The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-04-23

ly can, and leave the manurial value
as an extra, this is the cheapest way
of keeping a farm in condition. But
| am no advocate for feeding bullocks
at loss in hopes of being recouped by
the manurial residuum AS carriage
of heavy manure is usually too costly,
see no way of keeping farm in its
highest and most profitable condition
without the use of artiticials.
AS the return seems more immedi-
ate from arabic land, too often the
meadows are mown to state of abb
ject poverty and the pastures beg
CARED by ceaseless removal OF milk
and flesh, with nothing taken back.
When the enhanced value of pasture
land from the judicous use of artifi-
Gals is more understood, they will
be applied in larger quantities. Heavy
dressings of farmyard dung are always
a mistake. There Is never anything
like enough to go round, and some
other part of the farm has to suffer.
1t should be borne in mind that
load of dung from a covered yard Is
equal to two that have been exposed
to rain or moved to cause excessive
fermentation, resulting in the loss Of
ammonia. To give such heavy dress
ing of farm dung as to satisfy the
wants of any and all crops is to put
a great deal on that the plants do not
require.
The Problems
set the practical farmer is first to find
cheapest form in which he can make
it up. Analysis of average samples
of soil by an agricultural chemist will
detect the presence of injurious sub
stances such as sulphate of iron; will
also show If the land is deficient in
lime, phosphoric acid, and such essen
tials. | once heard chemist say at
the close Of lecture on foodstutYs
that, after all, bullock was the best
analyst. So actual tests of the re-
Quirements OF the soil made on the
farm are of greatest value. 1t is so
simple, it may be done by the farm
er himself in a few spare hours, and
the interest in watching the results
adds very largely to the pleasures of
a country life. The cost is so little
as not to be worth serious considera-
ton. A plot eleven yards by four, or
eight yards by five and one-half is,
roughly, one hundred and twelfth
part of an acre. This Is most con-
venient size, for every pound Of fer
tilizer applied to the plot is equiva-
lent to one hundredweight per acre.
Generally speaking, nitrogen is ap
piled cheaper by nitrate of soda than
from any other source, especially On
strong soils, whilst sulphate OF am.
monia is often within reach, The
cheapest sources of phosphoric acid
are usually superphosphate and Sasic
Stag with dissolved bone, raw bone
meal, and some of the guanos coming
next. 1t is possible at all times 20
get good value in manures made from
all kinds of animal and fish waste, but
they are extremely valuable, and
those who are not sufficiently up in
the subject to compare the cost per
unit with such chemical manures as
are quoted on every market had per.
haps better leave them alone. At the
same time, know plenty Of practical
market gardeners who use fish guano,
year after year, but there is the dan
ger that it may contain too much
oil, and so be very slow in &C
ton Potash is supplied by kainite,
sulphate OF potash, and muriate OF
potash, and although kainite is sup
! posed to suit pasture and the others
arabic land, yet the chief difference is
in the quality, ordinary commercial pc
tassium salts containing about:
Kainite, 121a per cent, sulphate about
/ 30 per cent, and muriate of potash
about up TO 80 per cent, on which
basis their comparative values can be
| gagged