The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-13
THAT POTASH SHORTAGE
SHOULD CAUSE NO ALARM
Stopping OF Shipments of Potash
From Germany Is Blessing
In Disguise.
VIRGINIA FARMERS ARE soLID
Plenty of Potash i'm Land-Way TO
Get II IN Working Ordcr-Facts
Worthy Of Study--Nital Impor-
lance of Crop Rotation.
II, MERMAID q. BRADSHAW.


soils, reveal the fact that we have sui
hcient potash 10 meet the crop needs
for many years This potash. however,
in its natural condition. is insoiublc,
and unavailable as plant food. but by
applying ii readily soluble or available
form OF calcium carbonate, sufficient OF
tho potash is liberated OF made avail
able; and, in addition TO this. n certain
amount OF phosphorus is also made
available for plant food.
The primary clements OF plant food
are nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and
calcium carbonate, and IL the analysis
OF all Of the crops and fruit trees
grown were put in tabulated form,
showing the several plant food con-
tents, under the above headings. the
ihct is revealed that the total OF the
calcium carbonate content is greater
than tho content of any OF tho other
clements of plant food.
Now the calcium carbonate (if in an
available form and free from mag
nesium carbonate) not only ncutralizes
the acids of the soil. and hts it for the
haoitatton of beneficial plant bacteria
nut also makes the potash and some
phosphorus slowly available as plant
food In addition TO this. calcium car
Donate is one OF the primary elements
pf plant food,
When we see the real functions per-
formed by calcium carbonate both pri-
mary ana secondary, we realize there
IS no plant food that plays so import
ant a part in plant life and soil i'm
proVement as does soluble and avail
able form OF calcium carbonate.
whether that be in the form OF finely
pulvertzcd oyster shells. linen mari or
limestone. provided the test OF the
iattcr SHOWS II to be high In efficiency
or availability AS plant food
There is no other fertilizer thar will
show such lasting results rs will cal
ciuin carhonatc, and, while many or
our soils. Immediately below tho reach
OF the average plant roots, show al.
most sufficient amount OF calcium
carbonate for plant food needs ye.
lew OF our plant roots penetrate to 4
depth sufficient To utilize even this
moderate supply Of calcium ca rbonate.
winch calcium carbonate is insufficient
Tor soil swcetenine or making potash
available, and is also insufficient for
me production OF normal crop WELD
We arc beginning to realize the nee
cSSlty OF a balanced plant ration. and
hnuer the direction OF agricultural
sc'eht!Sts IL is not difficult TO provide
we'll balanced ration. One OF tho
most important facts TO he impressed
"pon the farmer is, that II he omits
supplying his crops with any one OF
The above four primary clements OF
plant food, he is throwing his phases
OUT OF balance or out of syncrhonism
which lessons the efficiency or the
other phases. preventing a normal or
maximum crop yield. The Weld of any
'rop is lcsscncd just "s much by an
uhbaianced ration as Is the efficiency
ct an electric motor lcssened by tho
unbalanginS OF its several phases
Most farmers have eXaggcrated ideas
'A 10 the Teaching OF calcium Carbonate
'hd' o! course, small percentage OF
'd!ciuih carbonate does leach from the
aUi!, out u YOU were to take IA plat
where the soil is conspicuously free
from calcium carbonate and apply a
aperllcd amount OF n readily available
TORN OF carbonate OF lime TO the acre.
lhu then start that plat with n regu-
lar, specified, crop rotation Won would
ma from analyzing each crop harvest
ca ana the soil, 1T the time of har-
NestlnS each crop, year after year tho
amount OF calcium carbonate that can.
not be accounted for either in tho
Sa au removed or yet remaining in tho
SOL would be surprisingly small
Some have undertaken to prove thot
carbonate of limo has n decided ten
uency 10 work downward In the soil
by stating that OH rich or any other
kind OF limestone soils tho tom soil
IS needing lime. whereas. a little WAYS
DOWN In the soil there is sufficient
iimc. Fhis Is very simple, indeed as
tor instance, on bluegrass limestone
SrazinS land the soil IS short OF cal
cum carbonate only 10 the depth that
the bluegrass roots have penetrated
nut dare say that If the weight Of
thc bluegrass that has been grown or
tny specified limestone soil were
Known, III. once calcium carb$i.iate
content OF that soil could nea-Iv..aIl
lac accounted for. as every ton OF blue
grass takes from the soil forty odd
mounds of calcium carbonate
nc vital !mportancc of crop rotation
ana the scientific use Of fertilizers.
which arr being taught by our ag,i.
cultural colleges ana experiment sta
ions. and which arc being pu, into
practice under the direction Of the
United States farm demonstration
agents, have very far-reachine ef-
rect anu farms that have heretofore
Welded very lean crops are given a
recognized earning power
The organization OF community lime
Srindine plants In the rural limestone
districts, where the distance from rail
road IS TOO great 10 prohtahly haul
rulVeri2ed limestone o. line-,narlc ia
now being aeitatcd, and viii un-
uuestipDably he put into practice In
ne near future Even our richest
limestone soils that have been in cul,i-
Walton on grass for a great many years
;u'c greatly benefited by "a top dressing
81 an aNaiIahle form OF calcium car
Tomato.
Great care should be exercised. how
eyer In selecting the limestone for
grinding =; tho community lime grind
Ing plant, FOR limestoncs differ greatly
10 chemical analysis, even in the same
locality, and a limestone running high
or than or : per cent IN magnesium
carbornte should ny all means he
avoided 'or agricultural purposes,
ow!us 10 TIC tendency OF magnesium
carbonate tdoiomitic imcstouc1 10
Irmd+r piosphorus In tho soil or after
wards applied to the SOIL, inso!ublr.
IN other words, magnesium carbonate
destroys the efficiency OF phosphorus.
thereby greatly reducing the Yield per
acre OF any CROP requiring a nigh
phosphorus content and !esscning the
yield of AL crops more OF less How
eyer, the magnesium carbonate is very
efficient rs q soll svectneucr. hu, even
IN this respect IL serves no purpose
that VIII not hc served by calcium
carbonate. Magnesium carbonate is not
y necesssvy plant food hut IS present
in all plant life just as silica is present
ard oftcn IN proportion 10 silica. and
even If 81 woro 4 necessary plant food.
there is sufficient supply Of II ~
I may rs" than tcrml already in prac-
Ideally all soils for that purpose
win Bay Haie Of Cotton
-. II LttuCPreu. fntfH ger of ta. F.rl-
iucuJ DTSncH 10 the Wsat packing bushes.
%! Airnnur 6 co. has received from r.
ogdon Arlucpr executive head of the .au.
cerr inatructious so pirchase t Bale DR.
,otiou Oh tho Richmond market -!.ia-
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