Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-11-03

one year as we'll as another, and can
be applied annually.
The analyses show that seaweeds
are not evenly balanced manures.
They contain relatively considerable
amounts of nitrogen and potash and
but little phosphoric acid Conse-
quently land dressed for long time
with seaweed alone becomes exhaust
ed in phosphoric acid unless large
excess of manure is added which
would be wasteful of the nitrogen
and potash Excellent results have
been obtained by using phosphates
with these manures. Dissolved bone
OF acid South Carolina rock may be
used, 500 to 500 pounds to the acre.
with 20 to 80 tons Of the fresh sea-
weed
With most crops the best results
are obtained by applying the fresh
material in the spring and either
blowing or narrowing it into the soil.
but potatoes and some root crops
like the sugar beet, are said to be
injured in quality by spring applica-
tons. This is probably due to the
large amounts of chlorides of magne-
STA, sodium, etc, they contain, as 1t is
we'll known that these substances
have the effect of depressing the
amount of starch in tubers and there
by impairing the quality. Farmers
who use seaweedS for a potato ma
, nure can overcome this difficulty by
applying it to the fields in the fall
before planting in the spring. In
! this way potatoes of much better
quality, it is claimed, are grown than
by applying the seaweeds at the time
of planting.
In some localities seaweed is ap
piled as top dressing to moving
fields, but if applied fresh in the
summer care must be taken not to
apply too thickly, as there is danger
of killing out the grass. especially on
new fields. Some farmers prefer COM
posting for this purpose with stable
manure in order to fine the material
SO that it will spread more evenly
over the field. 1t is probable that the
addition of acid South Carolina rock
to the compost would greatly in
crease it's value and aid in holding
the ammonia. If the fermentation is
carried very far, land plaster or muck
should be spread over the heap to
prevent ammonia from escaping.
Eel grass is not true seaweed but
belongs to the pond weed family. a
group of mostly fresh water plants.
Eel grass carries about the same
amount of plant food as the sea-
weeds. but it is only with difficulty
that they can be made available.
Eel grass will hardly rot anywhere.
in the manure or compost heap.
When dried it is used as a filling for
cushions, mattresses, etc. But the
plant has no agricultural use.
A good dressing for potatoes would
be had by applying 20 tons of winter
collected green seaweed. 400 pounds
of acid phosphate. and 100 pounds of
nitrate of soda to an acre. This
would give about 100 pounds of nj
trogen, of which sixth is immedi-
ately available; 75 pounds of phos-
phoric acid; 100 pounds of lime and
| 100 pounds of potash.
| Seaweeds have. in common with
commercial fertilizers. the advantage
| of freedom from weed seeds. the
| spores of fungi and the eggs of in
sects. In Rhode Island where sea-
weeds are quite largely used as a
manure for potatoes, the farmers are
| almost unanimous in saying that po-
/ tatoes grown on seaweed are smooth
or and freer from scab than those
! grown on stable manure.