The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-10
Truth About Fertilizer.

merclal fertilizers, on which there ex-
lists so much ignorance on the part
OF the actual user. Every maker ex-
tolls the merit of his registered
brands and tries to create demand
Tor 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
IN the finished product / have
heard intelligent farmers and So
called expert agriculturists denounce
fllers in fertilizers and recommend
that only pure fertilizers be used,
such as cotton seed meal, acid phos-
phate and potash. Here are the facts:
A 100 pound bag of pure cotton seed
meal contains about or 10 pounds
Of plant food and the balance (92
founds) natural filler. A high grade
geld phosphate, 16 per cent, contains
only 16 pounds of plant food to the
kundredweight, the balance natural
filler. The purest commercial mu-
fiate or sulphate of potash contains
% per cent of potash, balance filler.
When you see a farmer with ton
Of stable manure on his wagon, he
has about so 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
roll There seems to be a general i'm
preston among many that time is
sure-all for any soil condition that
needs to be corrected.
Any soil that is sour, even slightly
20. 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 a
simple test. Place two strips of
iitmus paper, one red and one blue
In the bottom of a water glass and
cover with a piece of blouing paper
DO fit bottom of glass. Take soil to
be tested, dampen it, place in glass
20 as to come in firm contact with
plotting paper and allow to remain
On hour. If the soil is acid the blue
Etmus paper will turn red eand both
strips will thus be red If the soil is
llkali, the red litmus will turn blue
snd thus both be blue. In case the
noil is neither acid or alkali but neu-
Gal, there will come no change in
tolor of either strip of litmus paper.
This Is simple, reliable and accu-
nte test for soil reaction and should
be resorted to where there is much
Rvolved.
Questions and Answers
Q. Which form of potash the mu
sete or sulphate. do you consider the
best for general purposes in mixing
fertilizers? J. NJ, Pell City.
A. Where they both contain the
same percentage of potash and can
be had at the anne price ! consider
III a
often disputed merits are not worth
considering. There are certain soils
that would respond better to one
than the other but when these con-
dition3 are unknown the preference
becomes largely a matter of personal
opinion.
@. Could you SOW anything this
late on Bermuda pasture that
would likely improve it? NJ. 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-
pediza or Japan clover Toes well with
Bermuda and could either be sown
now or in early spring, but would not
terminate before warm weather.
Q. / am told that if you inoculate
the seed of sweet peas when you
plant them they will grow much tall
er, live longer and bear more blooms.
Is there any truth in such state
ment? Is. E.. r. +. d. 8.
A. There can be no doubt but
what inocluation is very beneficial
snd does cause a more thrifty
growth, greater yield and must pro-
long the bearing period. 1t is not
Necessary, however, for a success and
besides your soil may already con-
tain the necessary bacteria that pro-
Euces the nodules on the roots, a con-
dition that makes for greater yield
with all leguminous plants, such as
Ieas, beans and the clovers.
Q. | have cotton seed for sale for
planting purposes and want to test
the termination before offering. Can
YOU tell ne a good plan for finding
the percentage Of growth or vitality
of my seed? A. L.. Goodwater
A. Count out number of sam
pies of 100 seeds each, spread on bur-
lap or flannel cloth, moisten, roll up
ind place in a warm place. Keep
moist and in few days you can
count the percentage of good seed
in each sample.
Q What time of the year is best
for lining the soil to make it more
productive? Should it be plowed in
or merely sown on the surface? J.
n. Warrior. Ala.
a. The fall or winter is generally
the most suitable time. Light COW