Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-31

| should. therefore endeavor to increase
the nitrogen supply of his soil by every
possible means. as through the use of
yard manures and compost and green
crops plowed under. and, then, in addi-
tion, he should use whatever he can af-
ford TO purchase of this element as well,
for reasons which are obvious.
In combining heterogeneous carriers the
following points should be kept in
mind: First, it is practical to combine
n quickly available nitrogen WITH an in
termediate acting form of nitrogen.
This combination will be valuable for
truck crops. Second. a quick acting and
slowly available form, relatively speak
ing, may be combined, the idea being TO
furnish q more uniform supply of this
element throughout the growing sea-
son. Combinations of this character
will be valuable for such crops as SUI
gar cane, tobacco and long season crops
Ike potatoes. For field crops an inter-
mediate and relatively slow form of
nitrogen can often be combined to very
good advantage Suggestions as to
combinations which might be made from
the above materials are as follows:
First, nitrate Of soda and sulphate of
ammonia might be combined with cot
ton seed meal; second, nitrate of soda
and sulphate of ammonia might be
combined with cotton seed meal, blood
and tankage; third, blood or tankage
might be combined with cotton seed
meal
If cotton seed meal is used as the
basis OF the formula, the amount to
incorporate in a ton mixture will vary
from 500 to 500 pounds. For instance,
500 pounds of cotton seed meal, 100
pounds OF nitrate of soda and 100
pounds of sulpbate of ammonia would
make very good formula. Six hundred
pounds of cotton seed meal and 200
pounds of blood or tankage could also
be used to very good advantage. II will
be seen that an endless combination of
these materials is possible. As already
pointed out. the nature of the crop to
be grown and the character of the soil
on which the fertilizer is to be applied
will exert a considerable influence on
the formula to adopt Truck crops
which require quick forcing naturally
should be supplied with a more quick
" available form of nitrogen than field
crops. Existing conditions will deter
mine largely the kind and amount of nj
trogen which can be used with advan-
tage the present year. Several of the
materials mentioned above are exceed
ingl-- scare due to the continuance Of
the European war. The farmer will
therefore not be in position this year
TO secure as great a variety OF nitrogen
carriers as I'm some other seasons, but
ne should not hesitate 20 use organic
nitrogens If he finds the inorganic
forms difficult to secure.
R. L. D.. lamar. S. C., writes: Please
advise me as TO the composition OF sweet
gum ashes. ! have quite an amount Of gum
trees I can have burnt IL ashes are worth
anything.
1 am unable to find the composition of
sweetgum ashes as such, but soft woods
ordinarily contain about Is per cent OF
phosphoric acid, and to 3 per cent Of
potash. Hard wood ashes contain about
to per cent phosphoric acid and z
TO 9 per cent potash. This sweetgum is
classified as a hard wood. OF course
you understand that the composition Of
ash material of trees varies greatly and
Is influenced considerably by the char
acter Of soil on which the tree grows.
Wood ashes of course are valuable as
a source of potash. 1t is generally cor. .
tanned in the form of carbonate.
Ashes should of course not be mixed
with other fertilizing materials but
should be scattered over the ground and
used under the drill row. Three hun
dred pounds will be of some benefit I'M
der average crops. Five hundred to 1000
pounds can be used to advantage under
truck crops.
NJ. D.. Tunnell HILL Ga, writes: I have
a piece Of land that was planted to sor-
ghum cane last year ami then pastured 20
hogs. that / would ike to in japan
clover and Bermuda grass. When is the
best time TO here I'm northwest Geor-
giaf How much seed per acre should be
sOwn and would you advise the Of 10
per cent acid. or can you suggest something
betteTT Also have acres of new ground
that has been planted I'm corn two years
and peas at the last cultivation both
years Also some old land that has been
land land, that I want 10 plant In cotton.
What kind Of fertilizer would you use and
how much per acre?
Japan clover and Bermuda grass
should not be seeded in your section of
the state until well on in the spring. All
danger OF frost should have passed and
the weather should have settled down
and become comparatively mild, as these
are essentially summer crops. The seed
OF Bermuda grass is not vigorous, and
L have only seen a few satisfactory
stands obtained from seed. I would be
inclined TO advise you from my observa-
tion TO use sets instead Of seed. If you
use seeds SOW at the rate of pounds
per acre. Mix with the Bermuda seed
about an equal amount of Japan clover
seed. Japan clover establishes itself
very slowly, and you should not antici-
pate its making much growth during