Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-21

needs of a garden in case yard ma
nures are not particularly rich in
plant food and that other materials
can be obtained which will supply
the elements in the same proportion
and amount, hence it must not be
concluded that yard manure is the
only source by any means from which
plant food can be obtained in a de-
sifable quantity. The chief benefit
of yard manures, as we understand
them, is because of the ferments they
contain, possibly engines and bac-
terial life which benefit the growth
of garden crops. 1t is easily posi-
in the highest state of fertility with
out the use of yard manures. AS al
ready pointed out, nitrogen is an es-
sential factor in the quick maturity
and development of satisfactory gar
den crops.
In what form and from what source
should nitrogen be derived? Much
ter of heterogeneous fertilizers avail
able and the crop to which it is to
be applied. For garden purposes nj
trate of soda is a most valuable ele-
ment. This is because the nitrogen
in this materially is Immediately
drill row in which the tender little
plants are just showing above the
ground this morning, and tomorrow
morning it has disappeared. The ca
pillary water rising up towards the
surface of the ground has been suf-
ficient in amount to dissolve it and
carry it down into the soil where the
roots of the little plants are waiting
to drink it up, and in about ten days
we see the effect of the application
in the improved color and vigor of
the plants. 1t is the par excellence
signed.
Sulphate of ammonia is also a very
valuable amendment to use in gar
dening and where long season crops,
such as Irish potatoes, sweet pota-
toes and corn are grown combinations
of organic nitrogen such as cotton
seed meal, peanut meal and velvet
bean meal afford may be used with
advantage. For garden soils a com
bination of 500 pounds of cottonseed
meal, 1000 pounds of 10 per cent
acid phosphate and 200 pounds of mu
riate of potash will be found very
satisfactory, this formula to be APP
piled at the rate of 1000 pounds per
acre. The reader might say that the
percentage of nitrogen is relatively
small, and this is true, but the def
cheney in this respect will be made
up by applying alongside the drill
row to practically all extremely quick
growing crops nitrate OIL SOFA every
two weeks, the applications to be
made at the rate of say 25 to so
pounds per acre and on the basis of
applying 200 pounds of this material
per acre.
Of course, there are many other
combinations of heterogeneous charac-
ter which can be used with advan-
tage. The principal thing is to sup
ply nitrogen in abundance and in
relatively quickly available form of
garden crops. Organic nitrogens, Of
course, are somewhat slower in ac-
ton than the inorganic forms, but
any carrier of this element will, as
rule, become available soon enough
to meet the requirements of garden
crops. 1t is important to remen.-
Der, for instance, that in using cot
tonseed meal one is supplying to
the land some phosphoric acid and
potash at the same time, and this
is rather an important consideration
just at present on account Of the
who are disposed to think that the
use Of this element has been over-es-
timated, and it is not so important
as some others. From one point Of
view they are correct. From anoth-
er point of view their contention is
needless to point out that practically
all garden crops are rich in potash.
They are potash lovers, and they
need this element for their proper
growth and development. If the
soil does not possess it naturally in
an available form they cannot obtain
the supplies they need and hence the
growth and development of the crop
is restricted to a greater or less ex-
tent. AS to carriers of potash, this
material was chiefly derived in pre-
war times from importations of pot
ash salts made in Germany. Since
the war that source of supply has
been cut off and in most instances
our field and garden crops have
had to go without potash. 1t is true
we have produced considerable guam
titles of it in the United States, but
the greater part of it was required
for war purposes. Possibly now at
the coming of peace some Of this
material may be made available in
the form of plant food. There is one
source of potash which is probably
not used as extensively as it should
be, and that is wood ashes. These
are available on most farms in some
quantity and in many houses more or
less wood is burned throughout the
year. If the ashes are carefully pre-
served and protected from teaching
they may be used on garden soils to
advantage at the rate of 500 to l,OOO
pounds per acre. AS rule ashes
SnOuId De scattered over CHe surface
of the ground after the land has been
well prepared and worked into the
soil They should not be mixed with
other fertilizer nor used under the
drill row.
On many small farms in addition
to keeping some live stock there may
be a few chickens maintained. The
droppings of chickens are particu-
larly valuable for garden and truck
crops because of the quick avail