The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-21

w. T.. Massey. ffty mounds OF
nitrate of soda and 100 pounds, Of
sulphate OF potash, how much sui
Dhatc of ammonia would It be ncccs
sary to use TO equal the nitrate of soda,
and what would be the analysisg Nyhy
Is the sulphate of potash usually given
the preference over muriutc of nota sh
Tor potatoes? Is II advisable to harrow;
OAKS ana wheat IN the spring on gray
sandy loan iii the Piedmont section ~
Plant3 do not use ammonia, and never
use nitrogen until It is in the form
of nitrate Sulphate of ammonia an
piled to the soil would have TO go
through the process of nltrification or
change 10 4 nitrate, by the action OF
tho soil bacteria. while the nitrate
OF soda ts already "a nitrate and can
DC used AZ once. Sulphate of ammonia
WIZ furnish about 20 per cent or nitro
gen. nitrate of soda little over Is per
cent. But in some cases the sulpha To
OF ammonia seems to have a poisonous
erect, unless accompanied by lining
IT Is better and more economical TO
use nitrate OF soda for the crops YOU
mention. az they are grown largely for
eafihess, ana we need q quickly avail
able fertilizer. Some authorities urge
snlphate OF potash instead of the mu-
riatc because they claim that 1t makes
dricr and more starchy potato than
the muriatc. But In tho early crop of
irish potatoes grown for northern ship
ment. L have never seen any advantage
III using the sulphate over the muria g
or potash, and tho muriatc Is usually
cheaper. For sweet potatoes and any
crop In which, sugar Is an important
matter. the sulDhatc is much TO be pre-
ferred TO the rnuriate OF potash. II
gives better results in sweet potatoes,
tomatoes. cantaloupes and water
melons than the nuriate. No. I would
not harrow wheat or oats in spring on
sandy soil.
II have never grown peanuts, but am
thinking OF trying them. What would
be "a fair yield AN acre and what price
could expect 10 get for the nuts
Peanuts, like other crops, vary with the
fertility OF the SOIL and its adapta-
ton to the crop. ana the skill of the
farmer. Some will make twenty to
twenty-five bushels an acre and others
100 bushels 1t depends on the farmer
mainly. What YOU can get for them
no one can tell, for the price Of peanuts.
Ike the price OF corn and wheat varies
in different seasons. Better go slow
and try small area TO see what you
can do. As rule. find that farmers.
who are looking for new crops TO
grow. arc the men who are not grow
ing the old crops we'll. You would be
Handicapped in growing peanuts in a
section where the crops has not been
grown by lack of facilities for market
ing them. and lack OF skill in the han
ding or the crop. Better farm well
with the crops you are accustomed to.
Value or Poultry Manure.
Il have a small truck farm of four
Teen acres just outside the town limits
and it is very difficult 10 get stable
manure, but ! have AN opportunity TO
buy several hundred pounds OF chicken
manure from poultry plant near me.
The chickens are housed and fed on
the best feeds. VIII it pay me to buy
this manure. and how much per 100
pounds can afford TO pay for it, VIII
IL be good Tor vegetables and straw
berries? What Will II anulyzc?' What
any manure will analyZe can only be
asccrtained exactly by chemical
analysis. as IL depends much on how
the manure has been treated and kept.
Fresh poultry droppings will average
Ito per cent OF nitrogen, 05G per cent