The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-02-21

attained by practical farmers and the
Endorsement given by our experiment
stations show conclusively that com
mercial plant food plays an important
part in crop production in this Sec
ton. The larger portion of our lands
are not naturally rich in plant food:
however, they improve rapidly under
proper treatment and respond admir-
ably to the use of commercial fertil-
i2ers. This being true the farmer
should constantly study soil improve
ment and learn the conditions under
which the use of commercial fertil-
izers will be profitable.
From the farmers standpoint there
are four important plant food elements
to be. considered namely, nitrogen.
| phosphoric acid, potash and calcium.
| OF these nitrogen is the most import-
ant, because its chief function is TO
produce a vigorous, healthy plant. It
is the first element to become ex-
hausted, because it undergoes trans
formation quickly and is easily lost
either by escaping into the air or bv
teaching. Nitrogen is also the most
expensive plant food we have to buy.
costing at leat four times as much
per pound rs any of the other ele-
nlents.
Fhosphoric cid is next in import
ance. It has 70 do with the formation
of the seed and grain. or fruit and
haStens maturity The plant could
rot possibly put on any fruit without
the aid Of pho Fhoric acid; so you see
the necessity of having a liberal SUD-
ply available when needed
Potash Is the third important ola
ment. It aids in building and develor-
iA2 the stalk structure. in distributing !
the starch to all parts of the plant and
in the formation of the fleshy parts
OF fruits. It's aid is essential and there
must be an available supply present
in the soil or plant life will cease TO
exist.
Calcium, which is a constituent OF
lime, is used for improving the me-
chanical condition of the soil. cor
recting acidity, stimulating bacterial
life and setting free Unavailable forms
OF plant food Nearly all of our lands
are deficient in lime and doubtless
many of them are acid. A good an.
plication of lime would not only helm
the mechanical condition of the soil.
but would prove big factor in in
creasing the crop yield
The farmer should study the rela-
ton these elements bear to plant life
end maintain as nearly as possible
between the plant and the I
SELL A close observation of the grow ,
ng crops, together with practical ex- ,
detrimental test conducted on the farm. :
ihould give one a good idea of the needs .
II the soil and the benefits derived
~ supplying the deficient elements.
hS HhiOuhl vi pant lOOu contained II
n a crop removed from an acre of
and will show the necessity of rota-
ion and heavy fertilization. Accord
ng to Doctor Soule, thirty bushels of
orn and slower remove from the soil
bout forty-five younds of nitrogen.
fifteen pounds of phosphoric acid and
orty-siN pounds of potash Seventy
bushels Of corn with the stover re-
move from the soil eighty-three pounds
II nitrogen, forty-eight pounds phos-
'horic acid and fifty-fiye pounds of
lotash A bale of cotton with the
eed win remove 4wentyeight pounds
t nitrogen, nine pounds of phosphoric
cid and thirteen pounds of potash.
thirty bushels of oats with the straw
VII remove about twenty-eight pounds
II nitrogen, ten pounds of phosphorie
-cid and twenty-fouf pounds Of pot.ll
sb
From these figures it is seen that Il
rops remove from the soil considerllI
BILE amount of plant food Compare
he total amount of plant food re-
moved by one of these crops with the
mount supplied by an application of
% or 300 pounds of 9-165-2 fertilizer
the average used by the Mississippi
soil where deep blowing,
God cultivation,' crop rotation, turn
'g under of green crops and the use
: yard manure has been neglected for
ears and you will readily understand
ny the yield has decreased year by /
car. 1t is very evident that a change
methods of farming must come. Too
any farmers have believed that the
)plication of few pounds of fertil-
er was all that was necessary to pro-
zee crop, Fertilizers, alone. never
crop for any one, nor never