34 Fertilizers 



If these questions are answered truthfully and in 

 detail, a scheme of fertilization may be adopted that 

 will enable the farmer to secure the greatest returns for 

 the plant-food applied. 



That the returns from the use of fertilizers are fre- 

 quently unprofitable is not always the fault of the fer- 

 tilizer, and this point may be illustrated by the following 

 typical case: One farmer applies plant-food, his crop is 

 doubled or trebled, and a reasonable profit is secured. 

 Another farmer applies the same amount and kind of 

 fertilizer under similar natural conditions of soil, and he 

 receives no benefit. The same climatic conditions sur- 

 rounded the crops of both : the sun that warmed the soil 

 and furnished the energy necessary for the production of 

 the largely increased crop is the same sun that shone upon 

 the small crop ; the air that furnished a large proportion 

 of the food for the one is the same air that surrounded 

 the other; the rains that moistened and assisted in the 

 solution and circulation of plant-food for the one were 

 the same for the other. Why, then, the difference in 

 results? In one case the natural agencies, sun, air, 

 and water, were assisted and enabled to do their maximum 

 work, while in the other, they were prevented from exer- 

 cising their full influence. Physical conditions of soil 

 were imperfect, due to careless plowing, seeding, cultiva- 

 tion and cropping. 



In other words, the profit from the use of plant-food 

 is measured to a large degree by the perfection of soil 

 conditions, which are entirely within the power of the 

 farmer to control. The production possible from a defi- 

 nite amount of plant-food can be secured only when the 

 conditions are such as to permit its proper solution, 

 distribution and retention by the soil. 



