FERTILIZERS. t)t> 



we plant, varying the kind of crop each season, so that 

 each element in turn will be necessary, and thus, in the 

 course of three years, each will have been applied. I un- 

 derstand he holds, that, by this system of manuring, we 

 may continue indefinitely to raise crops, using yearly not 

 more than a single element for each. 



The two theories that are especially advocated in our 

 day are what may be called the Stockbridge and the anti- 

 Stockbridge. The professor gave a great impulse to the 

 use of fertilizers when he laid his theory before the pub- 

 lic. It had in it a fascinating simplicity, and seemed to 

 present a short cut to success in farming. As tersely 

 stated, in its most advanced form, by the company who 

 are authorized to compound the formulas that bear his 

 name, it is, " To feed plants those elements found by 

 analysis to enter into their composition, and which they 

 do not obtain from the soil or air in sufficient quantity ; 

 to feed the plant rather than the soil, and, in the feeding 

 of the plant, to select those forms of plant-food which 

 experience has shown are best adapted to produce perfect 

 growth." The objections of those who do not believe in 

 formulas for different crops are, in brief, that the formu- 

 las are not constant, having varied in the course of four 

 years, that for corn, from 4.7 to 6.2 for nitrogen, 3.8 to 

 7.2 for phosphoric acid, and 6.2 to 7 for potash ; in that 

 for the potato, from 3 to 4.4 in nitrogen, from 3.8 to 

 7 in phosphoric acid, and from 4.9 to 10.2 in potash; 

 while in that for onions, the variation was from 3.1 to 3.9 

 in nitrogen, 5.3 to 6.4 in phosphoric acid, and 7.9 to 8.3 

 in potash. In studying the tables of differences, it is well 

 to bear in mind the remark of the distinguished Professor 

 Voelcker : " Before a manure can be obtained that is spe- 

 cially adapted to particular soils or crops, it is necessary 

 that enterprising and intelligent men incu? heavy expense, 



