The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1911-01-12

In the feeding OF animals much
stress Is laid on the balancing of the
ration II has been found by expert
ment that 1t is possible TO get a ra-
ton which will produce a more eco
nomical gain In the fattening of hogs
than corn will when used alone.
Feeders tell us that this is because
corn is high in carbohydrates and
relatively low in protein. This would
lead us to think that there must be
a definite ratio between the carbo-
hydra5es and protein. which Is best
for the animal. Balancing the ration
means choosing feeds which, when
fed together to the animal, will give
this definite ration that the animal
requires. Corn alone is not bal
anced ration because 1t contains too
much carbohydrates for the amount
of protein. Tankage, on the other
hand. is not balanced ration be-
cause IL is relatively high in protein
But corn and tankage fed together
give proper balance.
Plants Need a Balanced Ration.
The same thing is true in the feed
Ing OF plants. Any one of the ele-
ments ordinarily found In fertilizers
|. e. nitrogen. phosphorus, and po-
tassum. when applied to soil, will
increase the crop.
At the Wooster Experiment Sta
ton. nitrogen applied by itself on the
crops In the five-year rotation has
given a gross gain of $3.50 per rota-
ton per acre; phosphorus applied
alone has given a gross gain OF
$l6.4S; potash applied by itself has
given a gross gain of $6.4O; but when
all of these materials were applied
together. the highest gross gain was
S39.72 per acre in one rotation. No
one of the hrce was by itself a bai-
anced ration. but all applied togeth-
or. while not exactly balanced ra-
ton (no one knows exactly what con-
stitutes such ration for plants) gave
tie best returns.
Manure is Not a Balanced Ration.
A ton or manure will contain on
the average - pounds of nitrogen. 2
pounds of phosphorus and s pounds
of potassium. Our soils, on the other
hand. contain on the average $500
pounds of nitrogen 1000 pounds of
phosphorus, and $4,000 pounds OF
potassium in a layer one foot deep
over the acre. These materials are,
of course, not all in available forms,
but If we will consider that they are
available in proportion to the amounts
present. II can easily be seen that
when manure alone is applied to the
soil We are not naving balanced ra-
tion for the crop.
We can increase the nitrogen in the
soil Dy growing legumes. The avail
able potash may be increased by
pIowing under organic matter. When
we sell the grain from the farm we
are selling something relatively high
in PHOSPHORUS, with no opportunity
Of getting it back under ordinary con-
ditions.
Why Not Add Phosphorus7
At the Wooster Experiment Station
It has been found that the addition
of 40 pounds of floats or acid phos-
phate to a ton of manure has In
creased its productive power 1.2s
net on the ton. Simply scattering
these materials over the manure as
It was thrown from. the stable
or over the surface In the Gov
cred yard has produced this In
crease A part OF the increase was
due 20 the saving of ammonia by pre-
venting It's escape into the air. Much
OF It was due, however, to the fact
that the amount of phosphorus wal
increased, making a more nearly bal
anced ration. Why not add phos
phorus?