Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-03-28
FARMER DISCUSSES
SOIL IMPROVEMENT
MIR. Blair Gives Experiences in the
Use of Fertilizers, Humus and
Different Types of Soil; Says
Farming Should be Studied
By H. NEAL BLAIR


fcssion or carrying on commerce or
manufacturing. There are three
primary questions confronting a
farmer all the time, namely: produc-
ton, sale of products for a profit,
and up-keep of the farm-especially
fertility of the soil. The first and
third of these depend to a great ex-
tent on mans knowledge of the
use of fertilizers and manures, 9TH
er things, such as lime and humus,
and soil values. 1t has been my OBJ
servation that great many farmers
and it is alarming to know the
number-do not understand the
ANALYSES of fertilizers. So l want
tc begin with that in this discus
sion.
There are three elements of plant
food: phosphoric acid, ammonia
sometimes called nitrogen) and
potash. Fertilizer may have one,
two or all Of these elements, depend
ing on the source Of it's manufac-
ture. Phosphoric acid (generally
called acid phosphate) is mineral
and comes from ground phosphate
rcck. There are two kinds of am
monia or nitrogen-mineral and Or
ganic. There are just two speci-
mems of the mineral kind, nitrate Of
soda and sulphate of ammonia. Or
ganic ammonia may be derived from
cotton seed meal, tankage, fish
scraps, slaughter house products,
such as dried blood, hair and meat
scraps, and other sources. Potash
is mostly mineral, and comes largely
from Germany. Each of these ele-
ments OF fertilizer has it's particular
functions in the development Of
plant life, and each and every crop
that we grow has it's particular re-
quirements for plant food. AS a
general rule, ammonia makes the
foliage growth, like corn stalks,
fodder and shucks, cabbage leaves
and potato vine. Potash develops
the root system, and thereby causes
the plant to reach out into the soil
for food. 1t makes the plant
strong and healthy. For instance, it
Estiffens the straw in a small grain
crop, and keeps the leaves green
and growing in cabbage crop. l
have conducted experiments with
different analyses of fertilizer, side
by side under cabbage, and proven
that cabbage need more potash than
agricultural writers generally ad-
wise us to use. When the outer
leaves turn yellow, or appear to be
parched all around the edge, it is an
indication of lack of potash, unless
perhaps they may have disease. Pot
ash develops the seed in what we
call "seedy" fruit and field crops
like tomatoes, strawberries, cotton,
tobacco, and likewise potatoes, and
makes the kernel, or heart, in grain.
l have conducted experiments on rye
and oats sown with 16 per cent phos-
phate and 1904 fertilizer side by
side, and the 1904 has shown
much better results, especially in
oats. Oats need a great deal of pot
ash, because they contain large
amount of protein, and potash is the
fertilizer that develops protein. The
difference was not so marked in
rye, because rye contains more fat
instead of so much protein, as does
corn, and requires more phosphoric
acid. ,Phosphoric acid supplies the
mineral element as we'll as the fat
that goes into crop. 1t makes
flinty and cabbage hard. 1t keeps
pastures and meadows growing, be-
cause as a grass crop is harvested,
either hay or grazing, the mineral
matter goes into the bone of the
stock that eat it. Old pastures put
into cultivation should be fertilized
heavily with potash and phosphate,
and of course, with ammonia if a
crop like corn, cabbage or potatoes
is to be planted. But for small
grain and grass, l should leave it off.
Ammonia is the expensive element IN
fertilizer. Small grain does not need
to have a rank growth, hence you
can effect saving and at the same
time have what the crop needs.
Mineral ammonia-nitrate of soda
and sulphate of ammonia-will dis
solve in the soil Immediately, and
are intended for the immediate
needs of the. plant. Hence they
should not be used extravagantly,
because they will leach away into
the land and be lost before the crop
.E93