COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS 



D. P. Witter 

 Farmers' Institute Conductor 



The term " commercial fertilizer " as used in this article applies 

 only to those elements of plant food sold in the market. It may 

 mean a direct plant food or an amendment which is only indi- 

 rectly beneficial to plants. Fertilizers in the form of manures 

 will not be considered. 



Only in exceptional cases can a permanent and successful agri- 

 culture be maintained l)v the use of commercial fertilizers alone. 

 From the standpoint of a broad, national policy the fertility of 

 the land must be perpetuated through cultivation and the use of the 

 natural forces of soil and air. 



The general farmer would have but little use for commercial fer- 

 tilizers if he would give the land sufficient cultivation ; would prac- 

 tice a short rotation and the growing of clovers and other legumi- 

 nous plants; would keep the supply of organic matter in the soil 

 up to the per cent, found in it when taken from the hand of 

 nature and Avould provide drainage for wet lands. These 

 methods practiced, he could grow maximum crops without the 

 purchase of plant food. 



We find most of our farm lands far from l)eing in the condition 

 above mentioned. The organic matter has been generally de- 

 pleted, drainage is badly needed on a majority of our lands, and 

 as a result they have become sour ; and the latent plant food is not 

 made available as fast as is needed for profitable crop production. 

 To relieve this bad condition farmers have resorted to commercial 

 fertilizers, to a considerable extent, for their supply of plant food. 



The wise farmer will consider himself only as a steward. He 

 will recognize the fact that he has no right to so handle his land 

 that future generations cannot long survive, and he will adopt a 

 system of farm management which will maintain the fertility of 

 the soil on a basis which will endure for all time. To accomplish 

 this, these five things are required, drainage of all wet lands, deep 

 ^nd thorough cultivation, a sufficient supply of organic matter \n 



[1691] 



