THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
i89o 
261 
GREAT VALUE OF SOLUBLE PHOS 
PHORIC ACID. 
W. L. SNYDER. 
The old idea that it was economy to use 
those kinds of manures that made them¬ 
selves felt through a long series of years, is 
now quite generally acknowledged to be an 
error. The active wide-awake farmer of 
to-day wishes to get back not only the 
interest on money he has invested in fer¬ 
tilizers, but the principal also in the short¬ 
est space of time. With this end in view, 
he will apply as little fertilizer as possible, 
in excess of that required by the particular 
crop to which the fertilizer is applied, and 
he will also use that kind of fertilizer which 
contains the elements of plant food in the 
most available form for the immediate use 
of the crop. He will not be misled by fer¬ 
tilizer agents claiming great advantages 
for their fertilizers through many years, 
pointing with pride to tables of analysis 
containing a high per cent, of insoluble 
plant food such as insoluble phosphoric 
acid, etc., which is to become available 
slowly, for this farmer knows that such 
plant food is liable to change in a series of 
years to forms in which it will be accessi¬ 
ble to no crop, or it may pass beyond the 
reach of the plant and be lost entirely, or, 
still again, the future crop may be one that 
will derive but little benefit from that par¬ 
ticular kind of plant food. 
Most experiment stations and agricul¬ 
tural chemists assign an equal value as 
available plant food, to what is known as 
soluble phosphoric acid and reverted phos¬ 
phoric acid, and they undoubtedly are of 
equal value so far as plant food is con¬ 
cerned, for the former does and must 
change to the latter before the plant gets 
hold of it; but there is an advantage in 
favor of the former when we take into con¬ 
sideration the matter of placing the two 
forms in the soil, where the roots of the 
plants will find the food. What is called 
soluble phosphoric acid does not exist in 
the fertilizer as free acid; but each mole¬ 
cule of acid is combined with one molecule 
of calcium oxide, or what is commonly 
called lime, and two molecules of water; 
it is in reality soluble phosphate of lime 
and readily dissolves in water. 
When this soluble phosphate is applied 
to the soil the moisture of the earth dis¬ 
solves it and when thus in solution it passes 
out through the soil in all directions from 
around the spot where each little particle 
of it has lodged; and this process of rad¬ 
iating out, so to speak, through the soil 
may go on for a number of hours or until 
it comes in contact with enough lime in 
the soil to take up another molecule of 
lime, then it forms a minute crystal con¬ 
taining two molecules of lime, one of 
water, and one of phosphoric acid. It has 
then die same composition as the reverted 
phosphoric acid named above, and will not 
be further dissolved by water. It is re¬ 
verted phosphoric acid only it has reverted 
in the soil; and if the soil could be ex¬ 
amined with a microscope these little crys¬ 
tals would be found all through it, even in 
the lumps of earth; and a plant root would 
be almost sure to find some of them which 
the root sap or juice in some way knows 
how to dissolve, and their substance soon 
finds its way to the top of the plant where 
it will aid in building up tissue and fruit. 
Roots of plants, if they came in contact 
with it, would also readily dissolve the 
phosphoric acid that had reverted or re¬ 
crystallized out of the soil; but the great 
difficulty lies in placing these crystals 
evenly all through the soil so that the 
plant roots would be as apt to find them as 
they would those that nad formed or re¬ 
verted in the soil from the soluble phos¬ 
phoric acid. If you sow soluble phosphate 
of lime Dame Nature will look after the 
distribution of the product, while if re¬ 
verted phosphate of lime is sown, the 
farmer must, by mechanical means, do the 
distributing, and it is useless to say that 
Dame Nature will always come out far 
ahead in such a contest. The wise farmer 
will always shirk a task that he can coax 
Nature to do for him. 
To repeat somewhat, yet to make this one 
point in reference, to the value of soluble 
phosphoric acid plain, I will use a some 
what imperfect illustration: Suppose a 
shower of rain-water falls on the soil; in a 
short time this soaks all through the soil to 
quite a considerable depth, then suppose the 
temperature of the atmosphere to fall, and 
the water that has thus fallen and passed 
through the soil to be frozen ; all through 
the soil, you would find small ice or frost 
crystals, and so long as the water remained 
frozen it would be fixed and would not pass 
further into the soil. Thus soluble phos¬ 
phate when sown on the soil, especially if 
worked in a little when the soil is moist, 
soon passes out through the soil, until, in a 
short time, crystals are formed that fix it 
in the soil. These crystals will form 
whether the temperature falls or not. In 
the case of the rain-water the crystals may 
be quite large and are formed by a mechan¬ 
ical operation simply; there is no chemical 
change; the ice crystals are of the same 
composition as the water from which they 
were formed, and when the ground warms 
up, they will change back to water and 
may then further pass through the soil, 
while with the soluble phosphate the crys¬ 
tals formed by reverting are exceedingly 
minute, are formed by a' chemical change 
that goes with the formation of the crys¬ 
tals, and the composition of these crystals 
is different from that of the soluble phos¬ 
phate from which they were formed; they 
will not melt by any rise of temperature of 
the soil, nor will they be dissolved by 
water; they will remain in the soil until 
one season’s crop, at least, will have a 
chance to find them. 
I have thus spoken somewhat at length 
of the value of soluble phosphoric acid, 1, 
because I believe that the beneficial results 
of commercial fertilizers come largely from 
this product; 2, because the operation of 
rendering insoluble rock and bone phos¬ 
phates soluble is quite an expensive as well 
as an unpleasant one, especially where 
suitable appliances are not at hand; 3, be¬ 
cause I believe that many fertilizer compa¬ 
nies might, at a slightly increased cost, 
render their products of considerable more 
value; 4, because there is little or none of 
this kind of fertilizing element in any 
kinds of manures or fertilizers other than 
superphosphates; and, finally, because I 
believe that in buying fertilizers farmers 
will do well to secure those having a high 
per cent, of soluble phosphoric acid while 
containing also a considerable amount of 
nitrogen and potash. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Indiana. 
Rockville, Parke County,. April 2.— 
After a careful inspection I think our 
fruit is all sure to give a very good crop, 
except the Keiffer Pear, on which all the 
fruit buds are completely destroyed, while 
the leaf buds are so badly damaged that I 
fear many will succumb. The Keiffer has 
promised so well with us that I regret very 
much to see this new fault—too early swell¬ 
ing of the buds on the opening of spring. 
Our wheat was almost jointing early in 
March, and it was feared that the cold had 
destroyed or at least seriously injured it; 
but now the prospect is much better, and 
it begins to look well. Oats are now being 
sown and farmers are busy. The winter 
of ’89 and ’90 was the warmest ever known 
in this State, the mean temperature having 
been 40 degrees; the average mean for win¬ 
ter being 81. s. C. B. 
Iowa. 
Des Moines, Polk County, March 29.— 
We are nearing the close of winter and a 
peculiar winter it has been. January and 
February were almost like nice fall months; 
March has been really winter. The ground 
is now frozen and covered with snow. We 
have had a few nice days in this month 
which led farmers to believe that spring 
had come, and a few had commenced farm 
operations, breaking stalks and getting 
tools in readiness; but not a furrow has 
been plowed or a seed sown so far as I 
know among farmers. Some gardeners 
have sown peas, radishes and spinach which 
are now frozen in. The season will be a 
full month behind the last one, as seeding 
commenced here on March 12, last year. 
We have had an unusual amount of sick¬ 
ness this winter including La Grippe 
and various forms of severe colds. The 
school attendance has been very light. 
Business has been very dull all winter; 
but with the approach of spring things have 
begun to revive and prices of farm produce 
to improve. Potatoes which were a drug 
all winter at 12 to 15 cents now bring 25 
cents and car loads will be shipped from 
here as fast as the weather will permit. 
Potatoes kept well, and as there was no 
fall market the country is full of them. A 
great many are of poor quality and will 
not find a market at any price. The pros¬ 
pect now is that but few potatoes will be 
plauted in this section this season. Some 
of our largest growers have “ quit.” There 
is no demand at all for seed potatoes. 
There is a good supply of corn, oats and 
hay in the country and prices are low. Cat¬ 
tle have lived nearly entirely on the stalk 
fields this winter. Hogs are about the only 
thing that will sell for their worth. Our 
present legislature enlarged the boundar¬ 
ies of our city and now we have an imag¬ 
inary or “ paper city ” of 7 by 9 miles in ex¬ 
tent with streets and highways just as 
muddy|and impassable as they were before. 
All our city officers are to be elected on 
April 7, and as the city has been redistricted 
and the new addition comprises a large ag¬ 
ricultural area with lots of farmers to vote 
for city officers, some of the old lobbyists 
may have good reasons for shaking in their 
boots, for there is no telling what the re¬ 
sult will be. Farmers ar6 very indignant 
at being forced into an imaginary city con¬ 
trary to their will. Politicians seem to 
have full sway and pursue their own course 
regardless of the wishes of the people. 
F. s. w. 
Kansas. 
Garnett, Anderson County, April 5.— 
We are having a very cold and backward 
spring. Oats were sowed from March 10 to 
15. Since then a good deal of flax has been 
sowed. Last Sunday rain commenced fall¬ 
ing and turned to snow before night. 
Tuesday and Wednesday we had another 
cold rain. Feed is plentiful and cattle are 
wintering well. About one-third of the 
corn crop is still in the farmers’ hands. 
Com is worth 16 cents per bushel at the 
railroad. Flax cleaned in good shape for 
sowing is worth $1.60 per bushel; hogs, 
$3.75 per 100 pounds; butter, 10 cents per 
pound ; eggs, 8% cents per dozen ; farm 
wages, $16 to $20 per month with board ; 
$22 to $26 without board. Self-boarders 
generally are given a house and garden 
free. Farm land rents for $2 per acre cash 
and one-third of the corn in the crib or one- 
third of the small grain in the half-bushel. 
A good deal of land is still offered for rent 
on these terms. s. E. 
New York. 
Delhi, Delaware County.—Raspberries, 
owing to the mild winter in this section, 
have wintered nicely. One year ago I lost 
quite a large per cent, of the best and most 
thrifty bushes. I supposed them to have 
been frozen as they were dead and ready to 
be taken out. I had a fine lot of tips, 
however, which enabled me to fill their 
places. As far as observed, there was not 
a failure. My own bed of strawber¬ 
ries and others, as far as heard from, 
promise an abundant crop. Fruit trees are 
all looking well. This section was favored 
the past season with a fine crop of apples. 
There were considerable shipments of the 
fruit during the fall and early winter to 
the western part of the State. Northern 
Pedigree Corn sent out by the Rural three 
or four years ago combines all the quali¬ 
ties that make an early dwarf corn 
valuable. It is very sweet and gives a 
good yield. Of all the varieties of corn 
planted in my garden there was none of 
which I thought more highly. My plan 
was to plant quite thickly as soon as the 
ground was sufficiently dry and warm, put¬ 
ting four kernels in a hill, two feet apart 
each way. Every kernel germinated. Some 
of the stalks were 3K feet high when ma¬ 
tured, and each produced two good ears. 
The Early Minnesota planted at the same 
time was two to three weeks later. I pro¬ 
nounce the Pedigree the best early variety 
I have tested. g. c. s. 
Elba, Genesee County, April 3.—We are 
beginning to have some warm weather 
now. Farmers are drawing out manure, 
fixing fences and doing other odd jobs. 
Beans and potatoes will be planted exten¬ 
sively this spring, None hereabouts uses 
the trench system for potatoes. Sheep are 
in demand at good prices. Some farmers 
are going into the milk business. They will 
ship to Buffalo and Rochester and receive 
from eight to 11 cents per gallon. This 
looks like a small price, but it is the same 
with everything else. The milk dealer 
says: “You take what I give you or go 
without.” Hay is selling at $7 to $9 per 
ton; red beans, $3.50 per bushel; potatoes, 
50 cents; eggs, 14 cents per dozen; butter, 
20 cents per pound; onions, $1.35 per 
bushel; horses, $100 to $150; wheat, 80 
cents; oats, 26 cents. c. F. 
Ohio. 
LAURELVILLE, Hocking County, April 2. 
On examining my fruit trees last week I 
found the Bartlett Pears all killed; peaches 
and Early Richmond Cherries as well as 
other early varieties are all black. I 
find three-quarters of the Montmorency all 
right. I am still hopeful as I grow more 
Baldwin Apples than any other kind; they 
stand at the head of the list of apples by a 
big odds here, as do the Bartletts in the 
pear list. I have not looked at my rasp¬ 
berries or blackberries. I am more partial to 
the latter. My strawberries look bad. We 
shall miss the peaches, cherries and pears 
in our family, as they are quite important 
items on our table as well as an item of 
profit. I shall have to grow more potatoes. 
G. S. 
Rhode Island. 
Block Island, Newport County, April 
4.—Block Island lies in the bleak Atlantic 
seven miles from the nearest land; its sur¬ 
face is hilly but not rocky, and abounds in 
many small ponds; the soil is light but 
fairly productive. Farming has changed 
here very much in the last 10 years. Wages 
have nearly doubled and nowhere is the 
dismal dirge; “Farmin’ don’t pay” more 
common than here. It doesn’t pay where the 
old methods are in vogue. The farms here 
contain from 50 to 100 acres. Rotation of 
crops and general farming are practiced. 
I am 25 years old and have improved my 
father’s farm of about 100 acres in three 
years. I plant yearly about 10 acres, leav¬ 
ing 50 in meadow and the remainder in 
pasture. For corn I spread sea-weed in 
the fall and plow in the spring, putting in 
my corn in May. For potatoes I use a 
manure composed of the finest winter sea¬ 
weed and stable manure thoroughly mixed 
and pulverized together and placed in the 
drill above the seed. Some use patent fer¬ 
tilizers ; but I get better results from the 
compost. I use fertilizers and hen man¬ 
ure mixed with coal ashes or earth, on 
sweet corn and garden truck for the sum¬ 
mer trade. We do our team work mostly 
with oxen (two heavy yoke) but have a 
span of light horses for some of the work. 
We have sometimes 10 cows and sell the 
milk during the summer season at the 
hotels. The stock is mostly native crossed 
with the Holstein and Ayrshire. A few 
Jerseys are here; but they are too tender 
for our bleak climate. Our 25 sheep are of 
South Down and Cotswold blood, and early 
lambs find a ready market at six to seven 
cents per pound. We have two barns, each 
25 by 36 feet which will hold all our stock, 
sheep, tools, etc., and about 40 tons of hay. 
The past was rather a poor year for farmers 
here; but I am not discouraged, for by 
taking great pains I shall endeavor to 
“ prepare for the worst, hope for the best, 
and expect whatever may come.” 
ISLANDER. 
IttisrcUantous gMvrrtteing. 
Please mention R. N.-Y. to our adver¬ 
tisers. 
The soft, velvety coloring effect so desirable for 
house exteriors can only be produced and perma 
neutly held by the use of 
CABOT’S CKEOSOTE SHINGLE STAINS. 
Illustrated Catalogue of Creosoted Houses 
with samples on wood, sent on application. 
Mention Rcbal New-Yorker. 
SAMUEL CABOT, Sole Manufacturer, 
70 Kilby Street, Boston, Mass. 
AGENTS WANTED FOR 
WILLIAMS’ GRINDER 
FOR MOWING MACHINE KNIVES. 
Introduced in 1SS9 proved a Great Success. Also for 
Wjlliams’Automatic Seed Sower 
A new invention—just ready. Descriptive 
Circulars sent free. The very liberal terms 
to agents given to the first applicant from 
any town where no agency is established. 
THE WILLIAMS BEOS. M’F’G CO., 
Naubuc, Harttord Co., Conn. 
$7 
AGENTS 
WANTED. 
PICKET FENCE MACHINE. 
No twisting of main wires; no sag to 
fence; pickets easily removed and re¬ 
placed. Write for prices aud circular to 
LANSING WHEELBARROW CO., 
Lansing, Michigan. 
TJOULTRY PAPER, 16 pages, 4 months for 10c 
IT Sample free. C. C. DkPUY, Syracuse. N. V 
The GARRETT PICKET & 
WIRE FENCE MACHINE 
Weaves to the posts. Best iu the 
world. Thousands in use. Guar¬ 
anteed. Freight paid. Ageuts 
are reporting big sales. Machines, 
Wire, etc., at wholesale direct to 
Farmers where 1 have no Agent. 
Catalogue free. Addresa the man¬ 
ufacturer, £. If. GARKETT* 
MANSFIELD, OHIO. 
