Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-08-24
Fertlllzlng the Land.

So far as our knowledge goes now, W,
must feed the soil. The crop raiset
takes its food from the air, water, anC
soil. The air holds an inexhaustible
supply of the elements it furnishes tC
the plants, namely carbon, nitrogen FOL
a few plants, and some oxygen. Water
supplies hydrogen and oxygen ano
dilutes the fertility of the soil so thai
the plants may feed. The other elements
come from the soil and they are nitro
gen, potash, phosphorus, lime, mag
nesia, iron, and sulphur. There are
other elements in the soil but the ter
which we have mentioned are called the
essential elements Of plant food, for il
any one of these elements is lacking the
plant will not make the proper growth.
The soil is so we'll supplied with al
the elements of plant food that there are
only three that give the farmer any
concern and they are nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potash. What about lime?
some may ask. Lime is applied not so
much as food as it is to correct certain
chemical conditions of the soil. How
are these elements secured? Nitrogen is
found in bsrnyard manure, nitrate of
soda, cottonseed meal, and various other
sources. The air furnishes much nitro
gen to legumes. Phosphorus is found in
manure, bones, phosphate rock, basic
Stag, etc.; potash is found in manure,
muriate of potash, potassium sulphate,
etc. Where live stock is raised keeping
up the fertility OF the soil is comparative
ly simple. Manure il provided to re-
turn to the land; legume crops raised for
hay not only furnish a good feed but
supply organic matter and nitrogen to
the soil. A large percentage of the other
elements the plant uses in its growth
and development finds it's way back
TO the soil.
In late years il has been found that
dairy farmers can often use some fer
tilizer with profit. This is especially
true when a rundown farm comes into
the hands of a dairyman or where little
feed is purchased. What fertilizer
should be purchased? That depends
upon what element or elements the SOIL
lacks. 1t is not uncommon for farmers To
buy a so-called complete fertilizer, thai
is, a mixture containing nitrogen, phos'
phorio acid, and potash. There are con
ditions where such a fertilizer may be
used proftably, but as rule it is better
to determine by trial what the soil needs.
Apply nitrogen fertilizer to small piece
of land, phosphoric acid 10 another, and
potash to the third and note which fer
tiizer gives the best results. Combina-
tons of two of these fertilizers may be
used on several plots of land and on one
put all three. In this way the farmer
can determine very closely what should
be bought TO furnish the element or
elements of plant food which the land
needs.
There are many grades of fertilizers,
and person should not buy substance
just because it is cheap, but rather find
out what material provides the fertility
the cheapest and in the best form. Most
states have laws which require the COM
position of the fertilizers to be given
upon the sack and from this can be de
termined the amount of nitrogen, phos'
phoric acid, or potash in a ton, or If they
be mixed how much there is of each one
in the sum total.
1t is through understanding and the
right application of fertilizers that
profitable and satisfactory results are
obtained. II the farmer trusts to hap
hazard methods of selecting fertilizers or
to high sounding names, which are often
given them, they are going to waste much
good and hard earned money.-Hoard's
Dairyman.