Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1920-12-07
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"srmD rHs pIow."

"srmD rHs pLow."
Fleld Trials with Borax.
As IL pretty generally known several
divisions Of the Federal Department oi
Agriculture are carrying on cooperative
work With the Maine Agricultural Ex.
pertinent Station, at its Aroostook Farm
In Presque Isle. The Soil Fertility In
vestigations Division of the Bureau oi
Plant Industry of the Department had
In its potash studies In 1919 certain
borax containing potash salts. These
were not intended ~ experiments to
throw any light on borax, for when the
crop was planted in the spring OF 1919
borax had not come to light as of prac-
ticalagricultural importance. The re-
suits in 1919 were not at all conclusive.
As . supplement to the greenhouse
studies made by the Maine Station In
the fall Of 1919 and to the more elaborate
greenhouse studies made in the winter
and early spring Of 1920 as q cooperative
project by the Experiment Stations OF
the Northeastern States, the Soil Fertil.
ity Division made at Aroostook Farm In
1920 q carefully planned experiment to
see what the tolerance OF potatoes to
borax might be under field conditions
with fertilizer containing borax applied
In the three different ways that are
practicable In field management.
The land selected on the Aroostook
Farm bad been in potatoes 10 1917, seed.
ed to clover with oats In 1918 and had
given Q good crop of clover In 1919.
The field was plowed late enough In 1919
80 that good second crop OF clover was
plowed under. This stubble and roots
furnished supply of organic matter to
be converted into humus. The potato
selected was from vigorous stock as free
from disease as could be had. The fer
tllizer used was free from borax, was
alike for the whole piece and carried
8 per cent Of ammonia, 8 per cent of
available phosphoric acid and per cent
water soluble potash and was applied at
the rate Of 1000 pounds per acre.
Borax was applied at the rate of
pound, 2 pounds, 8 pounds, s pounds,
10 pounds, 20 pounds, 80 pounds, so
pounds, 100 pounds, 200 pounds and 400
pounds per acre. It was thoroughly
mixed with the fertilizer before 1t was
applied to the land. In one series the
fertilizer was applied 10 the furrow a
week before the time of planting. In
another series the fertilizer was applied
in the furrow at time of planting. And
in third series the fertilizer was ap.
piled broadcast at time of planting.
Every fifth plot was check plot. That
is, 1t bad the 5.S 6 fertilizer but was
without borax. The yields were good
and ss uniform ss one can expect In
field work where unevenness of stand,
slight soil differences and other oondi.
tions beyond the control OF the expert
menter are likely to arise. The check
plots averaged about 1926 bushels Der
acre.
The differences in yield between the
plots carrying l, 2, 8 and 4 pounds of
borax per acre and the check plots were
slight and within experimental error in
all three ways Of applying the fertilizer.
When applied In the furrow pounds
per acre Of borax apparently reduced
the yield to slight extent. When ap.
piled broadcast the yield was as large as
ON the check plots and the plots With
the smaller amounts of borax. Ten
pounds per acre In all three methods of
application apparently reduced the
yield about 25 bushels per acre. With
20 pounds of borax per acre where the
borsx was applied In The furrow week
before planting and where 1t was broad.
cast at time Of planting the yield was
about 200 bushels per acre. And where
20 pounds of borax was applied In the
drill at planting the yield was about 160
bushels per acre. With 80 pounds OF
borax per acre there was q yield of
about 80 bushels per acre where the
fertilizer was applied In the furrow q
week before planting and less than 80
bushels per acre when the borax was ap-
piled 10 the furrow at time of planting.
The yield with 80 pounds of borax per
acre broadcast at time of planting was
practically the same az where 1t was ap-
piled In furrow week before planting.
The yields with 100 pounds. 200 and 400
pounds, no matter how the fertilizer was
applied, we're so small Is to be practi-
cally negligible.
In general borax, mixed with but not
included In the crystals of the salts, had
little effect no matter how applied up to
4 pounds per acre. As applied In the
furrow week before planting and broad.
cast at planting pounds apparently had
little or no effect In crop reduction.
Ten pounds per acre was decidedly toxic
even applied week before planting or
broadcast. But was still more toxic as
shown by color of foliage and by the re.
sulting crop when applied In the furrow
at time Of planting.
In the studies made by the Maine
Station and the cooperative greenhouse
studies the borax containing potash and
nitrate salts where the borax was in
cluded In the crystals of ths salts used
in the manufacture OF the fertilizers ap.
pesred to have greater toxic effect
than when borax was mixed mechani-
cslly with the fertilizer.
In all OF these studies 8 pounds of
borax per acre seems to be as far o. one
can 60 with safety In the growing Of
potatoes. Larger amounts no matter
how applied apparently result In uuhsp-
py plants and decreased yields. There
seems to be no reason for modifying In
any way the Federal ruling against more
than two-tenths of one per cent of borsx
in fertilizsrs and that II they contain
greater amounts that fact and the per-
centage amount must be exactly and
plainly stated.
BY far most of the fertilizers sold In
Maine In 1920 carried only very slight
traces or else were entirely free from
borax. And that 10 the condition to be
asked for In the fertilizers of 1921.
Users are again urged to sample the fer
tilizer - soon ss received and send the
sample to the Maine Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station, Orono, for testing for
borax. If you have any doubts as to
the correct method of sampling q fer.
tilizer write the Station for directions
Chas. D. Woods, Director.
o. p. Brown.
O.P. Brown of East Hebron, whose
attractive place IL located In the valley
above the Grange Hall, has fine herd
of Jersey COWS from which he 10 selling