Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-12

That liberal fertilization will pay with
corn is shown by the following results
obtained in experiments made under the
direction OF the writer at the Tennessee
Experiment station. Cookies Prolific corn
made an increased yield Of 1851 bushels
per acre over no fertilizer from an APP
piication of loo pounds OF nitrate OF soda,
80 pounds of acid phosphate and %
pounds OF muriate OF potash one nun
bred and fifty pounds OF acid phosphate
and 50 pounds of muriate OF potash gave
an increased yield over no fertilizer OF n.S2
bushels, showing in this instance that
the soil was deficient in available nitro
gen. At the Virginia Experiment sta
ton. an application OF 600 pounds Of cot
ton seed meal. $50 pounds Of acid phos-
phate and 80 pounds of muriate OF potash
gave an increased yield over no fertilizer
OF 1919 bushels of corn per acre An APP
plfcation OF loo pounds of nitrate Of soda.
so pounds Of acid phosphate and 80
pounds OF muriate OF potash gave an in
creased yield over no fertilizer OF 1850
bushels of corn per acre
In ante-beIIum days much guanO was
used and excellent results were obtain
ed from IT. II is not uncommon TO hear
the farmers say that as good results ar;
not obtained from fertilizers now as in
the olden days. Probably they do not
realize that the guanO used 80 years ago
sometimes contained as much as % per
cent Of nitrogen: certainly a much great
er amount OF nitrogen than is now used
BY our farmers. Thus. the data seems TO
indicate that liberal fertilization for the
corn crop when the soil has been care
fully prepared. a good type OF seed Sc
lected. and thorough cultivation after
planting pursued may be made a most
profitable undertaking to the farmer. and
WIN insure a substantial increase over
the Yields he is now obtaining. More
over. il should not be forgotten that diff
ferent varieties OF corn require varying
amounts Of fertilizers. Some of tie
smaller yielding varieties will not draw
so heavily on the plant food constituents
as the larger growing varieties. We are
inclined TO overlook this matter, and
when we do fertilize TO use the same
formula on all lands and under all con-
ditiOns-
II should be borne In mind that in or
der to secure results from fertilizers
vegetable matter i'm the soil is essential.
u has been demonstrated over and over
~Sain that much larger yields will be Sc
cured where yard manure or cowpeas
have been plowed under than where the
fertilizer is applied directly to the land.
IL Is not hard TO understand this sugges-
ton. for as a matter of fact, the COM
-aerciaI fertilizer has no influence on the
mechanicaI condition of the soil. and
aence. IL a dry spell of weather comes
on. the food contained can not be dis
solved and brought within the radius OF
ne plant roots and utilized in stimulst-
sng growth. Vegetable matter, on the
other hand. aids in setting free the
plant food already contained in the soil,
and which must by reason OF economy on
the part Of the farmer be utilized to
supply a part of the needs of his crop.
The vegetable matter changes the phys
ical condition of the soil. helps to make
il resistant to drOuth and retentive Of
moisture and furnishes that ideal con-
dition OF decaying organic matter in
which the corn plant revels. The farmer
who cOntemplates planting corn this
year. therefore, and has not a supply of
vegetable matter on hand should ar
range his system Of farming so as to
provide for a rotation OF crops next year.
In the meantime, he should use every
possible effort TO secure the largest
amount OF compost TO apply under the
driIl rows before planting his corn. IL he
has farm yard manure he is indeed for
tunate for there IL nothing better which
he can use. II he will apply at least
two tons of yard manure or well
prepared compost under the drill,
row and mix with il, say 500 to 500 pounds
Of fertilize- containing not less than 3
per cent OF available nitrogen, 10 per cent
OF phosphoric acid and 4 per cent Of
potash. he may anticipate good results.
II the corn is to be grown on very sandy
land the nitrogen should be increased to
I per cent and the potash to ; or per
cent II the land is better than the av-
crage gray and red clay upland soil. per
cent of nitrogen, s per cent OF phos-
phorie acid and per cent Of potash will
answer very well
In an experiment made last year 90
bushels of corn were raised per acre on
land on which a crop OF velvet beans
hao been pIowed under the previous fall.
and a fertilizer applied which contained
Per ton eS.7 pounds OF available nitrogen,
q pounds of available phosphoric acid
and e pounds Of available potash. No
tsce carefully that this was equivalent to
en- application OF 100 pounds OF a 4-1O-S
fertilizer. and that the actual available
plant food applied to the land through
this application exceeds the ordinary APP
pI,cation Of so pounds OfNa e-s-e by APP
prcximateiy IS pounds of nitrogen, %
-----------