THE RESTORATION
Sys yuinuy ayy at
|| ss NEW. ENGLAND SOILS

 

THESIS FOR DEGREE OF M. AGH, —
} hee ees) )
oe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
¢

m7

™
=
UV

4 FA,

:

Ne

.
‘,

Cc.

THESIS

 

 
i,

NL

a a
cow
THE RESTORATION OF FERTILITY T0 NEW ENGLAND SOILS

A treatise especially for the berm fit

of New England Farmers.

By

William D. Uyud

M.A. C. 1899

Dean of the College of Agriculture
of the

University of Maine,

June 1906
PREFACE.

On coming to New England from the middle west and making this eastern
country ones residence for a number of years,a person intereated in, and
observant of agricultural conditions and practices must be impressed with
the feeling that New England has problems concerning rural development
entirely different from the newer sections of the United States. In no
one thing has the writer found a more intense and ever growing interest
than in a study of the causes that have led up to a condition of soil fertili-
ty where the land is said to be "run down" or as more commonly, but wrongly
spoken of as “worn out soils", and of the methods of farm management common-
ly practiced in an effort to handle these lands profitably. It has been the
desire of the writer to prepare a paper on this subject, calling attention of
New England farmers to some mistakes they are making, and especially to treat
in this paper one of the most important farm problems in this section — the
use and abuse of commercial fertilisers.

Since this paper is written especially for men actively engaged in
tilling the soil, a majority of whom have probably not had the advantages
of a course in chemistry or othor sciences, an effort has been made to use
only such tems in the treatment of the subject as can be easily understood.
If by the reading of this paper only a few farmers aro induced to pay more
attention to making use of the natural sources of fertility on the farm, to
be more careful to sonserve the wealth in the soil placed there by nature,
and are led to a wiser and more economic use of commercial fertilizers the

mission of the paper will have been accomplished.

LOLS
Plan and Purpose of the atise.

e@w «=» — — «> --@ -—=- —/ —

The plan and purpose of the paper here given is as follows:

First:— To give a brief sketch of the influences, social and
industrial, which have led to the present condition of New England
Agriculture.

Secondly;~ To call attention to the fundamental principles which,
if practiced, would aid materially in conserving soil fertility, in build-
ing up lands depleted of plant food, and in developing a safe and profit—
able system of farm management.

Thirdly;— To discuss the use and abuse of commercial fertilisers
considering the practices which the writer has opportunity to observe
season after season.

Fourthjy:— To outline for a farmer the methods to use in selecting
materials for fertiliser mixtures. Much has been written of a general
nature but very little has been done to show the man on the farm the exact
methods that will aid him in determining what materials to use and in what
quantities to use them. Also to call attention to the principal arguments
in favor of “home mixing" of fertilizers and to give specific directions
for doing the work.
I. A brief sketch of the social and industrial factors which have

brought on the agricultural condition now obtaining in Now
England.

That section of the United States commonly spoken of as New England
comprises the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, and Connecticut, altogether a land area of approximately 66 ,000
square miles. Surrounded on three sides by water or British possessions
it is naturally quite isolated from other sections of the new United States
and has suffered somewhat from the lack of competition and the introduction
of new ideas which very naturally diffuse from one state to another in more
central regions. This geographic isolation causes New England to have
problems distinctly peculiar to herself — and all the more intoresting.

Geologically the soil is of glacial formation, variable, quite often
rough, and discouraging for the farmer. While large areas of smooth land
do not exist to any extent, yet in the river valleys soil equal to any in
the United States can be found, while the stonier hillsides are admirably
adapted to fruit, forest trees, or pasturage.

Settled as it was by the earliest visitors to this country, who knew
nothing of the conditions Z the new land which they had come to claim as
their own, it is not surprising that mistakes were made and damage done
which it will take generations to repair.

Numerous lakes and streams gave New England an admirable chance to
develop manufacturing in the earliest stages of that industry in this
country, and excellent shipping facilities at home and to foreign countries

aided materially in starting such plants long before the use of steam had
become general.

The beginning of the Nineteenth Century saw Agriculture comparative—
ly well developed in the Colonies and New England. It was fostered by
Daniel Webster, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other noted men.
Movements toward the development of agricultural education were made in
the first quartor of this century in Maine and Connecticut. Strong
agricultural societies were also formed. The approach of the Oivil War,
the wasteful methods usdd in handling this shallow soil, the slump in prices
which took place about 1870, all contributed toward causing a feeling ef
discontent, and discouragement throughout rural New England.

About this time large manufacturing plants were built aleng the
rivers, western land “incapable of exhaustion and yielding a hundred fold*
was thrown open at low prices, the spirit of unrest and desire for better
opportunities set up a tide of immigration of young men and women, sometimes
into the nearby factory towns and sometimes into what was then the "unknown
west." Entire rural communities were practically depopulated of the
younger generation, the older people carried on the heme farm as long as
they lived, after they had passed away the renter came, and "skinned" all
the fertility he could out of the land, leaving it too poor for further
profitable rental and the “abandoned farm" was the result. Villages fell
into decay, and a general decadence of the religious, social, and moral
life followed. Land values dropped to an exceedingly low price, and for
@ period of two decades New England Agriculture had nearly relapsed into
what one writer calls the "dark ages.*®

But the development of cities and manufacturing centers opened up a
new field and the writer is most happy to note that the excellent markots
provided, the great strides in the manufacture of labor saving machinery,
the development of our United States Department of Agriculture, the state
colleges and Experiment Stations, the effort of the states themselves to
disseminate information concerning the "new Agriculture" have brought
about a repopulation of rural communities, a re—peopling of the abandoned
farm, a rejuvination of the villages and an opportunity for wide awake,
ambitious young men in New England not found, in the writer's opinion,

in any other section of this country at the present time.
II. Fundamental principles underlying the maintenance of soil fertility,
which are too often overlooked by the New England farmer.

 

The future prosperity of any nation rests in a careful maintenance
of the natural resources in the soil. Coal, iron, oil, etc. when once
exhausted may find substitutes in new inventions or other products, but
so far no one has attempted to offer any substitutes for the products of
the earth which furnish food, raiment , and those other things which make
man's existence on this earth comfortable, and provides what we consider
to be necessary factors in our civilisation.

It is not necessary then to prove that to save the fertility of the
land is the most important problem in the United States today.

New England is not alone in having a depleted soil for reports
which come from all sections of the United States indicate that even the
lands which have been most recently settled no longer produce what they

arst did.

Whether or not the so called theory of the "toxic properties of
soils" is to supercede those theories known and held to be almost indisput—
able laws in regard to what constitutes soil fortility will probably be
eithor exploded or proven during the next five years. It is too early
in the discussion for farmers to reject those things which we believe to
be largely responsible for the maintainence or depletion of the fertility
of our lands.

In New England at least the following things are too often overlooked.

1. Necessity of good tillage.
2. Necessity of keeping up a constant and sufficient supply
of humus in the soil.

3. That the keeping of live stock and the feeding of farm
produce to these, and selling from the farm a finished
product is the safest and best system of husbandry.

4. That the attempts to grow one crop without proper rotations
and the application of sufficient amounts of manures and
fertilisers is a most wasteful system of husbandry and
cannot help but have,detrimental effect on the agricultural
conditions of the future.

5. Allowing the soil to get into an "acid" or "sour" condition
in which case bacteria do not multiply and fertilisers do
not give profitable results.

Tillage. Nothing will do more to improve the chemical and physical
conditions of the soil than proper tillage. Its importance has been re-
cognized since the earliest days of the ancient nations. Not only is it
necessary to practice tillage in order to get the land into condition to
receive the seeds but tillage of the right kind and at the right time
promotes soil ventilation, conserves moisture, or helps dry out the soil
whichever condition is needed, encourages the growth of bacteria, makes
solls warmer, renders plant food available, kills weeds, and causes a
marked, all around, improvement in the land.

The writer receives letters not infrequently telling of lands that
have not been plowed for fifteen or twenty years, and each letter almost
invariably closes with the request that advice be given as to how a good

crop of potatoes, clover, sweet corn, or some other highly specialised
crop can be grown the coming season without more tillage than ordinary
plowing and harrowing. Usually these persons intend to use large amounts
of expensive fertilizers to produce the crop. It is clear to any Agricul-
turist that this method is wrong, and that these who attempt to farm in this
way will find nothing but failure awaiting them. The writer is exceeding
glad to note that the introduction of modern implements into the east is
rapidly revolutionising farming methods and that more and better tillage is
being practiced than was the case fifteen or twenty years ago.

The importance of humus. When a soil is not plowed quite frequently
and vegetable matter in the shape of stable manures or green manuring crops
is not incorporated with it, the humus is by decomposition gradually "burned*"
out. When one examines one of these fields before spoken of, which has not
been plowed for ten to twenty years, he findg it practically devoid of
organic matter. We have known for ages that humus gave color to soils
which helped them to absorb heat, that it acted as a sponge increasing the
water holding capacity, that it added plant food, and that it made what one
terms "a rich soil® in comparison with a "poor" one, but it is only since
recent discoveries have been made in Agricultural Bacteriology that we have
found another most important office for humus in the soil. While very
Little is known as yet of soil bacteria yet one thing is certain, the numbers
of these vary in the soil with the amount cf humus present — the greater the
emount of hums, the larger the number of bacteria. The biological effects
of bacteria are even at this time known to be most beneficial, and any in-
crease in numbers of bacteria help in the actions which determine the state
of fertility of soils.

In the absence of live stock to furnish the required amount of stable
manure every good farmer should plan a rotation of crops so that every few
years a green crop can be turned under. Rye, barley, buckwheat, oats, and
Clover can all be easily grown in New England. These supplemented with a
reasonable amount of plant food from commercial fertilizers will build up
these run down lands more quickly and cheaply than any other way.

It may not be out of place to emphasise at this point the value of
Clover as a soil rejuvinator. In no place in the world does red clover
grow better, . when given proper conditions, than in New England. The writer
has been able during the past five years to grow five tons of cured red
Clover hay to the acre on a heavy clay soil in Maine.

Clover , beans, alfalfa, cow peas, and soy beans, by the aid of bacteria
working in the soil and storing up in small tubercles on the roots of the
plants, have the power of adding large quantities of nitrogen to the soil.
Various authorities say that the second crop and roots of an ordinary red
clover crop will add from 100 lbs. to 200 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. Con-
sidering the high price of nitrogen it behooves every farmer to take advantage
of this and grow clover at least once during each rotation.

Many failures to crow clover successfully have been reported, but to
the writer's knowledge every one of these is due either to poor seed or to
a condition of the soil decidedly unfavorable to the growth of the crop. I
have found by practical experience that the following conditions are essential.
(1) Good tillage in order to get proper soil ventilation. (2) Good drainage;
clover roots will not penetrate a "water logged" soil. The water table should
be at least three feet below the surface and is much better if six to ten feet
below. (3) A non-acid woil. Clover is classed among the "lime loving" plants

and does not thrive for any length of time in a "sour" soil. The over —
coming of this condition is treated later in this paper. (4) A soil
must be medium rich in order to grow clover. It is sometimes necessary
to sow rye, barley, or buckwheat and turn these crops under in order to
get land intc proper shape. (5) Bacteria of the proper kind, if drainage,
humus, and proper tillage ,are provided, and the acidity is corrected, the
conditions will be good for the growth of bacteria and soil inoculation
for red clover is not necessary in New England. Of course if the growing
of alfalfa or any other crop which has not been grown here to any extent
is attempted, it may be necessary to introduce bacteria of the proper kind.

The lack of live stock. MWifty or seventy-five years ago a large
amount of live stcck was kept on the farms of New England. For some reason
the farmers of this section ceased to breed live stock about the time the
stock lands of the middle and south west were opened for settlement.
Recently at a Farmers' Institute at which the writer was present this
question was asked of about one hundred and fifty farmers, "How many of
you are raising any young stock cn your farms?" and only three raised their
hands. Lack of live stock of course means that the fodder crops instead of
being fed are sold entirely from the farm, carrying with them large amounts
of fertility. It is almost impossible, at least very unprofitable, to
replenish the fertility taken away by the purchase of commercial fertilisers,
and probably in 99% of such cases it is never done.

It should not be inferred that there is no live stock in New England
for the dairy industry is a large industry and a goodly number of dairy cows
are kept. But even in the dairy industry many dairy farmers do not attempt
to grow the feed for their animals. The writer has had it said to him
many times by apparently prosperous farmers that "I cannot efford to raise

feed for my cows. It's too mich work to cultivate the land, and I prefer

- 10 —
to buy western feeds." Here again is a reason for there being an in-
sufficient amount ef tillage carried on resulting in the usual gradual
depletion of soil fertility. The writer has never felt in sympathy with
this argument, and considers the lack of live stock with the accompanying
results as one of the primary causes for the agricultural conditions
generally.

The growing of one crop continuously. New England is naturally
fitted for specialised Agriculture and a wide range of specialisation can
be practiced. "Hay" potatoes and sweet corn grow better than in any other
region with which the writer is familiar. There is always a danger of de-
pleting the fertility in the soil when any region finds that it can grow
one crop with great success. The lack of live stock and the desire to
cultivate little land has led the New England farmer to look about for a
crop which would apparently, at least, yield a good income without the
outlay of much capital and labor. He has found it in the hay crop. The
growing of hay under the present system is one of the worst mistakes a man
can make for no system of husbandry carries so much fertility away from the
farm when crops are sold as does grass or grain farming. The following
table taken from "Seils" by Fletcher shows the loss of plant food in one

 

 

year from 160 acres of land under different systems of farming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Systen — Lbs. Phos. Acid Lbs. Potash Lbs. Nitrogen
All grain ol 60 4o20 5600
Mixed grain 1003 1047 ph
and general 3
Mixed potato 991 2435 2363 !
and general
Stock 35 | BY | a9¢ !
! |
Dairy 76 | 85 809
|

 

 

 
The ordinary practice in New England is to seed a piece of land
down, leave it for eight, ten, or a dozen years, cut the hay off each
year, and on many farms brought under the observation of the writer, no
fertilizer of any kind is applied during that time. The hay is sold and
of course whatever is received is considered largely as profit for very
little labor has been expended. To call the attention of farmers to
what such a practice means an ordinary farm problem is here taken, a man

cuts and sells from his farm in one year fifty tons of hay at $10.00 a

 

 

ton.
The analysis of mixed grasses is as follows;:—
Nitrogen Potash Phosphoric Acid
1.37 1.54 0.37
Multiply by 26 owt. in a ton - x 20.
Pounds of these elements 27 40 lbs. 40.8 lbs. 7.4 lbs.
in one ton of hay.
Multiply by 50 tons x 50
1370 lbs. 1540 lbs. 370 lbs.
1370 lbs. Nitrogen a 1é¢ per 1b. 246.60
1540 lbs. Potash alt gn nt 68.70
370 lbs. Phosphoric Acid a 5 gr n 18 .50
Worth of fertiliser removed in 50 tons $ 325.60
50 tons of Hay a $10. $ 500.00

$500.00 - $325.60 = $ 174.20
What is received for land rental, labor, etc., if only the amount

of plant food taken out is put back into the land?
When it is understood generally that this, so far as maintaining
soil fertility is concerned, is one of the most wasteful practices, and
that future generations must inevitably suffer it would seem that all
intelligent and thinking men would no longer continue such work.

A further need too in this direction is a more definite system of
rotations, It is just as easy for a man to divide his farm into several
fields, no matter how large or small they may be, and put these through
a definite system of rotation as it is to go to some part of each field
and plow up a small "patch." Rotations have several advantages among
which these might be mentioned. A good system of rotation conserves
soil fertility, usually gives a larger income, and lessens the liability
to insect and disease injury. Of course a man must practice a totation
which fits the needs of his farm, and also allows him to develop some oKxer_
desired line of work more than others.

Good dairy farmers throughout New England are quite generally
practicing the following rotations:

lst year Potatoes.

2nd year Corn (for silage).

3rd year Oats or other grain (seeded with clover and grass).
4th year Clover or mixed hay.

5th year Clover or mixed hay.

The potato growers of Aroostook County, Maine, after several years
of trying to grow nothing but potatoes are quite gererally practicing
the following three year system:

lst year Potatoes
2nd year Grain (seeded to clover).
3rd year Clover

(Repeat the rotation).

- 14 —
Either of the above are well planned rotations because in each is
found a money crop or feed for animals, one or two cultivated crops which
cleanse the land, and a clovor crop, the best crop in nothern latitudes
for building up the land.

A well planned rotation will do infinitely more toward keeping up
the fertility of the land than large amounts of commercial fertilisers.

The prevalence of an "acid or sour soil". Many instances have been
brought to the writers attention where after good preparation of the soil,
careful selection of seed, and proper fertilization had all been carefully
attended to the crop obtained was not satisfactory. In many of these
cases and particularly with some crops failure is no doubt due to the
chemical condition of the land. Most of our cultivated crops do best
when the soil is in a neutral or slightly alkaline condition. Crops use
much lime in making their growth, and continued cropping together with
the decomposition of organic matter which produces acids in the soil may
so deplete the soil in lime that it has an "acid" or "sour" reaction.

For ages it has been known that lime in its various fcrms was of
great value in agriculture. For many years it was believed that lim
was a fertiliser. In the light of modern knowledge this belief is no
longer held but it has been proven beyond a doubt that lime has an
indirect rather than a direct benefit on both soils and plants.

Wheeler of Rhode Island in various bulletins says that "Lime unites
with acid substances in the soil, by which action the soil is sweetened
or its natural acidity (sourness) is overcome or reduced."

"It renders Potash, Phosphoric Acid, and Nitrogen more available.

It tends to make heavy clay soils more friable, and light sandy soils

more compact."

-~W-
"It causes plants to be strongor. Nitrification immediately
stons in acid soils."

"Certain plants like the clovers and alfalfa are classed as "lime
loving" plants and most of the grasses thrive best in soils where lime
is present, and soil bacteria are unable to do their beneficial work in
@ sour soil,

The writer is aware that there is so much difference in the course

Srile howe
of treatment that tt—has undergone, that statements of a general nature
regarding the use of lime must be made advisedly. After many
examinations of soils from different sections of New England, and from
much observation, it may be stated in a general way, that in grass and
clover production much of the land, except in regions which are natural-
ly of a limestone formation, would be greatly benefited by a frequent
application of lime.

Wheeler of the Rhode Island Station gives the following lists of

plants as being visibly affected by liming.

— —- om

Clover Oats
Timothy and most crasses Buckwheat
Strawberries Barley
Tobacco Cauliflower
Celery Ruta Bagas
Onions Cabbages
Carrots Beets
Soy Beans Spinach
Lettuce
Those_injured or not improved by liming are
Millet Potatoes
Feé Top Corn

Blackberries.

Lands in an acid or sour condition will not respond to heavy
applications of commercial fertilizers and must first be neutralized
by some material — lime at present probably being the quickest, ehaapeat,
and best for this purpose.

There are several methods by which this sourness or acidity in soils
may be detected. Two of these are easily used by the farmer and together
may be considered as a reliable guide. The first is by the character of
the vegetation found growing, and the second is by the litmus paper test.
Sorrel, Moss, Cinque—foil, Daisies, Buttercups, and other noxious weeds
found growing where clover and cultivated grasses fail to make a stand
are good indications of this acid condition.

The litmus paper test, while not considered very reliable by some
authorities, in a majority of instances taken with the native
vegetation gives corroborating testimony. The test is a simple one.
Blue litmus paper is procured from an apothecary, small samples of soil
are gathered from different sections of the field, mixed together in a
tea cup and slightly moistened with water. Take a piece of litmus
paper two inches long and one inch wide and put one end of it down into
the moist soil, leave a few moments, remove the paper from the soil,
rinse it off in clean water and if the soil is acid the paper will be
turned a decided red, the deepness of the color depending upon the

amount of acid contained in the soil.

—~16-
When both of these tests have been used, and one is convinced that
there is acid present in the soil, this condition may be corrected by the
use of lime in quantities varying from one-half to one ton or more to the
acre, As a rule sandy soils require a less amount than heavy clay soils.
This should be applied after plowing and harrowed into the soil. Since
Lime is quite insoluble it is better not to use it as a top dressing on
grass land.

Lime can be obtained in three forms from the lime kilns. As air
Slaked, as fresh lump lime, and as finely ground lime ready for dis-
tribution. It varies in strength according to the form. Air alaked
lime is fresh quick lime which has taken up quite an amount of moisture.
One hundred pounds of freshly burned lump lime is equal to about 175
pounds of air slaked lime for agricultural purposes. The finely ground
agricultural lime is hydrated or slaked to a greater or less extent and
so a larger quantity of this should be used than would be necessary of
the lump lime,

The labor which must be used and sometimes the loss which occurs
in slaking lime in large quantities often makes it advisable for a
farmer to purchase and use the finely ground agricultural lime. —

Farmers in New England, and Maine especially, who are having
difficulty in obtaining good grass — and particularly clover, should
investigate the condition of their land and see if it is in an acid
condition, and if this unfavorable condition is found, steps should
be at once taken to remove the cause. An application of 1000 pounds
of lump lime, equivalent to about 1400 pounds of “agricultural lime",
or to 1750 pounds of air slaked lime, should be applied to light soils

~17 -
after plowing and thoroughly harrowed in. Lime being quite insoluble
in water gives very little benefit when appiied as a top dressing on sod
land. About 1800 pounds to 2000 pounds fresh lime should be used on
heavy clay soils in the same manrer,

The experience which the writer has had in handling a Maine farm
and the results obtained throughout this state and Rhode Isldnd leads
hin to recommnd the use of lime without hesitation when the land shows
acid indications as spoken of in this paper, especially before an attempt
is made to grow clovers, alfalfa, or grass crops. Money expended for
lime can usually be deducted from that formerly put into commercial
fertilizers and better results will be obtained.

The foregoing brief discussion of the principal things which, if
practiced, would materially keep up the fertility in soils is not
exhaustive. It has seemed to the writer that these things were too
often overlooked by practical farmers, and that attention should be
called to them before taking up that question which every farmer is

deeply interested in — the subject of commercial fertilizers.

-15 -
III. The Comercial Fertilizer Question.

The greatest outlay of money that the average New England farmer
makes is for commercial fertilizere. In the absence of live stock to
furnish mamre, tillage to "sweeten" and improve the soil, rotations
to aid in keeping up fertility, he turned to the buying of commercial
fertilizers as a means of increasing and keeping up the yield of the
crop. It has seemed easy to drive to the village, get a few sacks
of these materials, apply them to the land and await a “bounteous"
harvest. But conmercial fertilizers cannot take the place of those
things above mentioned and many a disappointed farmer has there been
at the end of a season. |

New England has been the “harvesting ground" for the fertilizer
companies in the past. Some years ago before the enactment of in-
spection laws and the desire of a few individuals in the fertilizer
business to make that business a more honorable one, the commercial
fertilizers sold on the market were of a very uncertain grade. Every
one, farmer, fertilizer manufacturer, and college or station worker
is glad to add testimony to the fact that as a general thing the
fertilisers sold on the markets today are as representated, and well
suited to the crops for which they are intended. There is one thing
yet — they cost the farmer too much money, and it is the purpose of
this part of this paper to explain some things about fertilizing
materials not generally understood by farmers, to give to them some

suggestions as to the selecting of fertilizing materials, to point

-~19 -
out that by buying ehemicals and mixing these materials together at the
farm from 25% to 33% can be saved,and to give directions for doing this
work.

Can soils be examined and their fertilizing needs determined?
This question has been asked by letter and personal question of the writer
many times during the past few years. Often accompanying the letter is a
sample of soil — sometimes in a small pill box and again in a tomato can —
may be received. Advice is even asked as to the kind and amounts of
different fertilizers to use. When a letter is written to the sender
of the soil saying that no examination of value to him can be made, he
usually feels that he has been "turned down" and that we are not
interested in his case. So far as a chemical analysis itself is con—
cerned, it could be made, but nearly all samples of soil when analysed
and the determinations made would show several hundred pounds of nitrogen,
potash, and phosphoric acid to the acre: Plant food exists in the soil
in two forms, available and unavailable. (Terms are explained later.)
Ali the plant food comes out in the chemists test. It is the available
that interests the farmer at that moment. The unavailable will in due
time , through the process of nature, gradually become available.

Another important consideration in the answering of this question
is that no small sample of soil sent for analysis represents the entire
field from which it was taken, neither does that particular field re—
present the entire fam.

The physical condition of the soil, its water holding capacity,
humus content, etc., are all equally as important as plant food.

For these several reasons then a chemist cannot by means of

~ 20 —
analysis at his hands tall a famer anything cof practical value from a
sample of soil sent in. There is, however, a simple method ty which a
man can obtain accurate knowledge of what the fertiliser requirements
of his farm are. This method consists of carrying out some plot tests.
While a little extra labor is involved yet everyone should do this and
it may be that when the dertiliser requirements of the farm are known
many hundreds of dollars in fertilizer bills can be saved.

A plan recomended by Snyder of the Minnesota Station and cthers
for the testing of a farm to determine what fertilisers to use is as
follows: § A convenient way is to take plets 1/20 of an acre in size,
using any crop that happens to be growing, and select land which is as
uniform as possible and give the whole area the same preparation up to
the time of fertilizing. Eight plots are necessary to make a gcod
test. The amounts of fertilizer applied to each plot are shown in the

follewing diagram. Leave spaces of three feet between plots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plot 1 | Plot 2 : Plot 3 Plot 4
|
| é lbs. Nitrate Soda |& lbs. Nitrate Soda |& lbs. Nitrate
' No Fertilizers) | 16 lbs. Acid Phos— Soda
phate 16 lbs. Acid 16 lbs. Sutphate
& lbs Sulphate Phosphate Potash |;
Potash
Plot 5 ‘Plot 6 Plot 7 | Plot &
16 lbs Acid 8 lbs Sulphate 16 lbs. Acid
g lbs Nitrate Phosphate Potash Phosphate
Soda § lbs Sulphate |
| Potash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

= com wee ae

1

 

 

By watching the growth on the different plots and comparing yields )

one should be able to tell what the fertilizer requirements are. The

= 21 -
results should be verified for two or three years. Such tests carefully
carried out will give more accurate information than all the chemist's
tests which might be obtained.

The interpretation of a fertiliser formula. In the past the
fertilizer companies have stated tha analysis of the different brands
described in the little booklets distributed among farmers in terms which
only a trained chemist could comprehend and know the meaning of. While
most companies have adopted a mofe simple statement yet there are still
several things that should be explained to a farmer.

Commercial fertilisers ordinarily contain materials furnishing three
elements of plant food, namely : Nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid.
These thred are the ones which are taken up in the largest quantities by
plants in making their growth.

It is proper ir this place to caution farmors against buying any
particular brand. Names such as Mortgage lifters" "Big crops" "Sure
crop phosphate" are only terms used to draw attention. Buy a fertiliser
according to the amount of nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid it con
tains. Directions are given a little later for determining this.

The percentage of nitrogen in most fertilisers is expressed in terns
of ammonia. So far as scientists can tell plants do not use "armonia"
in making their growth, but nitrogen, combined with potash, sodium, lime,
and other matérials in the soil to form "nitrates". Nitrogen expressed
in terms of ammonia requires larger figures to represent the percentage
contained which is to the advantage of the manufacturer.

In like manner potash is stated as "equal fo sulphate of potash" and

phosphoric acid is stated in terms of "bone phosphate". If an analysis

-~ 2c —
states that "potash is equal to sulphate of potash 18.6% , it means the

gamo as 9.3% actual potash (Ko0), or if a formula states that phosphoric

acid is equal to 35% bone phosphate it really means that the brand

contains 15.9% phosphoric acid.

By using the followirg table any one can convert the analysis into

any terms desired.

To convert

ammonia into an equivalent of

nitrogen " °"

nitrate cf soda

bone phosphate

2

phosphoric acid

3

muriate potash
sulphate potash "

actual potash '"

multiply by
nitrogen 0.8235
ammonia 1.214
nitrogen 16.47

phosphoric acid 0.456

bone phosphate 2.183
potash 0.632
potash 0.54

sulphate potash 1.85

(Table taken from Yorhees' "Fertilisers.")

To show what is meant by a fertiliser formula the following is

taken from a booklet of one of the leading fertiliser companies.

Guaranteed Analysis.

Nitrogen equal to ammonia
Soluble phosphoric acid

Reverted *
Available "
Insoluble "
Total "

Potash — actual

3.00 to 4.00%
6.50 to 8.00%
1.50 to 2.00%
$.00 to 9.00%
2.00 to 3.00%
10.00 to 11.00%
6.00 to 7.00 %
It will appear at once that there are terms in the above formula with
which the man without a knowledge of chemistry is unfamiliar.

In the first place the farmer in selecting a fertiliser need not con-
sider the last column of figures. The analysis will no doubt meet the
first column but may not the second.

The ammonia can be converted into nitrogen in the following way.

ammonia 3% X 0.6235 = 2.40% nitrogen.

The phosphoric acid is stated in several ways. Soluble has reference
to that which will dissolve in water. Reverted that which has combined
with some other material such as lime, and is no longer soluble in water.
Available that which is in a form which can be taken up by plants. In-
soluble not in a form which can be used by plants, and total the sum of

 

all. In selecting a fertilizer, unless it is known that the phosphoric
acid all comes from bone, it is safer to figure only on the available.
The potash in this formula is stated in terms of actual potash which
is as it should be.
The fertiliser formula under discussion reduced to its preper terms
should read
Nitrogen 2 40%
Available Phosphoric Acid &.00%
Actual Potash 6.00%
In buying a fertiliser the statements should be reduced to this forn.
The formula means further that the fertiliser company guarantees
2.40% of the 2000 lbs. (ton) to be nitrogen, 8% to be available phosphoric
acid, and 6% potash.
The number of pounds of plant food contained in this fertiliser can

be found as follows:

- a —
2.4% X 2000 lbs = 46 lbs nitrogen

€% X 2000 lbs = 160 lbs phesphoric acid
64 X 2000 lbs = 120 lbs potash
Total 326 lbs. plant food

It will be seen that 326 lbs. of the ten is of value and
(2000 - 326 =) 1672 lbs. waste material. | This waste material may
be due to the impurities in the fertilizing materials themselves (none
of the crude chemicals are pure as will be seen later) or te cheap
material used as filler to dilute the chemicals, and help make weight.

By examining any fertilizer formula in the way here suggested a
good estimate of its real value can be obtained.

The difference in value between a hich grade and low grade fertilizer.
There is always a tendency on the part of men when money is to be expended
to buy the cheaper article. Many cases have come to the writer's
attention where men have gone to fertilizer dealers and inquired the
price of goods, and on being told that one grade was $25.00 a ton and
another $40.00 a ton have immediately replied that they would take the
$25.00 goods. This as has been explained before is a wrong basis. Look
to the amount of plant food contained and buy the brand that gives the
most of this for the money. As a general thing the high grade goods
are always cheapest. An illustration of each kind will explain the

difference.

 

Low grade selling for $25.00
Analysis

Nitrogen 0.82%

Available Phosphoric Acid 7.00%

Potash 1.00%
2% X 2000 lbs 16.4 lbs. nitrogen

7% X 2000 lbs 140. lbs. phosphoric acid

ft

1% X2000 lbs = 20. lbs. potash
Total plant food 176.4 lbs.
$25.00—¢ 176.4 lbs — 14 ¢1bd. cost of plant food

High prade selling at $440 .00
Anal ysis

Nitrogen 3.1%

Available Phosphoric Acid 7.0%

Potash : 10.0%

3.7% xX 2000 lbs = 74 lbs. nitrogen
7.0% X 2000 lbs «= 140 lbs. phosphoric acid
10.06 x 2000 lbs = = 200 lbs. potash
Total plant food 414 lbs.
$40.00 we 414 1bs = 94 per lb. cost of plant food

Comparing the two above in another way
414 -- 176.4 = 2.3 (Ratio between the two. High grade
contains 2.3 times as much plant
food as low grade.)
$25.00 E 2.3 =$57.50. What it would cost to get as much plant food
in a low grade fertiliser at $25.00 a ton as one can get for $40.00
in the high grade,
One other thing should be considered in this comparison. The
materials used in the high grade are better than those used in the low

prade. The fertilizer companies estimate that it costs $11.00 a ton

-~ 26
to manufacture and sell their goods. Then
Low $25.00 ~ $11.00 = $16.00 to go into materials
High $40.00 —- $11.00 = $29.00" " # "

The explanation just given would seom ompit to be sufficient so
that no one who reads this will make the mistake of buying low grade
goods.

Classification of Materiala. The materials used in making
fertilizers may be classified into three classes:

1. Those furnishing nitrogen.
2. Those furnishing potash.
3. Those furnishing phosphoric acid.

Agricultural characteristics of nitrogen. Nitrogen is the most
expensive fertilizing element the farmer has to buy, costing at the
present tim 18 4 per 1b. in the more common materials which furnish it.
It is oasily lost from the soil by leaching hence care should be taken
not to use more of the available forms than would be taken up in one
growing season. Nitrogen tends to produce leaf and stem growth, and to
retard rather than encourage maturity in plants. The materials such as
nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia are quickly available, while those
from organic sources like bone and tankage act more slowly.

The nitrogen of the air, as has already been mentioned, should be
trapped by the use of clover and other leguminous plants in order to avoid
buying so much in the form of commercial fertilizers.

The liquid portions of stable manure are also rich in this olement
and every effort should be made to prevent the loss of nitrogen from this
material by heating and leaching.

-~27 -
For convenience the principal nitrogenous fertilizers are
tabulated in the following way giving source, composition, availability,
ahd price.

Prices and compositicn may fluctuate somewhat from year to year,
so by simply substituting current quotaticns for those here given

the problems can be solved anew at any time.

- 26 -
Table No. l.

Nitrogenous Materials — 190% Quotations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will be noticed in the table just given that

materials contain one or more other elements besides

 

 

 

 

 

 

ee Lye | a ee
Mate rial source ; , Composition Availability Price
Hieeen Potash Phos. Acid per ton
+ np ange nme erg ge
Nitrate Goda! Mined in 15% | Quickly $56.00
/ Chili :
—
— ee : . es ae -
Sulphate of ‘By-product 20% ! Quickly $70. 00
| Ammonia from several ! | :
i _Andustries. . ! |
T en . ft cee tmeen on - ; -- 7 ‘ mone wae ee a
ok Witrate of Mined in 154 == ! Quickly ' $96.00
' Potash . Germany | : ;
nia Slaughter 5 - 9% | 9 - 15% | Stowly $25 - $35.
: Houses
- oe nee ~ oe ee ‘ 1 ee
. Dried Flood = 6 - 13; : “Medium "$30 - - $5.
| Moat Meal t 10 - 14¢ " slowly | $25 - ho.
fee eee oe meee ee a ~ ~
Dry eround | Fish |  g - 11% trace _ trace Slowly | $30. 00
Fish . factories ;
: King Crab ‘Sea Costs 10% " | n | Slowly : $30.00
Ground Bone Slaughter 3% 22% Slowly $27.00
Houses
. Cottonseed ‘Cottonseed 6-7%:. trace trace — Slowly ~ $30.00
Meal : : !
: Castor Pomaca Castor oil 6 - 7% : " : " Slowly $25.0 00
| fh Industry 3 :
" Linseed Meal | Flaxseed 5 - 64 Ho " : Slowly _ $30.00
“cuanas VQelands an uot | os) ak ute $e
| (Best | grated) So. Sea 3 : available , .

 

some of these

nitrogen.
Materials furnishing potash. There are two sources of potash

fertilizers.
1. Wood ashes
2. German potash salts.

Wood Ashes. Up to the time that coal began to be so universally used
as fuel, wood ashes were a valuable product as a source of potash. Of
late years they have been scarce, and great care should be used if they
are to be purchased to see that they have not lost their fertilizing
value. They are vaulable chiefly for the potash and lime which they
contain, and if allowed to leach may lose nearly all of the first named
element.

The value of wood ashes depends on the kind of wood from which they
have come, (hard woods producing more valuable ashes than soft), the
emount of dirt they contain, and how they have been stored.

Good, hard wood ashes, unleached, have an:.analysis about as follows:

5 — 6% Potash
1 — 2% Phosphoric Acid
os — 32% Lime
Leached ashes analyze much less, usually about
1 — 2% Potash
1% Phosphoric Acid
25 — 30% Lime

In buying ashes one should know the analysis of the particular lot
purchased, and should see that they are dry and have not been leached.

Computed at the present prices of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime
a ton of the hard wood, unleashed ashes given above would be worth

~ 30 -
5% X 2000 lbs = 100 lbs. Potash in i ton.

1% X 2000 lbs = 20 lbs. Phosphoric Acid in 1 ton.

30% X 2000 lbs 600 lbs. Lime in & ton.

100 lbs Potash alitégperlb = §$ 4.50

20 lbs Phosphoric acid a5 Zg" ® = $1,00

600 lbs Lime a tog per cwt = $ 2.40
Price at which the same elements

could be purchased in chemicals . $ 7.90

Computed in the same way the leached ashes would be worth about
$3.90 a ton.

- 31 -
Table No. 2 — Potash Materials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Material ' Source Composition Availability | Price
Potash [Nitrogen Phos. Acid 3
S2SsSsts saaSaiss fA = faa ese a = Ty
| : |
Wood ashes Farms andj 5 - 6 ' 2-2 Readily | ? 3
factories | } | !
where wood
is burned | : . |
aaa - ; ~- $e ee neem woe eee ee tren me ieee, vpreerenen mre mee eg
Muriate of German 4S - 52) : | Quickly = $43.00 .
| Potash mines : :
‘Sulphate of " Mé - 52, | " ; $48.00
| Potash : ! : 3
iNitrate of —" UB " $96.00 |
' Potas : : : | |
re cee eee re . . “f . ce Maem we wk Nene eee ey pe cee an ws meee ? -
‘Kainit " 12 - 13 : " ' $12.00 ©
Double sulphate " 26 | i . $25.00
| Of potash and ,
‘ magnesium |

Unlike nitrogen potash is fixed by natural agencies in the soil and
such great care need not be taken in the use of it. It is believed that
the source from which the potash comes affects the quality of certain
crops like potatoes and others in which much starch is found. For such
crops it is best to use potash in the form of sulphate.

An excess af potash in the soil giveg strength to grains and causes
the kernels to be plumper. In the case of fruit, the quality at
ripening is also made better by liberal applications of this element.

Materials furnishing phosphoric acid. Technically speaking only
those materials containing rhosphoric acid can be spoken of as phosphates.

The term "phosphate", however, is in a popular way improperly applied to

-~ 72 —
all kinds of fertilizer materials. Another term "superphosphate" is
commonly used. The work "superphosphate" refers to a raw phosphate
which has been treated in some way to make it more quickly available.
Phosphoric acid is more easily fixed in the soil than either of
the other two elements. When lime is present it combines with this
readily forming phosphate of lime, a valuable form, which is not easily
leached out of the soil.
Phosphoric acid aids the maturity of seed and fruit. It also
is supposed when present in sufficient amounts to give color and
plumpness to grains and fruits especially.

The phosphates form the basis of most commercial fertilisers.
Table No. 3 = Phosphutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

no { co | -
f Material Source Composition Availability. Price
: Phos.Acid ‘Nitrogen (Potash, |
—=—=— —_—__ = t _f ao 2b sso _ oe
South carol ing Rocks 12-14. Slowly $10 - $12
Rock in S.C. : :
- Acid showpnatl S.C.Rock 14-18. | Quickly $14 - $18
| treated :
ee Cee te ce ee ee cea mene be ce tate bn ee
 tankape | Slaughter 10-15 5-9 Slowly 425 $30
: , Houses | |
Ground | Fone " 20 - 22 3-4 , $25 - $30 |
- Fone Black Waste pro- 32 - 35 " : ?
:duct re—
| ning sugar
| Steamed Fone | “Slaughter. 35 ~ 40 trace i" OR
. Vouses :
Florida Phos River beds 1g . - 30 mn $18 -~ $30 |
_Bhate- Florida
tasic Slag Waste pro- 5 - 20 " | $16
' duct steel
| fee |
Phosphatic ‘Given under Nitrogenous
Guanos : |
i ;

i

eg er ee ee et

 

i t
\ - Me meme ee ae em mw Ne et

These tables have beer given in this form in order that they may

be referred to in selecting ard putting tocether materials for home

mixtures, the next subject tc be taken up.
IV. The "Kome Mixing of Fertilizers", Something Bwery Farmer ghould

 

Understand.

wee eee eee oe ee

It has been previously noted in this paper that it costs the
fertilizer manufacturer about $11.0( a ton to sell his gcods. This
amount represents the cost of maintaining the fertilizer plant and
equipment, interest on the investment, travelling men's expenses,
advertising, agents' commissions, and interest on notes taken in pay-
ment for gocds deliveyed. It is possible for any farmer, or better
a club of farmers or a grange to purchase the raw materials, and mix
them together at the farm thereby saving the most of this additional
cost.

It would be sufficient if the saving cf money was all that had
been gained, but there are other things in favor of doing this. When
home mixing is done, the grade of materials used is known and a fertiliser
mixed with the special needs of your own farm,after you find what the needs
of the soll are, by the method already outlined, can be made.

Successful home mixing depends on several things.
1. Selecticn of the proper materials.
2. Putting them together in proper proportions.

3. Mixing them thoroughly together.
There is no secret to "home mixing" as many seem to suppose. Any

fertilizer formula can be duplicated. Pefore attempting to practice this

on the farm, it is necessary to study several phases of the question. The
things one shculd determine are:

1. Relative cost of plant food in materials of the same class,

- 45 —
2. What proportion of each source should be used.
3. “he needs of the crop the fertilizer is being made for.
4, The determination of the proper amounts of each.

The writer has found many farmers who would be glad to mix the
fertilizers at home but do not do so because they cannot determine for
themselves the above points. The followins problems given at this time
are for the purpose of aiding in this work ard showing the simple
arithmetical work necessary.

How to determine the relative cost of plant fcod in two materials.
Suppose for instance that it is wished to determine the relative cost of
nitrogen in nitrate cf soda and sulphate of ammonia. Referring back to
table No. 1 it is found that nitrate of soda is 15% nitrogen. Then one
ton of nitrate has:

15% xX 2000 lbs. or 300 lbs. Nitrogen

Nitrate of soda costs $56.00 a ton.

Then $56.00 — 300 lbs = $.16 2/3 per 1b. for Nitrogen

Taking sulphate of armonia in the same way.

20% X £000 lbs. = 400 lbs. Nitrogen

$72.00—— 400 lbs, = .18 per lb. for Sulphate of Ammonia

In selecting any material the availability and effect of that
material on the crop t#mt should be considered as well as the price.

To fix a uniform valuation on the price of the three elements from
different scurces, the Directors of the New Fngland states meet in March
each year for this purpose.

The schedule of vaulations for 1906 is as follows:

- 36 -
Cents

per pound.
Nitrogen in nitrates 18+
in ammonia salts 17+
Organic nitrogen in dry and fine::ground fish, meat and
blood, and in mixed fertilizers 20+
in fine bone and tankage 20+
in coarse bone and tankage 15
Phosphoric acid, water-soluble )
citrate-soluble Ye
in fine graund bone and tankage 4
in coarse bone and tankage 3
in cotton seed meal, castor pomace and ashed 4

in mixed fertilizers, if insoluble in
ammonium citrate 2

When it is desired to compre for irstance the cest of nitrogen
in nitrate of soda with that in tankage, a material which also contains
phosrhoric acid, the problem is a little more complicated.

The cost of nitropen in nitrate of soda has already been ccmputed

at 16 2/3 ga lb.
To find what the nitrogen in tankage costs it is first necessary

to find the value of the phosphoric acid in that material.

Table No. 2 gives the composition of tankage as 5¢ % nitrogen, 16%
phosphoric acid, and costs $25.00 a ton. Referring to the schedule of
valuation it is found that phosphoric acid in bone tankage is worth 4¢a 1b.

53% X 2000 lbs. =110 lbs. Nitrogen in one ton tankage

16% X 2000 lbs. = 320 lbs. Phosphoric Acid in one ton tankage

320 X4gailb. =$12.40 what the Phosphoric Acid in the tankage is
worth.
$26.00 — $12.60 = $13.20 cost of Nitrogen in tankage

$13.20 e110 =12¢ per 1b. cost of Nitrogen.

In like manner by referring to the tables and the schedule of prices
the value of any material as compared with any other material can be
determined.

The selection of materials and the duplication of formulae. After
the relative cost of plant food from different sources has been determined
the next step is to determine the kind and quantity of the different
materials it takes to make a mixture of a desired analysis.

The kind of materials to select depends, besides cost, on whether
or not the crop occupies the whole season in making its growth or only a
few wooks. In seeding down, corn, potatoes, or other crops which occupy
the land the entire season nitrogen should pe selected from both the quick—
ly and slowly available sources. If for instance all the nitrogen was
taken from nitrate of soda, this element of plant food might be lost before
the end of the season, so some of it is used from tankage, ground bone, or
other slowly available source, With potash and phosphoric acid so much
care need not be exercised as both of these elements are retained en the
soil until taken out by the crops.

As an illustration to use in order to show the method employed in
figuring out the necessary amounts of materials to make a mixture of a
certain grade, the common high grade potato fertilizer so widely purchased

in the east will be used. This fertilizer has an analysis about as follows:

_ 38 -
Nitrogen equal to ammonia 4%
Available Phosphoric Acid 6%
Potash (actual) 10%

It will first be necessary to convert the ammonia into an equivalent
of nitrogen. This is done as follows: (table has already been given)

4% ammonia X .6235 = 3.3% Nitrogen

The corrected formula then reads

Nitrogen 3.3%
Available Phosphoric Acid 6 4%
Potash 10 %

The next question is — how many pounds of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid, and potash is there in a ton of fertiliser of this grade. We
find the following amounts:

3.34 X 2000 lbs = 66 lbs. Nitrogen

6% X 2000 lbs = 120 lbs. Phosphoric Acid

10% X 2000 lbs = 200 lbs. Potash

If then we put materials of a high grade together in proportions
to give the above amounts of these elements, if the materials are fine
and dry, and if they are thoroughly mixed together we woukd have a
fertilize® equal inwlue to mixed goods of the same grade,

It is generally considered in this kind of a fertilizer that about
one—third of the nitrogen should be taken from a very available source
and the remaining two-thirds from a source more slowly available. Suppose
nitrate of soda, tankage, acid phosphate, and sulphate of potash are used
to make this mixture, using one-third of the nitrogen from nitrate of soda.

- 39 -
1/3 of 66 lbs. Nitrogen = 22 lbs. Nitrogen

2/3 of 66 lbs. Nitrogen = 44 ibs. Nitrogen

Referring back to table No. 1 it is found that nitrate cf soda is
15% nitrogen.

Dividing 22 lbs. the amcunt of nitrogen required from nitrate, by
the 15% will give the number of pounds required.

22 lbs. w= 15% = 147 lbs. Nitrate of Soda.

In like manner the number of pounds of tankage to furnish the 44 ibs.
of nitrogen is determined. One grade of tankage analyzes 5% nitrogen,
15% phosphoric acid.

Wy lbs. -- 5% = 660 lbs. tankage to give 44 lbs. Nitrogen.

But the tankage also contains phosphoric acid. This must be
determined. It is not best to consider that more than 12% of the 15%
phosphoric acid in the tankage is available, so

12% X 680 lbs. =105 lbs. Phosphoric Acid in 880 lbs. Tankage.

The formula that is being used calls for 120 lbs. of Phosphoric
Acid, then

120 lbs. —- 105 lbs. = 15 lbs. Phosphoric Acid yet to get.

Acid phosphate is a good source to use this remaining 15 lbs. from.
Referring back to table No. 2 we find that acid phosphate analyzes 15%
phosphoric acid. Then

15 lbs -+ 15% =100 lbs Acid Phosphate necessary to use to make up
the required Phosphoric Acid.

Coming next to potash, since this is to be a potato formula, potash

in the form of sulphate shculd be used. 200 lbs. of potash are required.
Table No. 3 shows that sulphate of potash analyses 50% potash. Then

-~ 40 -
200 lbs 50% = 400 lbs. Sul phate of Potash necessary to satisfy
the forma.

Brinzing the foregoing results together into a more concise form
147 lbs Nitrate of Soda gives 22 lbs Nitrogen
$60 lbs Tankage IVES se esseeeeeeeees ukips, *

", 66 lbs n Amt Required

"* * *e¢r-105 lbs. Phosphoric Acid

100 lbs. Acid Bhosphate cives 15 lbs. " "
120 lbs. " "

Amount Required.

400 lbs. Sulphate of Potash gives 200 lbs Potash * "

1527 lbs. weight of mixture.

It will be seen at once that the materials do not weigh 2000 lbs.
tut they contains as much nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid as a ton
of mixed goods of the same grade, hence have just as high an agricultural
value. If it is desired to add a filler to bring the weight up to a ton,
add 673 lbs. of dry road dust, sifted coal ashes, land plaster, or any
other dry, fine material, excepting lime. The writer does not consider
the addition of a "filler® at all necessary when the materials added
together give as much weight as these do. In the applying of this, if
one half ton of a mixed fertiliser was to be used on an acre 78 lbs. of
the home mixture would be its equivalent. To use cther rates figure a
proportionate amount.

It has been stated that one of the principal things in favor of
"home mixtures" was the lesser cost. What is the cost of the fertiliser

which has just been compounded? This grade selle in Maine for $38.00 a

ton.

~ Wy.
The cost of the home mixture is as follows: -

147 lbs Nitrate Soda a $56. ton 4.12
S60 lbs. Tankage a $27. * 11.86
100 lbs. Acid Phosphate a $16. * 60
400 lbs. Sulphate Potash a $ 4é. * _960_
Cost of yaterials $ 26.39

Freight a 15é per cwt. 2.25

Labor of Mixing «50
$29.4

$36 200 — $29.14 = $8.66 per ton saved.

Freight has been estimated at 154 a owt. this being considered
an average rate. The materials can be thoroughly mixsod as described
later 4e% 504 a ton. This saving is about an average difference
between the mixed and the ummixed goods. Where several neighbors,
or a grange, club together freight fates can be reduced.

The materials can be purchased of most of the fertiliser
companies.

Other home made mixtures. By following the directions that
have been given a mixture of any desired analysis can be made,

The following are a few examples of home made mixtures for
different crops.

Seeding Down Fertilizer.

 

Seeding down fertiliser analyzing
344% Witrogen
7% Phosphoric Acid
5% Potash

~ lo .
can be made from
100 lbs. Hitrate of Soda (15% Nitrogen)
1200 lbs. Tankage (5% Hitrogen, 15% Phosphoric Acid)
_200 lbs. Muriate Potash (50% Potash)
1500 lbs. |
Use 300 to 600 lbs. to the acre.
Grass, Grain and Seeding Down Fertiliser.
Grass, grain, and seeding down fertiliser analyzing
3% Nitrogen
7% Phosphoric acid
4% Potash
can be made from
133 lbs. Nitrate of Soda (15% Nitrogen)

$00 lbs. Tankage (5% Nitrogen, 12% available Phosphoric Acid)

200 lbs. Acid Phosphate (15% Phosphoric Acid)
160 lbs. Muriate Potash (50% Potash)

1293 lbs.

Use from 300 lbs to the acre up to any amount desired.

Top Dressing for Grass Land

 

300 lbs. Mitrate of Soda (15% Nitrogen)

300 lbs. Muriate Potash (50% Potash)

600 lbs. Acid Phosphate (15% Phosphoric Acid)
1200 Lbs.

Use 300 to 500 lbs. to the acre just about the time the grass

begins to start in the spring.

— 43

o) Meat

"a ee:
“, tee
. a
It will be noticed in this mixture that the materials selected
are all very soluble, dissolving with the first rain that falls. By
using 350 lbs. of this to the acre on the University of Maine farm
we are usually able to double our hay crops in yield.

Directions for the home mixing of fertilisers. The apparatus
needed to successfully home mix fertilisers is as follows:

1. Shovels.
2. Platform scales.
3. Tight board floor.

4. Screen similar to that used by stone masons for
sifting gravel.

After the materials have been purchased the required amounts of
each should be weighed out and placed in separate piles on the floor.
It is convenient to weigh out and mix the equivalent of one tom at a
time. If any lumps are contained in the materials, break them up
at this time with a wooden tamper. Make a larger pile in the center
of the smaller ones by shoveling in layers of each material. After
all have been combined in one larger pile, shovel this over into
another pile allowing the new pile to be coneshaped. (This allows
each material to sort of distribute itself and run down the sides of
the pile. Lumps, if there are any, also run out.) Shovel back and
forth until the materials are thoroughly mixed together , usually
five or six shovelings are sufficient. MWinally throw the material
through the screen, then shovel into sacks, weighing and tagging
each bag with the kind and amount of fertiliser contained in each

sack on each bag.
The application of fertilizers. There are various opinions held
as to what is the best method of applying fertilisers. If one will
take the trouble to make a calculation it will be found that even when
large amounts are used to the acre only a small fraction of an ounce
falls on each square foot of ground.

Whether or not it is best to put all the fertiliser in the drill
at the time of planting, partly in the drill and partly broadcast on
top after planting, or all broadcast before or after planting depends
on different conditions, circumstances, and crops. It has been the
Writer's experience that since the feeding rootlets of crops are
distributed very theroughly throughout the top few inches of soil that
partly broadcast and partly in the drill is the better method. One
thing is very sure whichever method is used, be thorough in the
application of the material and see that it is evenly distributed.

~ 45 -

+ iy aR?

ae © Few &
a
The writer has tried to point our and call the attention of Rew
England farmers to some things which, if practiced, would build up
more quickly the "run down® farms of New England and maintain the
fertLlity after it has once been returned to the soil. It is
desired to reiterate one thing here, and that it that a more careful
study and economic use should be made of commercial fertilizers in the
future than has been done in the past.

the writer firmly believes that more tillage, the keeping of
larger numbers of live stock, the growling of clover, a carefully
planned rotation, the development of specialized farming, and a more
judicious use of commercial fertiliser will not only restore the lost |
fertility to New England soils, but will develop a system of Agriculture
which shall make this eastern country with its beautiful scerery, its
traditions, its culture, not only one of the most prosperous agricul-
tural sections of the United States, but a land of the most delightful
farm homes in the world.

~ 467
 
Hea ein. no a -siemyter: or ven + smote .
4

Ph