the average south Missis-
sippi soil, but remember that this is only
suggestive, as many factors have to be
considered. Each man should figure
out the proper proportions for himself.
He should know his soil and its require
ments better than any fertilizer factory
| can.
| Stop purchasing fertilizers by the sack
| or by the ton. The law requires that
every manufacturer indicate the nitrogen
and phosphoric acid in his goods, and
| it is the purchasers own fault if he buys
inferior stuff. Buy high-grade I6 per
cent acid phosphate and 6.1S per cent
meal and no other. You can not afford
to pay freight on and haul the sand and
dirt, or something equally worthless, that
are large part of every lowgrade fer
| tiTizcr
| Z. BY increasing the humus content of
our Soils There is no question but that
! the greatest need of all our soils is hu-
mus. 1t drys wet lands and holds moisture
in dry lands. 1t warns cold lands and
tempers sandy soils that burn vegetation
too quickly. 1t unlocks inert plant food,
renders it soluble and available, and makes
the right use of commercial fertilizers
profitable. Our climate is such that the
humus content is rapidly burned out, but
this same sunshine and rain and soil
combine to produce to perfection cow
peas, soy beans and velvet beans, the
greatest humus restorcrs and soil enrichers
| in the world.
Consider few of these facts, and when
| you put them into practice you will find
yourself making bigger crops on greatly
reduced fertilizer bill.
Il. MOSS.
Special zgsnt, o. s. Department Agri-
culture.