Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-22


Ito increase the yield. therefore. above
these figures must supply some supple
mental plant food. Naturally yard ma
,,nures and green crops should be used
as far as practicable. These CONNER
,ciGl amendments should be supplied in
such quantity and amount as to best
supply the deficiency OF these elements
: in the soil Some soils. for instance.
contain plenty OF available potash. 9TH
ers a good amount Of nitrogen, and still
others enough phosphorus All soils,
: however. are likely to be deficient in
one or mere OF these essential elements,
hence IL is important TO ascertain the
deficiencies in the soil and supply them
as completely and effectively as posi-
BILE.
Some excellent suggestions relative
20 the fertilizing OF corn have been pre-
pared By theagronomy department or
the State College OF Agriculture and
summary or the most important facts is
presented below for the information OF
our readers.
The applications Of fertilizers to the
soil should be done al time OF planting
OF just previous 10 planting. The prac-
rice OF making side applications Of fer
filters to corn has not always been
paying proposition as shown by the re-
suits from experiments carried on in
Georgia The application OF fertilizers
az two or more periods during the
growth OF corn can only be recommend
ed where the soil is extremely sandy,
low in organic matter. and where large
amounts OF fertilizer OF 1000 pounds
or more are made per acre. In general
the fertilizer should be applied broad
east previous TO planting and well har
rowed into the soil This will cause
the roots TO spread throughout the soil
and enable them TO reach more plant
food than where they mass around
limited area Of the soil
The kind Of fertilizer TO use will de-
pend on the character OF the soil and
the plant food that IL contains in an
available form Potash has not general
IL paid on corn where demonstrations
have been carried on by this division.
Most OF the soils OF Georgia adapted TO
corn growing are sufficiently supplied
with available potash for the production
o. large Yields OF corn Under the pres
.ent conditions potash need not be con-
sidered in a fertilizer formula Nitro
gen and phosphorus are TO be recon-
mended where large yields are 10 be
made.
: Applications OF SEQ pounds per acre Of
a fertilizer composed OF equal parts OF
acid phosphate and cotton seed mea. is
recommended by some for ordinary
Yields This could be doubled where
large yields are expected. Soils that
are ricn IN organic matter need nothing
further than acid phosphate at the rate
OF soc 10 SEQ pounds per acre
Only general formulate can be sug-
gested as the needs OF different soils
vary so much in plant food require
meRts- These general principles should
be noted
FERTILIZERS rar1srr IN. mos. -,,rs- -,
soils vel supplied with organic matter.
and We D are easily maintained in
cOudIt!CIs that favOrs plant growth. .
The amount OF fertilizer to be used must
zoe determined by the soil type and
a3-ield expected g. Phosphorus and nj
rigen are the elements OF plant food.
sthat are most needed by the corn crop.
g. Nitrogen should be supplied as far
as possible from organic manures. such
as legumes and stable Or lot manures
- Phosphorus should be supplied for
Immediate use 10 the corn crop IN the
form Of acid phosphate s. Ground
phosphate rock is not Immediately avail
able and viii give very little results the
sfTst year. and should not be applied ex-
cep5 where organic matter is abundant
-. The heaviest applications of fertIIiz-
ers pay hest on productive lands that
are well prepared
/. planting. even before the corn is up.
The object of cultivation is. first. to
conserve moisture: second. TO kill weeds.
and. third. to- keep the soil friable.
Moisture. plant food and a good mechni-
zeal condition OF the soil are important
factors in making the crop. Weeds use
food and moisture that should be saved
FOR the corn. and il is important that
cultivation should begin early. The adj
frr=H ha=
the first cultivation. especially on the
. heavy types OF soil. IL breaks the crust
-and kills young weeds and saves mois-
fture by forming a shallow mulch. II
can be followed by the weeder as the
corn begins 10 come up without fear OF
hurting the young plants These i'm
f. PIGMENTS when used in this way save
. much hand labor with the noe and con-
serve the soil moisture in the early part
OF the growing season.
hundred busheI corn crop will re-
auire from 1880 to $500 tons OF water
10 mature f. This amount would cover
an acre OF ground 70 a depth OF sixteen
20 twenty-five inches. The greatest need
for water by the corn crop is in May.
June and July, and as the average rain
fall for these months is only twelve 20
fifteen inches IL IS readily seen that
every care should be used 10 cultivate
soil moisture as Is possible. Cultivation
terms a "blaknet' or mulch on the sur
face that prevents rapid evaporation OF
mostures from the soil This mulch
should be stirred every week or ten days
Through the growing period
As stated above. the corn should be
cultivated from the time II IS planted
until the growing stage IS well passed.
or until the ears are well made. An
extremely heavy yield Of corn requires
large amounts OF food and moisture. and
every effort should he made TO keep the
soil I'm such condition that the corn roots
Will have NJ difficulty in obtaining this
food and moisture
After the corn has reached height
Of three or four inches. larger imple-
meuts should he used. These nipple
: meutS should not he fitted with laPga
shOveIs They should have large nua-
her or small shove.s in order that the
soil may be completely stirred and vet
3 10 dirt will be thrown TO the corn. The
first cultivation should be deepest and
nearest 20 the corn plants During ear
l. growth Of the corn the roots do not
approach the surface OF the soil. nor do
1hey extend 10 the middles. and cultivs-
--tfouS can. therefore. be carried on close
20 the plants without injury. Later the
fine feeder roots spread TO the mid
dies and approach the surface. and will
80 - -