The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-03
Trnth About Fertilizers

Brands and tries to create a demand for some specific name so the pur- chaser is often led away from the guaranteed analysis which is the true Basis of value.
 Too much emphasis is placed upon Names and whether there is any filler D the finished product I have Beard intelligent farmers and so- called expert agriculturists denounce Gllers in fertilizers and recommend that only pure fertilizers be used, such as cotton seed meal, acid phos- Dhate and potash. Here are the facts: A 100-pound bag of pure cotton seed heal contains about or 10 pounds sf plant food and the balance (92 pounds) natural filler. A high grade scid phosphate, 16 per cent, contains enly 16 pounds of plant food to the hundredweight, the balance natural filler. The purest commercial mu- fiate or sulphate of potash contains 70 per cent of potash. balance filler. When you see farmer with a ton of stable manure on his wagon, he has about 50 pounde of plant food and 1850 pounds of natural filler.
 Lining the Soil
 Nearly every day we are asked something about applying lime to the soil. There seems to be a general im- pression among many that time is a eure-all for any soil condition that needs to be corrected.
 Any soil that is sour, even slightly 60, is often greatly benefited for most crops by the application of enough lime to render neutral or slightly alkaline, but before doing so, when important crops are at stake, one should first determine whether the soil is actually acid. Here is simple test. Place two strips of litmus paper, one red and one blue in the bottom of a water glass and cover with piece of plotting paper to fit bottom of glass. Take soil to be tested, dampen it, place in glass so as to come in firm contact with plotting paper and allow to remain an hour. If the soil is acid the blue litmus paper will turn red and both strips will thus be red. If the soil Is alkali, the red litmus will turn blue and thus both be blue. In case the soil is neither acid or alkali but neu- tral, there will come no, change in color of either strip of litmus paper. This is simple. reliable and accu- rate test for soil reaction and should be resorted to where there is much involved.
 Questions and Answers
 Q. Which form of potash the mu-
 
 best for general purposes in mixing fertilizers? JIM, PeH City.
 A. Where they both contain the same percentage of potash and can be had at the anne price consider enc as profitable as the other The often disputed merits are not worth considering. There are certain soils that would respond better to one than the other but when these con-
 
 becomes largely a matter of personal opinion.
 Q. Could you SOW anything this late on a Bermuda pasture that would likely improve it? M. H.. Dadeville.
 A. White clover, alsike clover or sweet clover could be recommended and fairly good and prompt results are often secured by simply broad casting the seed on top of the Ber- muda without any preparations. Les pediza or Japan clover toes well with Bermuda and could either be sown now or in early spring, but would not germinate before warm weather.
 Q. I am told that if you inoculate the seed of sweet peas when you plant them they will grow much tall- CT, live longer and bear more blooms. Is there any truth in such state ment? B, E.. R. F. D. g.
 A. There can be no doubt but what fnocluation is very beneficial and does cause more thrifty growth, greater yield and must pro- long the bearing period. 1t is not necessary, however, for success and besides your soil, may already con- tain the necessary bacteria that pro- duces the nodules on the roots, a con- dition that makes for greater yield with all legumdnous plants, such as leas,. beans and the clovers.
 Q. I have cotton seed for sale for planting purposes and want to test the germination before offering. Can you tell me good plan for finding the percentage of growth or vitality of my seed? A. L., Goodwater.
 A. Count out a number of sam ples of 100 seeds each, spread on bur lap or flannel cloth, moisten, roll up and place in a warm place. Keep moist and in a few days you can count the percentage of good seed in each sample.
 c. What time of the year is best for lining the soil to make 1t more productive? Should 1t be plowed In or merely sown on the surface2 J. N. Warrior, Ala.
 A. The fall or winter is generally the most suitable time. Light COW ering will, in most cases, give the best results This depends though on whether the surface or the sub soil is the most deficient in lime.