Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-02-04
Fertilizer And The Farm
Contributed

priced these days, demands 100
per cent upkeep and the maxi
mN dividend profit Tired,
worn and run down land has
come to be a liability rather than
an asset. We can not longer af-
ford to keep this kind of land.
That tired or worn out land can
be rebuilt is not theory. It is
Ia fact proven by thousands of
cases in every state in the Union.
There is but one way in which
soil can be rebuilt and that way
lis through fertilization. Fertili-
cation means returning to the soil
what has been taken from it by
constant cropping, wrong rota-
ton and abuse.
Manure provides the best rene
idy. It's benefits are we'll known
to every tiller of the soil. Where
it fails is in the scarcity of it.
The next best thing will be found
in that kind of mineral fertilizer
not compatible with each partiou-
lar territory, which, naturally is
determined by ascertaining what
the undertaking base consists of.
In Central Kentucky, for in
stance, the undertaking founda-
ton is limestone. Lime, there
fore, is necessary for the maxi
mum growth of all plants that
reach the ideal stage in the virgin
soil of this territory. No plant
reaches an ideal development
here unless the full and proper
amount of lime is Forthcoming
from the soil.
In this territory virgin soil will
produce almost, the maximum
yield of tobacco and corn A
second and third crop, and so ON,
will yield less and less until the
mineral wealth of the soil is en-
tirely exhausted, leaving a dead
barren waste. We undertake to
avoid such destruction by rota-
ton of crops and the planting Of
legumes, such as c1overs, alfalfa,
and the like.
A liberal application. of ground
limestone will check this destruc-
ton quickest. The drawback
here, however, lies in the enor-
Gus expense. Few landholders
are willing to bear the burden.
Follows then, the usual endeavor
to rebuild with c1overs attended
all too frequently, by disastrous
loss in the way of mo stand" or
a poor stand" the loss of seed
and labor, and the loss of the use
Of the land for one or two years.
This uncertainty can Be avoid
ed in a practical, reasonably, GER
tain and commercially profitable
way. 1t isein the use of, manu-
featured fertilizers containing a
high percentage of burned lime.
This kind of fertilizer not only
provides sufficient stimu-
lation to worn out land to start
the full growth of the plant is
assured. 1t can be reclaimed and
returned to maximum fertility in
this way; the use of burned lime
fertilizer in conjunction with
leguminous crops. So much for
practically desolated land.
The use of high. percentage
lime fertilizer on sour or acid,
soil 1--WE call it tired land) re-
solves itself into a business prop
osition. Virgin soil here will pro-
duce an almost maximum yield of
corn or tobacco in 2 years. Then
it begins to degenerate. This
degeneration or loss of yield is,
being, and has been for years,
profitably checked by proper use
of soil building fertilizers.
The third crop Of corn or to-
bacco will be made equal to the
first if the proper amount of linn
ed fertilizer is applied. A second
crop of either corn or tobacco
make the soil ssour. Lime re-
turns it to normal sweetness,
+ IL g.