1906. 
TALKS ABOUT FERTILIZERS. 
Potash Needed for Corn 
J. R. Greens!) urn, Pa .—What is deficient in 
soil that does not properly mature a crop of 
corn? The land is a clay loam, and had been 
in grass three years; received a top-dressing 
of stable manure before being plowed for 
corn. The corn was planted about May 25; 
was in roasting ear September 1 ; October 1 
the corn had not matured, though the blades 
and husks were dead. A good crop was har¬ 
vested, much of which did not cure in the 
shock or in the crib. A previous crop of corn 
on this field somb years ago, failed to ma¬ 
ture in like manner; this defect was then at¬ 
tributed to the hot weather in September and 
to the seed. I am now satisfied the trouble 
is with the soil; similar eonditions have heed 
observed elsewhere when corn followed corn. 
A ns. —About all one can do is to guess 
at the trouble. Our gtiesd is that the 
soil lacks potash and phosphoric acid—the 
former most. We should use at least 
150 pounds muriate of potash and 300 
pounds acid phosphate per acre broad¬ 
cast. We have had trees that refused 
to mature their wood or utilize manure 
properly until potash was used around 
them. 
A Bargain in Wood Ashes. 
B. F. V., Elkins, W. Va .—I have a small 
farm of 20 acres, level land, which is low in 
potash. I can get hard-wood ashes delivered 
on my land for $3 per ton. Will this pay me 
to have it done? About how much potash is 
there in a ton of hard-wood ashes, and how 
much in a ton of good lime? 
A ns. —If we had such a chance we 
should get out at once and haul those 
ashes before anyone else could get them. 
Good unleached ashes contain 100 pounds 
of potash, about 40 of phosphoric acid 
and 600 pounds of lime to the ton. The 
potash and phosphoric acid are worth 
about five cents a pound. Lime contains 
no potash except some forms of marl, 
which have a small amount. If the ashes 
are spread out in a thin layer where the 
rain has soaked through they are not 
worth so much, as some potash has 
leached out. In that case we would 
scrape up several inches of soil. You 
can safely put 3,000 pounds per acre on all 
soil except where potatoes are planted. 
S ubsoil Plowing; Fertilizer. 
P. O., Dayton, O .—What is your opinion 
on using fertilizer, as I and my father gen¬ 
erally use it? Last Fall a year ago we 
plowed up our wheat stubbles, and the plow 
would go so deep and no deeper. One could 
raise up the handles and it appeared as 
though it was running on a board. 
Ans. —We have known such soil. It 
is packed hard just below the point of 
the plow. It needs subsoiling or working 
with a tool known as a subsoil plow. 
This is a small plow with a double mold- 
board something like your two hands 
held together at the thumbs and spread 
out below. It is fitted to run deep in 
the ground—below the turning plow. It 
does not turn a furrow over, but breaks 
or smashes up the hardpan, opening the 
soil so that air and water can work in. 
Of course this subsoil plow is run alone— 
after the turning plow—and thus makes 
double work. On the kind of soil you 
mention this subsoiling is a great help. 
The judicious use of fertilizers is good 
farming. Where one has plenty of ma¬ 
nure it may not pay to buy them, though 
we have found it profitable to use potash 
and acid phosphate in addition to the 
manure. It requires some skill and study 
to learn how to use fertilizers to best 
advantage. Most failures with them re¬ 
sult from not using enough, or using 
mixtures that are too low in nitrogen. 
Farming with Green Manures. 
E. W. F., Martinsburg, W. Va .—I have 
about three acres of ground—clay and sand 
mixed 1 —which has been in corn for several 
years. I wish to improve this land by green 
manure. What crop shall I plant? Can I 
sow oats this Spring and plow under, then 
sow to' buckwheat and plow that under in 
the Fall in time for a crop of rye? 
Ans. —From our own experience we 
advise the following: Sow oats and Can¬ 
adian field peas together as early as pos¬ 
sible. Plow under three pecks of peas 
per acre and sow three bushels of oats 
on the furrows—harrowing in. Plow un¬ 
der when in the “milk” stage or cut and 
cure for hay and plow under the stubble. 
Sow five pecks per acre broadcast of 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
155 
Wonderful cow peas, working under with 
the harrow. At the time for seeding to 
rye plow under the cow pea vines and 
seed to the grain. We should use 1,200 
pounds or more of air-slaked lime per 
acre after plowing under the cow peas. 
Soda Ash vs. Potash. 
A. A. IK., Granby, Que .—Plbase advise me 
whether concentrated soda ash could be used 
to advantage, as a fertilizer is needed to 
supply potash, as on clover or grass lands? 
Ans. —The soda ash will not take the 
place of potash. It was claimed for some 
years that the soda wofild answer, but 
experiments have not demonstrated the 
fact. The ash niay serve to sweeten the 
soil — somewhat like lime — and thus 
help the crop, but it will not do the work 
in plant economy which potash does. 
Gas Lime as Fertilizer. 
W. H. L., Nevada. Mo .—Will spent lime 
from the gas works be of any benefit to land 
that needs liming? The lime is used in fil¬ 
tering the gas, as if comes from the coal. I 
can get it for 10 cents per load of one ton, 
while fresh unslaked lime bought at the lum¬ 
ber yards costs 00 cents per bushel. Some of 
the gas lime is as white as originally, and 
some of it about the color of sulphur. 
Ans. —The lime in gas lime will bene¬ 
fit the soil, but you must be careful about 
using it fresh from the gas works. It 
is mixed with impurities from the gas, 
which will injure the soil. When spread 
out and exposed to the weather these 
poisonous matters are made harmless— 
then the gas lime may be used. Keep it 
exposed for at least four months before 
working into the soil. 
Fertilizer for Alfalfa. 
./. M. R., McMinnville, Term. —Is there a 
commercial fertilizer that will benefit Alfalfa, 
clover and Red-top grass as a top-dressing? 
If so, what kind and how much per acre, and 
what time should it be applied? Would wood 
ashes benefit it as a top-dressing, and how 
much per acre? 
Ans. —Wood ashes will be excellent for 
the clover and the Alfalfa. We should 
use one ton at least to the acre. In 
place of the wood ashes a mixture of 
three parts acid phosphate to one part of 
muriate of potash will answer. We 
should use at least 400 pounds of the mix¬ 
ture per acre. On strong land the clover 
and Alfalfa will not need nitrogen, which 
is not provided in the ashes or the fer¬ 
tilizer mentioned. The Red-top will 
need nitrogen in some form. With you 
probably the best form will be tankage 
or cotton-seed meal—200 pounds per acre. 
Make Plowing Easy 
By 
Using 
Wonder 
Plow 
Trucks. 
This truck will fit any beam, 
right or left, one or two horse, 
wood or steel plow. A boy can 
handle it with ease, most of the 
time without his hand on the ^ 
plow. Regulates perfectly 
depth and width of furrow. Will balance plow in 
hard, dry, stony soil, and save a third of draft on 
iiorses. The plowman does not need to hold plow 
handles. Works perfectly in tall grass or weeds, 
turning them completely under. Thousands in use. 
If it does not do all of these things, you can 
send it back and we will not only return your 
money but pay the freight both ways. 
Write for our booklet “Progress in Plowing.” Agents wanted 
every where. Retail price $5. Get special agents proposition. 
Wonder Plow Co., 327Factory St., St. Clair. Mich 
PLANT CORN 
Peas, Beans, Beets, 
' Buckwheat, etc. 
Plant 
and Far- 
tilize 
at 
same 
time. 
“KING CORN FIELD” 
marks out rows and plantain drills or hills 4H, 9,12. 
18, 24, 36 or 72 inches upart. Corn and any other seed 
atsame time. Distributes all commercial fertilizers, 
wet, dry, lumpy, etc., 25 to 700 lbs. per acre. A great 
labor and time saver. Built to last. Full guarantee. 
Agents wanted. Send for Catalog. 
Belcber & Taylor A* T. Co., 
Box 75 Chicopee Falls, Mass. 
'tXl7LZ 0sperky; vve pife 
y d «wn from 00^2 ' 7 riches ate )ar j! 
^ virgin soil; and when th resour «*> chiefly 
West as in the E ^ is exhausted i„ 
md.cates that we shall be al e d ° ? ^nce 
where we now c ‘ 5 to Sll PPort several 
-11 be dl e ™lZ P r h ° ne 
UC 1 science has developed man ures 
Professor Stochbrido-ewL ;. J hlrt Y ye ars 
poss.hle for the eastern farmer ° rmU ' aS made '* 
ManunTb 01 d° f ‘ he West - T leTZTu W ' th 
he Iead fo -- Pi-oducW tit formu,as > still hoTd 
corn and grass on worlZ f, T PS ° l Potatoes 
Mr - Duffy, of West n t at Sma]i cost. 
brid ° f 35 tons of ensiJag/corn^p ^ atthe 
. bnd ? e - stoood 15 feet k- e . raCre0nSt °cL 
nSP ' r,n 8 si Sht, showing what s! ^ Was a " 
Send for m u t c Sc Jence Can do 
DtHU i,m 2 C “ a ' og “ 
Try It at My Expense 
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