Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-01-12
TOP DRESSING CEREALS


Much interest is being evidenced in
the top dressing OF the various cereal
crops sowh throughout the south dur
ing the fail and early winter. What TO
use for this purpose and how to use II
are questions uppermost in the minds
of many farmers. When 70 apply the ma
terfaI and al what rate to use IL are
other topics engaging the famer's at
tentlon. There is much speculation as
TO whether a nitrogenous top dressing
or a complete fertilizer should be ap-
piled. II seems well, therefore. 60 give
some consideration 10 this topic at the
PRESENT time since the season is now
near At hand when top dressing can be
done most efficaciously, and those IN
terested in the use Of such materials
win require some time in which TO
purchase and haul them 10 the place of
distribution.
In the first place. complete fertilizer
applied to wheat, oats or rye IN the
spring Is not advisable. BY compete
fertilizer. OF course. is meant one which
carries nitrogen, phosphorus and po-
tassFru1 Complete fertilizers OF this
character should be applied in the fall
and should be mixed with the soil. They
are best put down at the time OF seed
ing. Their application In the spring OF
the wear as top dressing Is not like
" 10 prove satisfactory and II they are
used at ali they should be scattered
broadcast over the land and worked into
the surface by means OF a harrow. An
ordinary weeder viii not oituro the
ground to a sufhcient depth 70 tncor-
pOrats the fertilizer properly, and can
not be recommended on this account
In our opinion. the use Of complies
fertilizer as a top dressing I'm the spring
q OF the year. however. would not be
r. f~n# Al mrTNW
organic nitrogen could be used with
the soil This means that IL would be-
come relatively slowly available. and
heavy winter aud spring rains are liable
70 wash Il away or carry il down be-
yond the roots OF plants before they
have time TO assimilste IL.
Phosphorus Is not one OF the elements
quickly taken up In the soil; that Is
when compared with nitrogen in the
form OF nitrate OF soda blood or sui
phate Of ammonia In other words, II
should be placed In the soil at the time
OF planting the crop so that II may be
brought into solution and made avail
able to che feeding roots Of the plant
Time Is required for these processes,
and since the plant takes up this mate
rial with less rspidity than some other
elements Of plant food. II Is necessary
that as much time be given as possible
been said OF phosphorus applies with
equal force to potassium
The best material to use for top dress
ing cereals is nitrate OF soda Sulphate
Of ammonia Is not so valuable because
q becomes more slowly available. Where
II Is used. however. ii should be scatter
ed over the surface OF the ground ano
worked in with a sharp toOthed harrow
as its action Is much more rapid when
INCORPORATED with the soil than when
left. on top---It also gives its best re-
suits IN a moist or rather wet season.
In dry weather Il Is not readily trans
formed into nitrate Moreover, sulphate
Of ammonia should. as rule. be applied
with phosphorus and potassium, and as
It gives SIS best results on soils wen
supplied with lime IL does not seem TO
have a wide uefuIness as top dressing
for most Georgia soils which appear TO
be rather low in lime judging from the
ANALYSES made up 10 this time
Nitrate Of soda is very nne top
dressing for cereals because the nitro
gen Is contained in a quickly available
form. and because. even though applied
10 the top OF the ground, becomes quick
ly dissolved by the moisture rising TO
the surface through capillary action 1t
is thus brought almost Immediately in
contact with the feeding roots OF plants
which chiefly occupy the surface areas
OF the land. and thus stimulates growth
almost Immediately. Those who have
used nitrate Of soda are familiar with
its quick reaction on the plant. and on
this account IL is one or the most sat
factory top dressings available Nitrate
OF soda is. OF course, more valuable,
relatively speaking. when applied in
fairly dry rather than an extremely wet
season on account Of its quick availa-
biIIty One should be careful to use
only the highest grade Of nitrate Of soda
for the reason that the lower grades
are likely to contain per-chlorate OF
potassium, which is injurious to crops
Moreover. the highest grades are cheap
est IN the long run. even though the
price per ton be higher.
Top dressings should be applied In
small rather than large quantities, two
or more applications being preferable to
one II Is important that only limited
amounts be used so the crop may have
time to asslmilate them before being
washed OF, Ieached away. The first APP
plication may be made shortly after
growth starts in the spring. This VIII
depend much on the season The oppor-
tune time may come in February or In
the early part OF March II is especial
~ desirable where more than one APP
plfcation is 10 be made that the first be
applied shortly after vigorous growth
starts, II two applications are made
half or the amount may be put on at
Zach time. Sometimes as many as three
may be used with advantage. In this
Ease they should be made about two TO
four weeks apart. depending on the soil
and seasonal conditions. IT is desirable
that the last application be made about