Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-17

+, OF the present European CONNECT, tnere
will be a decided increase in the use OF
artificial plant food.
While there are a great number of
elements in the earth's crust and a con-
siderable number of these seem to be
essential TO plant life, only compare
lively few are markedly deficient in the
soil, and. therefore, necessary to supply
from outside sources. OF the elements
most markedly deficient in the average
southern soil and which are necessary
to plant growth, nitrogen would occupy
first rank. Nitrogen is the most costly
Of all plant food elements. 1t is also
the most unstable and most likely to
be exhausted and lost from the soil on
that account. 1t can be supplied to the
land in several forms. Legumes may
be used to gather IT from the air and
store IL in the soil. Compost and yard
manures will also supply some of IL.
but a good deal of 1T, even under the
most favorable conditions. will have to
be purchased. Hence, anything which
can be done to enable the farmer to
ecure a large and uniform supply of
this most important element becomes
a matter of not only general concern
20 the south. but TO the nation as a
whole. for IL means the successful pro-
luction of cotton on a scale common
surate with our needs.
In this connection 1t is proper to state
that the Investigations sof the Georgia
State College of Agriculture which have
now been in progress for several years
on a very considerable number of type
soils widely separated throughout the
state, indicate that nitrogen gives the
largest proportionate return Of any fer
tilising element; in other words, that
it's liberal use is most desirable. 1t is
L. .rn 81 ~. aava4
time. however, that II may be frequent
ly used without the farmers securing
satisfactory profit from its applica-
tion. Thus. there is nothing which can
be done which is likely to be of greater
benefit in placing the agriculture OF the
south on a more stable basis than to
provide an abundant supply of cheap nj
trogen.
The next element in which our soils
are most deficient is phosphoric acid.
Fortunately. there are great natural beds
of phosphate material in Florida, Ten
nesses and South Carolina. Relatively
speaking, this rock can be cheaply mined
and there seems to be an abundance
of il available to supply agricultural
needs for many years to come. It's treat
ment with sulphuric acid, which under
normal conditions can be done very
cheaply provides the farmer with means
Of maintaining the fertility of his land
on an economical basis so far as this
element is concerned. In other words,
nature has made it possible TO supply
southern soils at a reasonable cost with
the second element in which our soils
are most likely to be deficient.
The third constituent necessary TO the
production of crops in the southeast is
potash. Many of our soils contain an
abundance of this material, but ii seems
TO be so combined with alumina and
silica as to become only slowly available
TO plants AS Georgia and the states
contiguous to her, seem to be abundant
" supplied, however, with silicates con-
tanning from to 10 per cent Of potash
and considerable quantities of alumina,
il would appear that if these materials
could be treated in the same plant in
which artificial nitrogen is produced. pot
ash could be obtained at a much lower
cost and a valuable by-product recovered
for use in commerce in form of alum
mum If potash can be obtained by some
such ARRANGEMENT, considerable quanti-
ties could be sold at a moderate price
end thus used by our farmers to advan-
tage in supplying this element in which
the sandy lands of the coastal region are
notably deficient.
The fourth substance which needs to
be used for correcting unfavorable con-
ditions in the soil and supplying CAL
cium, especially to legumes. is lime.
This material will also be needed in the
production OF artificial nitrogen. Fortu-
nately for Georgia and the southeast
there are great mountains of h1ghess
quality limestone available which NAV
he used to advantage in the manufac-
ture OF artificial nitrogen. and when
ground up in a finely powdered condi-
ton. as an amendment to soils.
review Of the situation therefore in
dicates that nitrogen is the most essen
tiaI and desirable of all the elements
needed to place our agriculture on an
efHcIent basis, and that when II can he
obtained at a rea sonablA cost. the solu-
tinn OF the primary difHcultv of our
farmers In So far as suuniving their
rIants with suitable ratlons IS concern
ed will be EASY 81 accomplishment
TIVE BEST CLOVER FOR LAWNS.
VI. n. C.. Mount Vernon. Ga. writes:
What clover is best suited 20 lawns. and
does IL have 10 be replanted each years
The clover most extensively used
in lawns is known as Dutch or white
clover. 1t differs fsom alsike In that
II is a shallower rooted plant and it's
branches are PROSTATE, giving it a
creeping habit. II is perennial in char
acter and tends to spread and will in
time form a fairly good sod on land TO
which it is adapted. The seed resem-
BILE that of alsike in shape. The bloom
is at first white in color. but as it gets
older the outer edges become pink, and
the whole blossom finally turns brown.
White clover is indigenous or natural
lied in practically all parts of North
America. 1t is less sensitive to climatic
conditions. especially cold. than red clo-
YER 1t thrives best in moist, well
drained soils. One attempting to grow
it on land deficient in lime will find
il profitable to use plenty Of raw ground
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