Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-04

Louis, MO.
have been manufactured. That is, for in
stance, whether there is a surplus of moisture
or acid or other constituents present You
have probably heard the term ''drler as men
toned by fertilizer manufacturers. This Is
often some material which Is quite sosoroent
OF moisture and does not cake on becoming
wet the idea in using it being TO prevent
the condition TO which you refer Inere is no
one is h0me-miXing as the mixing can oe
easily and quickly done. ana one heeu no' ~
pare the fertilizer far In advance or using
10 suffer any Inconvenience through Gazing
In mixing together the constituents suggest
ed Won would not produce wel-balanced tor-
mula since there would be present aoous 100
pounds Of phosphoric ACID w pounus VI +
trogen and I57 pounds of potash TO the Ton:
This would give you a fertilizer containing 50
per cent of nitrogen, S4 per cent OF phos-
phoric acid and 10 per cent OF potss99. lou
Az NOT saw what you desire to use II Tor, OUT
M would be unusually high in nitrogen TOT az
save truck crops. You may reouce tne Ht ana,
gen. Of course, hy adding more eot,Jn ot
meal and lessening the amount OF sulphate VI
ammonia SuIphate of ammonia provides an
excellent form OF nitrogen, ana owing 10 ies
high content of this ingredient, 1t can De usen
80 sdvsntageously to raise the per cent OF
nitrogen where low-grade carriers OF I !. o""
teriai are used as the basis of the mixture
WILL. NITRATE OF SODA INJURE LAND?
rF N McRae. Ca. writes: Quite mum
bar Of farmers here wish to know II the use
OF nitrate OF soda injuries their lanus, ana
would like to have an expression from you
along this line. .
NITRATE Of soda will not njure the land II
nronerlv used From one point OF view II may
he said that all fertilizers are more OF Tess
tonics and stimuants. IN oIner Nv soil nav
reach the point where It will not respond salts
factorily to any application he may make, ms
is not likely to be the tauit OF Tue @ 49,
-. 70 he
10 practice a rotation of crops TO pillow deeply
and thoroughly and put plenty OF vegetanle
matter in the soil 1t Is exactly mxg Sn
trying to live one kind of food continuously;
and we all know what the result or that WouIu
be- The best result from any fertilizer ma!
always be anticipated therefore, "Rere sns
manure used, or I'm lieu Of il, green crops turned
under and a systematic rotation pracuceG'
Nitrate OF soda being unusually quickly aval a
able is a powerful plant stmulant, ana II useu
on lands that are not well supplied with plant
food materials, II naturally stimulates the crop
to make rapid growth and TO take up az o r
through which its roots develop. Inc taxing
M Of the nitrogen stimulates possibly the as
Sanitation Of phosphoric acld ana p potash as
that heavy and continued applications OF nitrate
Of soda may be said from one point or view
to injure the land. The injury, however as |
soil food supply has not been well balanced
and a sufficient amount, OF vegetable matter put
therein 10 keen IL In proper pnySlcal cOnuitloh
Nitrate of soda should only be used in mod
crate amounts on farm crops. From 20 to 100
pounds per acre is about the right application
TO use with the winter growing cereals or corn
and cotton Forms Of nitrogen which become
available somewhat slower should form the
basis Of all fertilizers, nitrate being reserved
chiefly for a top dressing. As rule,
il should not be put in larger amounts than
a. pounds in one application. Where II is de-
sired to use as much 100 pounds, it will be
hest to make two applications. 1t can be clear
Iv nd
diligently does not injure lands in the sense to
which you refer.
THE UTILITY OF FERTILIZER INGRE-
DENTS.
ID. B., Helena, Ca, writes: What part OF
the plant does each of the three elements OF
plant food namely, nitrogen, phosphorc acid
and potash, produce?
Nitrogen is intimately related to the growth
Of plants 1t is powerful sumulant ana
tonic and if present in excess viii cause a
made as a rule, at the expense or rruittul-
ness. No doubt you have noticed how grain
will lodge on rich low bottoms This is due
trogen as compared with the other elements
essential to the wellbeing Of the plants. Fruit
trees sometimes make an excessive growth i,, ana
fail TO produce a crop the next year When
nitrogen is not present in sufficient quantity
the growth Of the plant Is weak and II Is stunt
ed very often yellow and sickly IN appear
this condition the color win frequently De
changed in a few days and vigor OF CROWN
result that is quite surprising.
Phosphoric ecld is necessary to the healthy
growth of all plants and rs essential 10 me
production of straw, but especially seed II
il is absent or not present In sufficient guam
tity TO meet the needs OF a given crop, there
win be want OF vigor and shy bearing, or
failure to fruit altogether | have seen low
bottoms produce magnificent stalks or corn
and no ears until well fertiliEed with phos-
phoric caid. PhOsphoric acid also has mark
ed effect in Fastening maturity aud has seeo
used with Llstinct advantage in Texas and
some other places where II Is desirasie TO mas
ten the maturity of cotton TO escape the at
tack Of the boil weevil
Potash occurs in considerable quantities IN
ali plants Without its aid starch, fiber and
tbe growing parts OF the plant could not be
developed Starcn, you probably know, Is
elaborated in the leaves In the presence OF sun
light Through the elaboration and transfer
nation Of starch the growth processes OF the
pIant are made possible. 1t is not
difficult. therefore to understand what
an Important part potash plays In
the growth of crops and how important II Is
70 sIDply il in sufficient quantity TO meet
their needs provided the soil is deficient In
this element.