The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-01-10

|, NtIt HUl NOHhuNAtN
the most favorable conditions
In reviewing the experiments report
ed from all experiment stations where
experiments have been conducted II l.
impossible to arrive NJ any definite
conclusion on the subject; consequent
~ letters were written TO the directors
Of twcnty-one state experiment sta
lions asking them 10 state how they
advised their constituent farmers ON
the subject. Seventeen replied by say
Ing that they do not recommend the
use Of rock phosphate and four recon-
nended its use when accompanied by
liberal applications Of barn yard ma
nure or when green manure is turned
under. Director Thorne, who Is oftel
quoted as favoring rock phosphate. re
piled by saying: I'm our experiments II
the use Of raw rock phosphate as q
re enforcement of manure. as com
pared with acid phosphate. we find
very little difference in the net return
after deducting the cost of treatment
between the two materials The diff
ference at present seems to be slightly
In favor of the acid phosphate. Oul
results in the separate use of the two
phosphates as a direct application to
the land do not encourage the use OF
the raw rocks"
Although the results from all these
experiments are so contradictory. they
have clearly demonstrated one thing
ha -, 30, IL
phosphate except as Il reinforcement
of manure or upon land that is ricl,
In organic matter.
I'VE desire again 10 emphasize ;he
fact that humuS as well as phosphorus
Is needed TO maintain the fertility OF
Illinois soil end again TO doubly err
phasize the fact that raw phosphate
must be used In connection with liber
al amounts of manure or with good
crop of clover plowed under if salts
factory results are to be secured or
Illinois soils. When used without n
good crop rotation and without farm
manure or green manure disappointing
results are very sure to follow"
1t is the opinion of the writer. based
upon the available evidence from all
sources, that more careful experiment
ing must be done before this question
can be definitely settled. Up to the
present time the best results, taking
everything into consideration, have
been obtained with the acid phosphate
Then, too, it has not yet been definite
ly proved that the beneficial results
from the use Of raw rock phosphate
are due IN every case to the phosphoric
acid 1t contains. AS previously stated.
raw rock phosphate contains, on an
average, - per cent phosphoric acid
and 33 per cent lime, and any reaction
taking place in the soil tending to make
available the phoSphoric acid will also
make the lime available. In many OF
the experiments with rock phosphate
crops have heen used which are known
to be usually benefited by lime. and
in such cases il is unfair. in the VIII
er's opnhE. to attr1bu,e the good re-
suits enugeiy TO the phosphoric acid OF
the rock phosphate. Then. too, the
use of rock phosphate under the most
favorable conditions calls for better
methods Of farming, and this. of itself
is bound 10 increase the yields.
In conclusion. the writer wishes to
impress upon the readers Of this ari.
Gle that the Results Of other expert.
meats cannot be taken as applying rr
their own conditions and that If roc
phosphate is used at all 1t should u,
done in an experimental way and tn;u
it should he used on such crops as corn
oats, wheat, clover. etc, and nevc,
upon crops like potatoes. sugar bects.
cabbage, onions. small fruits. etc.