Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-02-25
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT
THE IMPORTANCE OF
PHOSPHORUS TO PLANTS

would contain approximately rs per cent
OF nitrogen. 101 per cent of phosphoric
acid and 5.4 per cent OF potash. This
should make an excellent fertilizer for
land such as you describe whe nused at
the rate OF 500 or more pounds per acre.
Two hundred pounds of nitrate of soda is
certainly the largest amount of this ma
terial you should use in a ton of com
plete fertilizer which is to be applied UNI
der the ground because the nitrogen in
nitrate OF soda is Immediately available
to plants. and being very readily soluble
in water may be leached out of the soil
before the plant can utilize IL IL used in
large quantities. Nitrogen, phosphoric
acid and potash are taken up by the crop
throughout the entire period of its
growth. but an abundance of phosphates
is more essential to the needs OF the plant
during the formation of seed and the
ripening period than at any other stage of
it's development Phosphoric acid and
potash. however, are not readily lost from
the soil, and should be applied to the
crop at the time OF planting so as to
give as much time as possible for them
to be brought into condition in the soil
in which the plant can utilize them and
assimilate them to the extent needed for
the proper development Of the crop.
FERTILIZING VALUE OF FOREST
LEAVES.
G. T. p, Renno. S. c., writes: Is there
any value In forest leaves? Would they
benefit land IL scattered over It and
turned under7
There is considerable fertilizing value
in forest leaves and litter. Dry leaves
contain about II pounds OF nitrogen,
pounds of phosphoric acid and pounds OF
potash per ton. Rye straw contains
pounds Of nitrogen. s pounds Of phos-
phoric acid and Is pounds of potash per
ton Yard manure contains from u to
Is pounds of nitrogen, z to per cent of
phosphoric acid and II to 15 pounds OF
potash. You viii thus see that the leaves
contain a fair amount OF fertilizer when
compared with various other forms OF
roughness available for adding humus to
the soil and giving It greater friability.
Leaves intended for the Improvement of
the Land may be gathered and scattered
over II and turned under. A better way
probably, however. Is to arrange a COM
post heap in the fall OF the year and gath
er the leaves as soon as they fall and
keep them wet, and probably distribute
q little lime over the pile occasionally to
hasten decay. II you add to this pile the
litter and waste from the stables, you
can improve the quality OF the mass and
also hasten decay. The compost heap
should be protected but kept moist so as
to prevent its drying out A great deal
Of vegetable matter may be gathered up
on every farm for the Improvement OF
the soil II this suggestion is followed. A
furrow may be opened up and the leaves
put In It. The seed bed should be fairly
well hrned. however, II this practice
Is followed or the leaves may make the
land 50 porous and open as to cause II to
dry out rather readily during a dry
spell
FERTILIZERS FOR CORN AND COT
TON ON SANDY LAND.
A A r.. Ashburn. Ca: have 90 acres
OF new ground, Is acres OF which were Gull
tivated last year. All OF It is light sandy
land. The sand Is from two feet to six
In depth. What kind OF fertilizer should
I use on the same for corn and cotton?
How much potash should I use to q ton
OF acid7
A 1o-e acid-potash mixture would be
the best to use on land such as you de-
scribe II you are going TO confine the
use OF fertilizers to these two elements
1t occurs to US. however. that q light
sandy soil should require the application
of nitrogen as well for the growth OF
good crops OF both corn and cotton. A 3
los fertilizer should give good results
on cotton, and a 4-10-6 on corn. At least
800 pounds per acre should be used and
for soils such as you describe better re-
suits will always follow IL you can add
vegetable matter to the land. You should
institute q rotation OF crops at the ear
Hest possible date, and grow legumes
on some Of your land each year to be
turned under for soil Improvement. OF
course, compost and yard manure may be
used TO just as much advantage as a
crop, provided you can Sc
cure enough OF these materials to apply
to your land at least two tons per acre
each year. A s-1o-5 fertilizer may be pre-
pared as follows: Mix together 500 pounds
Of high-grade cotton seed meal, $50 pounds
Of blood. LOO pounds OF high-grade acid
phosphate and $50 pounds OF nitrate Of
potash II you attempt to prepare this
mixture at home. you should mix II very
thoroughly. have suggested the use of
blood and cotton seed meal as the source