Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-09-27

klIlECrS III lu0 OulLSU SIdL6S udS III
creased at a very rapid rate within
the last two or tire decades. Their
use in the eastern and southern states
is extensive. Within this period, how
ever, Wisconsin agriculture has gone
largely in the direction of dairying
and in this system of farming the fer
tility of the soil, as is well known, is
more generally conserved than in sys-
TENS where large part of the prod
Gct of the farm is sold in the form Of
vegetables or grain. For this reason,
In part, the use of commercial fertiliz-
eFs in this state has been very linn
tied. Moreover. the agricultural press
of the state and the teaching of the
Agricultural college has been opposed
to- the use of commercial fertilizers
largely because the emphasis was
placed on the advantages of dairylng
In the conservation of soil fertility.
The time has come, however. when it
is not profitable for farmers of the
state to longer overlook the advan-
tages which may come from the prop
or use Of commercial fertilizers. There
ls much land in the state not adapted
to dairying, such as large areas OF
sandy and marsh soil, and some sec
tons of clay loan where the tOpogra-
ply is so rough that the necessary
amount Of corn for silage cannot be
grown to advantage. On lands Of this
class, other products must be grown
for the market and it is in the grow
Ing Of such crops as cabbage, potatoes,
sugar beets, peas and corn for canning
purposes, and other special crops that
the use of commercial fertilizers is
needed.
The large yields of practically all
eArm crops produced in such European
countries as England, Germany and
France, are frequently mentioned in
agricultural papers as an evidence Of
the possibilities of intensive cultiva-
ton. By far the most important fac
tor making possible such increases is
the use of commercial fertilizers. 1t
would be difficult matter to find a
farm Of any Importance in any Of
these countries on which consider
able amount of commercial fertilizers
is not used. Nearly one-haf of the i'm
mense output of cur own phosphate
mines is shipped abroad and in addi-
ton to that, enormous quantities Of
phosphate are mined in Europe and
produced in the form of Thomas Stag
IN the reduction Of British iron ore
which runs high in that element. Ger
many possesses practically the worlds
supply Of potash fertilizer and this is
drawn ON heavily by that and adjacent
countries. In addition to this, the
growth Of green manuring crops, prac-
ideally always of the legume family,
adds to the nitrogen supply, although
enormous quantities Of special nitro
gen fertilizers are also used.
Without desiring in the least to I'M
Aeresttmate the Importance of dairy
pr other stock farming in it's effect on
the fertility of the soil, we feel that
ne can no longer afford to neglect the
use Of commercial fertilizers where
they are called for. &~'--"r~sa..-s-,.~-4
4 Contrary to a rather common opin-
ION, the kind Of commercial fertilizers
sailed for depends more on the char
iacter Of the sell to be treated than ON
The crops to; be grown. The amount
10 be used will depend to some extent
On the kind of crop grown since some
crops remove much larger quantities
IOf the mineral elements from the soil
than do others, but the particular kind
4Sf. fertilizer needed is determined al
smost exclusively by the character of
the soil. Much can be learned regard
ling the feeding Of crops from expert
ence gained in the feeding OF animals.
Just as 1t is well known that a certain
balance among the ingredients Of feed
for stock should be maintained, 90
should there be a balance In the differ.
ent, elements. of fertility available ia
growing crops. When crops are to be
grown on marsh land which is ex
'trcmely high in nitrogen but just az
extremely low in phosphorus, and
often in potash, these deficiencies
must be made good In some way
Sandy soils. On account Of their coarse
texture and generally low content o.
all the essential elements, must fire.
auehtly he supplied with practically
ali the essential elements for plan
growth. The nitrogen may be addeC
either directly In artificial fertilizer
or indirectly through the growth o
Seguminous plants which have tn
power Of fixing that element from tn.
atmosphere. The nitrogen can b.
r. gathered in this way much NOR
cheaply than it can be purchased am
moreover, when added in the form o
vegetable matter it decomposes an
bscomes available to growing crop
sewly so that there isalittle danger 9
Its loss by teaching from the sol
while nitrate of sodaHor sulphateEC
ammonia aro extremely, soluhla an