The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1917-08-03
PROFITS FROM FERTILIZERS

Efficiency and profits from using
commercial fertilizers depends very
largely upon the following points:
Good Drainage.-A we'll drained sell,
permits good air circulation and
warns early IN the spring thus prod
noting bacterial activity so necessary
in rendering all the plantfood ayail-'
able. Drainage removes surplus water
during wet spells, puts the soil In bet
ter filth, breaks it into minute par
ticles thus increasing the water-hold-
ing capacity. A constant supply of
water is necessary to dissolve plant
food so as to furnish a supply all
through the growing season.
Sweet Soil.-PracticaJly all farm
crops apd desirable soil and plant
bacteria do best on n sweet soil. The
Ohio experiment station, as we'll as
many individual farmers, have Sc
cured greater profits from both lime
and fertilizers where useds on the same
land than from using each separately.
For best results the lime should be APP
piled first and we'll worked into the
soil before the fertilizer is applied.
Organic Matter.-Well decayed or
ganic matter improves the filth of all
soils. 1t increases the water-holding
capacity as one ton of organic matter
will hold from eight to ten tons of
water. This, like drainage, provides
4 steady source of water which aids
in maintaining a uniform supply of
available plantfood for the crop dur
ing dry weather just when it is most
needed. Organic matter furnishes a
home and food for the bacteria that
aids in hberating plantfood. 1t also
absOrbS and holds all available and
soluble plantfood until used by the
growing crop.
Proper Application.-Plants absorb
their food through the root hairs which
are on the smallest roots. As the ma
i0rity OF these roots are in the Sec
ond 10 fourth inches of soil, the plant
food should be placed there. Some
apply fertilizer on top of the soil but
fail to work it in. This is wrong
Others pillow it under which places it
TOO deep. Fertilizers should be placed
in that portion of the soil where larg-
er proportion of the smaller roots are
TO be found. The fertilizer attach
ments of the various grain and seed
drills offer the best means of properly
applying fertilizers. When they are
applied on the surface by hama or
through a broadcast drill, a larger
amount should be used than VIXEN APP
piled with q drill.
Kinds and Analyses.-There- is; no
"best fertilizer" Since fertilizers sup
ply ammonia, phosphoric acid and
potash, the best analyses or kind TO
use is the one that supplies the proper
proportions of these plantfoods needed
for different crops and to make up for
the deficiencies of the available plant
food of the soil. When the crop starts
slowly and is short of stalk more am
mOnia is needed. When the amount of
grain and fruit is small, or slow in
maturing or of low quality more phoS-
phOric acid is needed If the grain is
not plump or the stalks weak more
potash should be supplied in the fer
tilizers when available, High analyses
or high-grade fertilizers are the cheap
est in the end to- Use as the plantfood
can be purchased cheaper in high
grade than in low-grade goods.
Misunderstanding crops is lika
feeding work horses or dairy COWS.
The well and correctly fed ones ere
the most profitable whether animals or
crops. AS a rule the first application.
of fertilizer should be heavier than,
latter applications as there is USUALLY
Il hunger of the soil that must be SAT-
istied before best results can be Se-
cured by the crop. As rule 800 to
400 pounds to the acre of q properly
balanced and well suited fertilizer l.
more profitable than a smaller amount,
especially for the first application
a..