The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-15

must DO carried through tho process OF
nitrifcation or change to nitrates of
its content Of nitrogen before plants
the presence OF lime carbonate in the
soil greatly promotes the growth and
activity of the nitrifying bacteria.
Green plants get carbon from the air
through the action of their green mat
ter but these m!croscopical plants we
call bacteria have no green matter.
but they have the power that no green
plant has, In that they get carbon from
a chemical combination, the carbonate
of lime. We want the organic matter
decomposed. and the plants to get the
nitrogen, and there will be no loss of
nitrogen from the use of freshly
water-slaked lime. though have al
ways let 1t stand to get completely
carbonated and dust-like before APP
plying It Ground limestone. used
rapid sweetening Of the soil and the
promotion of bacterial activity,
greatly prefer burnt lime.
WeeriIs In Corn.
II am badly troubled with weevils
bisulphide, and have burnt sulphur in
the bins, and neither does any good
Can you suggest anything else?" If
the grain Is in closed bin, l have
never known carbon bisulphine TO fail
to destroy the weev!ls There Is
more certain method OF destroying any
living insect in the building. but 1t
is a dangerous thing TO handle. and
can only be used in a perfectly close
building, and not in q corn crib. This
Ia the fumi cation with hydrooyanic acid
- fytl lat
plant louise TO a horse or a man. II
breathed 1t Is commonly used in
fumig ating nursery stock and green
houses, the nursery stock being put
into Il close building. Tho gas Is made
by dropping cyanide of potassium into
sulphuric acid. 1t needs the most care
full management. and no live-aniInals
anywhere in the building. II needs
an expert to handle it. for good
breath OF the gas would kill man.
Better keep using the carbon bisul-
phde.
OnfOpS Running to Seed.
planted onion sets last fall in No
vember, and in the richest part OF the
heavily the onions are mere shells with
4 hard stalk. Can you name the
cause" The onions have thrown up
their flower stems to make seed, and
that Will always exhaust the bulb. You
can rarely make good, ripe onions from
fall planted sets. use these only for
early green onions. To get good. ripe
spring. 1 will have a complete article
on onion growing later, as there are
number inquiring about them.
I<ninlt on Sweet Potatoes.
What would be the effect OF using
no
sweet potato crop?" To get the
amount of potash l would prefer in a
fertilizer for sweet potatoes, you
would have to use so large an amount
OF kainit that there would be salt
enough to almost kill tho plants.
use 10 per cent of potash In the form
OF sulphate for sweet potatoes To
get that percentage IN a ton with
kainit would have TO use over 800
poundl--an utter impossiblity, II any
thing else is used to make the ton
In any crop where sugar is desirable
sulphate OF potash only should be
used.
From surry County: please tell me
how much potash and acid phosphate
to use on peanuts and potatoes and
garden truck in general. do no;
have acres in truck, but can figure out
what / want from n statement by the
acre" Unless you are using manure
literally on your garden. you will need
more than acid phosphate and pota sh
as a fertilizer. except for the peanuts
and beans. On these mixture OF
900 pounds of acid phosphate and
thirty pounds OF mur!ate of potash
an acre VIII answer very we'll On a
garden that is regularly covered every
spring with stable manure, use
mixture or 600 pounds of acid phos-
phatc and 400 pounds OF muriate OF
potash, and use half OF this an acre.
or 1000 pounds spread broadcast. The
soil on which do this Is sandy loam
On heavy clay loan. that amount
of potash VIII hardly be needed. and
in fact on most crops none will be
needed, II the soil is we'll stocked with
dccay!nG organic matter from manure.
as such soils have plenty Of insoluble
potash. which the organic acids VIII
help to release.