The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-25
WE MUST FEED THE SOIL.
Through Understanding and Right APP
plication of Fertilizers Means Success.

So far as our knowledge goes now, W,
must feed the soil. The crop raised
takes its food from the air, water and
soil. The air holds an inexhaustibl,
supply of the elements it furnishes Ia
the plants, namely carbon, nitrogen fol-
few plants, and some oxygen, says
Hoard's Dairyman. Water supplies by.
drogen and oxygen. and dilutes the fer.
tility of the soil so that the plants may
feed. The other elements come from
the soil and they are nitrogen, potash
phosphorus, lime, magnesia, iron and sui
phur. There are other elements in the
sell, but the 10 which we have mem
toned are called the essential elements
OF plant food, for il any one of these
clements is lacking the plant win not
make the proper growth.
The soil is so well supplied with all
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 il is TO correct GER
tain chemical conditions Of the soil How
are these dement's seeuredl Nitrogen
is found in barnyard manure, nitrate Of
soda, cottonseed meal and various other
sources. The air furnishes much nitro
gen TO legunes. Phosphorus is found
in manure, bones, phosphate rock, basic
Stag, etc; potash is found in manure,
muriate OF potash, potassium sulphste,
etc. Where livestock is raised, keeping
up the fertility OF the soil is compare.
lively simple Manure is provided 10
return 20 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 its way
back TO the soil.
In late years IL has been found that
dairy farmers can often use some fer.
tilizer With profit This j. especially
true when a rundown farm comes into
the hands Of a dairyman or where lit.
he feed Is purchased. What fertilizer
should BE- purchased That depends upon
what element or elements the soil lacks.
Il is not uncommon for farmers 10 buy
4 so-called complete fertilizer. that il,
mixture containing nitrogen, phosphoric |
scid and potash. There are conditions /
where such a fertilizer may be used I
Droftshly. but ~ a rule Il u better 20 1
determine by trial what the soil needs. |
Apply nitrogen fertilizer 20 a small 1
piece Of land. phosphorie acid 20 another /
md potash 10 the third and note which 1
ertilizer gives the best results. Comb. /
iatious Of two Of these fertilizers may
" used on several plots Of land. and I
N one put all three. In THE way the I
srrner can dcterrnine very closely What 1
.houid b. bought 90 furnish the ele.
nent or elements Of plant food which
BE- land needs
There are many grades 81 fertilizers.
nd person should not buy r substance
ust bersuss i i cheap. but rather find
ut Nhat material provides the fertility !.
he cheapest and in the best form Most
tateE have laws which require fhs com.
.ssition of the fertilizers % b. given
r0n TIE sack. aud from the en- b. d.
arrnfued the arsgunf If nitrogen. fhos.
hafit sgsd of potash n = ton. ~ II thsy
, uired. hgw much thsrs is 81 sseh ons
} the sum total
u u fhrnuzh understsnainr nus tls
rht ssriiration - fertilizers that rraf
. ~ ard satisfactorily results sYs o.
liued d ths farrnsf trusfs - hsrhsr-
"a r1eah1as 81 selecting fertilizers. ur .
) hi9h sufndinx nnrnss Nhith ~ oft
b riren thsr- ttrr ar roinr - sasts
nh god and hard-ssrned r1onsF.