By JOHN R. SPiNCER 



When limestone was added to manure 

 treatment on the Toledo experimental field 

 in Cumberland county increases in yield of 

 crops ran/jed from }5 to 300 per cent. The 

 average increase per acre on 25 corn crops 

 was 12 bushels, on 25 oat crops was 12 

 bushels, on 22 wheat crops 11 bushels and 

 on 24 hay crops 1.1 tons. The highest 

 yields per acre in this period was with a 

 complete treatment of residues, lime, rock 

 phosphate and potash. ..:.-.■ ••. •; s. 



The increase in use of rock |>hosphate for 



direct soil application in states adjoining Il- 

 linois has been interesting in that farmers 

 apparently have been "looking over the 

 fence" at results. Missouri used 1}47, Wis- 

 consin 2420, Kentucky 4854, Iowa 6025 and 

 Indiana 13,065 tons last year. Iowa's usage 

 doubled that of 1943 with the comparative 

 figures of 1973 to 3S>05 tons for rock phos- 

 phate (the figures above include 2120 tons 

 of colloidal phosphate). Indiana's usage in- 

 creased from 6081 tons in 1943 to 13068 last 

 year. Illinois' total for 1944 usage was 218,- 

 992 tons — the largest amount ever applied. 



A price increase of 10 cents a ton at the 

 mines level, for Tennessee phosphate rock 

 effective Feb. 17 was absorbed by manufac- 

 turers. Furthermore distributors who buy 

 finely ground phosphate rock (for direct soil 

 application) will absorb the price increase 

 and continue selling to farmers at present 

 prices, OPA said. 



"Com plants grow best in well drained 

 and aerated soils. They cannot endure wet 

 soils for any length of time and cannot get 

 along without plenty of oxygen for their 

 hard working root system. Few of us realize 

 the amount of work which the roots of corn 

 plants perform. They must anchor the plants 

 firmly and must absorb mineral nutrients in 

 abundant amounts to supf>ort the demands of 

 the above ground sun-lighted parts of the 

 plant." — G. N. Hoffer. 



A total of 30 limestone quarries were sam- 

 pled and resampled during the month. The 

 campaign against coarse limestone continues 

 vith better material being found during May 

 in that 18 out of 24 quarry test reports re- 

 ceived to date show a satisfactory fineness of 

 80 per cent or more passing an 8 mesh 

 screen. Those producing coarse material are 

 advised along with suggestions for finer 

 grinding and later will be resampled. 



On most cultivated land nitrogen scar- 

 city is a bottleneck in the production of high 

 yields of corn and grain, states L. B. Miller, 

 assistant chief, soil experiment fields. Uni- 

 versity of Illinois College of Agriculture. 

 Legumes, like alfalfa and clovers, are com- 

 monly used to restore nitrogen supplies. Ni- 

 trogen-fixing bacteria live on the roots of 

 such plants and perform their miracle of 

 transforming atmospheric nitrogen to a 

 form that can be used by plants. 



JULY-AUGUST. 1945 ^ ' 



Farm Bureau Soil Testing Labs Say ; 



^/mm 



^ 



\\\i// 



A majority of the toil tests performed in the 40 Form 

 Bureau soil testing laboratories throughout the state 

 show a definite need for potash. 



The University has long recommended the use of 

 straight potash to replenish the soils which ore lew in 

 this important element. ':,■-- x^' '■- ■''■■^" I':' . 



/IfOW. 



^/M\V^ 



Wi/tgtifef it/ 



Although the total potash production has not been in- 

 creased, a very substantial quantity of Muriate of 

 potash has just been made available for direct appli- 

 cation to Illinois soils. 



We now have Muriate of potash for you ready for ship- 

 ment direct from potash mines to your county. In fact, 

 several cars are now in transit to various sections of 

 the state. 



ON PRE-SEASON DELIVERY 



Substantial savings may be made by farmers 

 who order early. Potash is produced in fairly 

 •qual monthly quantities which must be either 

 shipped or stored. Commercial storage is costly 

 and raises the price. Save money by ordering 

 your year's requirement now for storage on 

 your farm. This material is granular — it can be 

 "' kept in good condition. 



If you don't know your soil needs, see your Farm Adviser. If your soil 

 tests show a need for potash, see your Authorized Farm Bureau Plant 

 Food Distributor in your county. 



ILLINOIS FARM SUPPLY COMPANY 



608 S. DEARBORN ST. • CHICAGO 5, ILLINOIS 



