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Saturday, February 25, 1922 , ..' - i. ' , . .
II I 4lyVT ifXI
: "Profitafely
"Making More Money From Farming in 1922" Would Not be Com
plete Without Some Suggestions for the Better Use of Fertilizers
WOULD you be willing to give , a
ton of , nitrate - of soda costing
about $60 for 3,220 pounds of
seed cotton woth about $193? Would
you be willing to give a ton of acid
phosphate costing about ,$15 for 733
pounds of seed cotton worth about
$44 ? Or would you be willing to give
one ton of kairrit costing about $12, in
exchange for 1,080 pounds of cotton
worth about $65? The chances are
you would be willing to make any or
all these exchanges." - And that is just
what some farmers in the central part
of Alabama have been doing under the
direction of the "Alabama"' Experiment
Station. V
The figures mentioned above are not
fictitious. Neither do they represent
an isolated incident or accident. They
represent the average increases in pro
duction of cotton from the use of these
fertilizers in 48 field tests. "This partic
ular group of tests was confined to one
of the several general soil divisions of
the state. Moreover, they covered a
period of 11 years. They offer a splen-
Usually however, the high-grade mate
rial is cheaper because of the lesser
(freight charges and less hauling. '
Potash Pays on Many Soils .
UOR several years past there has
been a doubt in the minds of many
farmers and investigators as to whether
the use of potash fertilizers paid on
any but the exceptional soils. A sum
mary of the results of 212 fertilizer
tests in Alabama throws much light on
this question and offers some tangible
suggestions. One outstanding fact de
veloped by these tests, running through
a period of 11 years, is that when pro
perly applied under cotton, potash paid
a good profit on every principal soil
division in the state of Alabama. How
ever, when applied under corn it show
ed a profit on only 3 of the 7 general
soil divisions of the state. Under sweet
potatoes potash usually paid a hand
some profit.
But what is 'meant by proper appli
cation. For in every soil division, ex
cept one, the kairiit paid better when
Coastal Plain:
did guide for fertilizing practice in that applied at the rate of 100 pounds per
section.
The figures quoted above are given
here primarily to show. that fertilizers,
properly used, pay well. In many sec
tions of the South the farmers are al
ready convinced of that fact. In oth
ers they are not so sure. The upper
most question in the minds of most
farmers is how to use fertilizers to get
best value from them.
The fertilizer question in the South
long years ago resolved itself into a
question of phosphorus, nitrogen and
potash and how to use them. The
quantities of each to use and especially
the relative proportion of each to use
has been the object of endless experi
mentation. Sources of Fertilizer Elements
A CID phosphate is. , the standard
source of phosphorus in the South.
There is no need for entering- into a
discussion of the relative merits of
other sources. Acid, phosphate has
definitely established and proved it
self in the South. -
Southern farmers are at a loss
sometimes to know what to choose as
a source of nitrogen. Relative costs
have much to do with this. This phase
of the question was discussed in a
previous article in this series.
When to Apply Fertilizers
THERE is no question as to when to
apply fertilizers containing acid
phosphate, potash, and cottonseed
meal. Without exception these fertilizers
should be applied at the time the crop
is planted or before. Quite a few people
especially those on the heavier types
of soil are applying their nitrate of
soda on cotton and corn land before
planting. They feel that the loss by
leaching is fully offset by the greater
economy in applying all the fertilizer
at one time. However, theVe is the
best of evidence that sodium nitrate
at the rate of 100 pounds per acre, gave leaches exceedingly rapidly on soils of
an increased yield of about $83 worth the sandy type. In fact, preliminary
of cotton while when applied at the tests by the Alabama station show
rate of 200 pounds per acre, one ton that greater increases in yields from
returned an increase of only$18 worth nitrate of soda on cotton are secured
of cotton. The only exception to this when it is applied at the time of the
general rule in the State of Alabama, first plowing after the cotton is chop
was in the Black Belt where a ton ap- ped or on com if applied when the corn
plied at the 200-pound rate gave three is about knee high. These tests are to
times the value of the ton applied at be continued to get the average com-
v - - V ' (15V-187
r Futting the seed down in direct contact
with the fertilizers is riskyr especially
when the rate of application is heavy.
' Thevstrohg fertilizer solution is likely
to delay germination or even to kill
the seedlings. Some device to mix the
fertilizer with the soil and running just
ahead of the falling seed will largely
obviate that. One bier advantage of
Formulas for Sandy and Sand? Loam Soils on this method is that it permits earlier
preparation of . the land which, is im
portant in (1) lightening the pressure
of work around planting time and (2)
making it possible to plant on a firm
seed bed.
Fertilizers for Corn
FERTILIZERS under corn do not
produce as good profits as under
cotton, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes,
and other high-value-per-acre crops.
Of the three important elements nitro
gen pays by far the best profits. And
as between cottonseed meal and ni
trate ot soda pe latter outstrips the
cottonseed meal so far on most soils
in making more bushels of corn that it
can beoirgently recommended in pref
enrence to the former. In Alabama the
Black Belt is the only soil division on
which cottonseed meal makes more
corn per dollar expended than does ni
trate of soda. In fact, in four of the
remaining big divisions nitrate of soda
under corn is used profitably while cot
tonseed meal is used at a loss.
Acid i Jvitro- iPotashJ Lbs. Per
Crop Pbo. gen j j Acre
Corn 6 to 7 4 to 3 .... 200 to 400
Cotton 7 to 8 4 to 6 2 to 3 500 to 800
Small grain 6 -to 7 4 to 5 "..v 200 to 400
Legumes . . 16 200 to 400
Tobacco ... I 6 to 1 3 to 4 3 to 4 800 to 1000
On very sandy soils increase potash for
cotton to 3 per cent and add 2 per cent pot
ash for corn and small grain. Also for
legumes, on very poor soils 1 to 2 per cent
each of nitrogen and potash may be added.
Formulas for Piedmont and Mountain Soils:
i
. Acid I Nitro- J Pot- Lbs. Per
Crop - Phos J gen I ash Acre
Cotton 10 to 12 2 to 3 . . 600 to 800
Corn 10 to 12 3 to S . . 200 to 400
Small grain. 10 to 12 3 to S .. 200 to 400
Grasses .... 10 to 12 3 to 5 . . 200 to 400
Legumes ...I 16 1 , 200 to 300
Tobacco ... 8 3 to 4 3 to 4( 800 to 1000
acre than when the rate was doubled.
When the rate was doubled the pro
portionate increase in yield was much
less. In one soil region increasing the
application of kainit actually decreased
the yield of cotton, yet applied at the
rate of 100 pounds per acre it paid
quite anice profit. In one large region
one ton, $12 worth of kainit, applied
the rate of 100 pounds per acre.
One hundred pounds of kainit con
tains 12 pounds of potash (K20).The
above means that in general. the appli
cations 12 pounds of potash per acre
is profitable while a heavier applica
tion is likely to be much less profitable.
A very common commercial fertilizer
in the South is what is known as a
10-2-2. The potash results referred to
above would iridicate that so far as the
potash content is concerned one can
apply as much as 600 pounds per acre
under cotton with expectation of a rea-
It is usually assumed that a pound sonable profit, but,that higher applica
of nitrogen in cottonseed meal and a tions would be risky. The occasional
pound of nitrogen in nitrate of soda or man who wants to use more than 600
ammonium sulphate are of equal value pounds of fertilizer per acre had bet-
in producing crops. As a general thing, ter use a formula with less potash un-
this may be accepted as true. But un
published data developed by the Ala
bama Experiment Station shpw that
on soils of five out of the seven gen
eral soil divisions of the state, a pound
of nitrogen in cottonseed meal pro
duces more pounds of seed cotton than
a pound of nitrogen from nitrate of
soda. This might be explained by the
greater ease with which nitrate of
soda is leached from the soil. On one.
soil division the nitrogen from nitrate
of soda showed up slightlyv better than
that from cottonseed meal, while on
still another it made z remarkably
superior showing. But - when costs
were figured on the, basis of $40 per
ton for prreal and $60 per ton for nitrate
of soda, it was found that $1 invested
in nitrate of soda made more pounds of
cotton in every division but - two than
did the cottonseed meal. One of these
two divisions, unfavorable to nitrate oi
soda, the black belt, showed no profit
from the use of nitrogenous fertilizers.
One-small soil division in : the extreme
northwest section,of the state showed
so much greater benefit from the use
of cottonsed meal as a Source of -nitrogen
that that source proved more
profitable, at $40 per ton than nitrate of
soda at $60. In this case, the most ex
pensive source of nitrogen proved to
be most profitable. JBut this"is lepntrary
to the rule; and it probably : would be
well fbi?: each farmer iWho?oes?not
know for certain ' that this is r true on
his farm to fuse the cheaper spuHe;!::'
less he knows that-the larger amounts
of potash pay on his soil.
The fertilizer problem of the entire
South is not necessarily the same as
that of Alabama. But the general soil
divisions of Alabama are much the
same as general soil types in other
states.
For specific recommendations turn
to page 27 of the Reference Special
aid read, "Fertilizer Formulas for
North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Virginia' For your convenience we
reprint the following parts of that
article.
"If d soil is rich in humus or organic mat-"
ter is bifh naturally, or has been made high
oarison for a number of years. In the
meantime -each farmer will have to use
his own judgment as to whether to
apply his nitrate of soda, sulphate of
ammonia, or nitrate of lime at or just
before time of planting, or when the
crop is up and ready to begin rather
extensive feeding. Bear in mind that
late applications do not pay.
Top Dressing Grains
MOST good farmers now know that
top dressing wheat and oats with
nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia
in early Mareh pays. There is reason
to believe that nitrate of 4! me will do
equally a$ well. Apply these fertili
zers broadcast over the growing grain.
Use from 100 to 200 pounds per acre,
unless the soil is already rich in nitro
gen. How to Apply Fertilizers
SOME people in preparing for cotton
open up a deep furrow, distribute
the fertilizers in: the bottom, throw up
a high bed over it, and plant. It is
doubtful if this is best under boll wee
vil conditions. The plant roots can
hardly get to the fertilizer in time to
get the early push-off they need if they
are to beat the boll weevil. Others use
the one-horse fertilizer distributor to
lay off the rows. This usually puts the
fertilizer in a rather shallow furrow
over which a low bed is thrown. Un-
i A r--rAiirn c ""Miirp nlant
ttr. ing on high beds, this method is proba-
ctevsrtv-then nitrogen may be entirely left jjjy better than the first mentioned.
mtoJnt"Certain,,r dttCd w Still others bed their land early and
"por" ordinary soils in the Carolina? and apply the fertflizer at the time the cot-
Virginia, however, the following pr similar ton IS planted. To do this they use
mixtares are recommended for application m . . with a fertilizer attachment,
the drill at planting: H
THfi BUSINESS FARMER'S CALENDAR: THINGS TO DO THIS
WEEK AND NEXT
r 5. Early-batched pullets make the
best layers . next winter. If you
haven't an incubator watch for hens
that want to set and keep them
busy. , . ; " , -. ' '
PUSH the spring plowing every
day the land can be worked.
2. Push the so wing of spring oats
until the required acreage is planted.
3. Sow alfalfa, . red xlorer, y and
les?eieza on the: spils suited to each.
4JUt th Coastal PlabViregMm sow
-carpet ass;5pallwgTassar4;!e'sr:
nlP79 nn moist soils for permanent
6. Two, dozen or , more , H1 of
weseth! should be planted in tVe
fardel jTiht ; tow. if t they are not
lreadyV plaftf eL eetbe Jist innr
Garden ahd Orchard Cblumn.'page 7.
Acid phosphate and potash do not
always pay under corn. On some
classes of soils both pay, but on others
which make up a considerable part of
the farm land of the South it is ex
ceedingly doubtful if one or the other
or both will pay. The only safe guide
is your state experiment station which
undoubtedly has worked out the re
quirements for most general crops.
Feeding Hogs Economically
IN A test conducted recently by the
Missouri Experiment Station, hogs
gained 32.6 per cent faster on corn and
tankage than on corn alone. With corn
selling at 75 cents per bushel, one ton
of tankage saved $126 worthof corn.
On the basis of 60-cent corn, the tank
age was worth $100.80 per ton. The
profit to the farmer in feeding the
tankage would be the difference be
tween the above values, based on the
price of corn, and the actual cost of the
tankage. VVith a corn ration it is a,
question of whether a farmer can af
ford not to feed a supplement.
Speaking broadly, tankage and fish
meal are considered equal; skim milk
and buttermilk are equal in value and
whey is about one-half the value per
100 pounds of either of the above
named dairy by-products. In com
paring skim milk and tankage, feeding
tests have shown that nine pounds of
the former are equal to one pound of
tankage. What supplement to use
will depend upon the price and what is.
available. G. C. HERRING.
Animal Industry Department,
Virginia Experiment "Station.
Bon Weevil Means End of Old
Credit System
WE MUST realize that the destructive
and iniquitous "credit system" is a
thing of the past, and that henceforth
we will be on a constructive and help-
0 m tir . a a 1 a.
lui casn Dasis. vve musi at once aaapi
ourselves to our changed conditions.
WUI UCUil sjrsiciii kaujtu uj ivj
live in the future on what we hoped to
have and ahead of our time. The gap
caused by the change from living ahead
to the cash system is going , to be the
hardest-part for us to overcome. We
must practice the most rigid economy
and frugality until we accomplish this
We have lived 6 to 12 months ahead
of our stations. We have been riding
over a system or route which allowed its
to pay at the other end of the line and
some folks got off before the conductor
came around. We are now going to
travel on the pay-as-you-go line. That
is the only line in operation in Georgia,
Alabama, and Mississippi and it has
proved to be by far the best and. safest
line,- and makes the" surest connections
with the fewest. stop-overs. Everybody
- rides pays full fare ; no free passes ;
and the honest traveler does not have to
pay for the, rides ot the deaddeats, it-
son, President of-the Bank ot Darling-'
! foi DrKhgioVsQ, ...v. "r)y
Dasturev
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