Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-14
APPLYING PLANT FOOD,

at least two tons of finely ground rock
should be applied. and even more may
often be used to great advantage. es-
peoIally with leguminous crops. The
caustic lime is more. active and may
often be applied with best advantage TO
soils in bad physical condition and
which contain a small amount of veg
etable matter. Where the soil con-
tains an abundance of humus and its
physical condition is satisfactory the
finely ground rock had best be applied.
Lime is a soil amendment and the call
cium which il contains may often be
of service 10 plants.
It is serviceabIe in putting the soil
into condition to respond to the use Of
commercial plant food Caustic lime
should. OF course. not be mixed with
fertilizer frmula containing nitrogen
of phOsphoric acid as it will tend to
set the nitrogen free and cause the
phosphoric acid to revert. into an I'M
available form. Lime should ordinarily
be applied sometime in advance of fer
tilizer applications. 1t is best to use
Il in the fall. Break the ground deep
ly and thoroughly and use a top dress
ing about thirty days before planting.
This applies TO the use of caustic lime.
The ground rock should be applied much
earlier: in fact il may be distributed
with advantage in the late fall on land
intended for planting in spring crops
such as corn and cotton.
While our investigations with refer
ence to lime have only begun those made
to date indicate strongly the benefits
which will result from its application
to many Of our Georgia soils. On the
College farm last year without fer
tilizer or lime the yield Of corn was
Is bushels per acre; where a ton OF
caustic lime was applied the yield be-
came 46 bushels. This seems an un-
usually high increase but it indicates
nevertheless the hunger on the part
OF the land for lime. The experiments
will be continued, not only in our dem
onstration field but in various parts of
the state in the hope that more data
relative to this matter may be obain-
ed for il is believed to be subject
OF widespread importance to Georgia
farmers.
In conclusion, the the facts set forth
indicate that Georgia soils contain lat
ent potentialities of vast economic i'm
portanee to our farmers but in order to
secure the benefits which nature intend
ed them to enjoy. a different system of
preparation and cultivation must be
pursued.
1t is evident that crop rotation and
diversihcation are to play an important
part in the future development of ag-
riculture in Georgia. 1t appears that
our soils are frequently deficient in
the essential elements Of plants food.
and until these defects are remedied
large and uniform yields can not be an
ticipated. The defects in our soils may
be overcome through the use of the
agencies already mentioned. together
with liberal applications of commercial
plant food. it having been demonstrate
ed that when used with any degree
OF skill fertilizers are a profitable in
vestment for our farmers In using
fertilizers, however, IL must always be
borne in mind that a number Of agencies
are concerned in crop production. and
that in order TO secure the best results
and develop a permanent system OF
agriculture all factors must be taken
into consideration.
Farm crops remove from the soil
a much larger percentage Of plant food
than is returned to them in commercial
form. Naturallq, they must become
poorer from year to year unless more
intelligent systems Of fertilization and
MANAGEMENT are insttut II has now
been demonstrated that heavy applica,
tions Of commercial fertilizers will give
the largest profit per acre where soils
have been brought into proper relation
/ TO the plant life which they are intend
ed to support. Since lime is deficient
| in many of our soils IL is likely to play
an important part in making them high
l ~ productive. Lime should not, how
ever. be used recklessly, but with pru-
dence and discreation, and if this be
done beneficial results from its applica-
ton TO most farm crops Will generally
follw. Our farmers should take cour-
age from the success which has attend
/ ed their efforts TO increase crop yields
in the past. and through judicious and
\ consistent effort master as completely
as possible the more important funda-
mental facts concerning soils. plants
| and fertilizers, so that the work of
these agencies may be properly cOrrel-
ated. When this is done in connection
\ with a proper diversifcation of crops
/ the individual win attain his highest
efficiency and our farmers become more
prosperous from year to year.
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT CORN CLUBS
/ A NJ. Winterville, Ga, writes: l