Important to any farm crop success is the wise use of manure, lime, 
and proper fertilizer. The thoughts below may be helpful. Contact your 
County Agent or State Extension Service for detailed fertilizerinformation. 
Pennsylvania Circular 208 sums up the primary 
functions of the three principal plant foods: 
NITROGEN stimulates early growth, especially in 
cold, wet seasons or on poor soil. Lack may be 
indicated by a yellow color. If applied liberally, 
tends to promote a rapid growth of rank, dark 
green stalk and leaf. May delay maturity some- 
what and increase the danger of grain lodging. 
PHOSPHORIC ACID has a very marked stimulating 
effect on early growth, particularly root growth. 
Promotes early maturity and uniform ripening. Im- 
portant in the formation of grain and seeds. Until 
it is supplied in adequate amounts, the other elements 
may bring little or no response. POTASH—Important 
in healthy, normal plant growth and in the forma- 
tion and quality of grain, seeds and tubers. Pro- 
motes growth of clovers. Severe potash shortage 
may cause weakness of straw or stalk. 
New Jersey Circular 475 points out that fertilizers 
must be placed properly for best results. 
Band placement close to the seeds, but a little to 
the side rather than directly beneath or in contact 
with seed, is excellent for most crops. Recently 
interest has developed in applying fertilizers broad- 
cast before plowing, and in dropping them on the 
furrow bottom at time of plowing. (Picture at right 
below shows this method in operation.) Both meth- 
ods give good results if soil is adequately limed. 
Broadcast application is the accepted method of 
top-dressing such close-growing crops as hay, pas- 
tures, small grains and young seedlings. 
N. J. Extension Specialists feel that with present 
prospective satisfactory prices for corn, a grower 
might well apply up to 1,000 Ibs. per acre of 7-7-7 
or 5-10-10 on unmanured land. 
Ohio—Extension Bulletin 231 recommends—order 
fertilizer early and accept delivery to the farm when- 
ever it’s available in the winter or early spring. 
Should be stored in dry building, preferably with 
wood floor—bags set on end in vertical position. 
New. York—Circular No. 168 contains interesting 
data on the rédle played by minor elements, such 
as zinc, iron, manganese, magnesium and boron. 
Cornell Extension Bulletin 662 gives detailed in- 
formation on fertilizing vegetables, including rates 
of application. 
Maryland-—Circular No. 143: For Improving Poor 
Pastures—8 to 10 tons manure and 300 to 500 lbs. 
superphosphate, after adequate liming. Repeat in 
two years if necessary. Improving Fair Pastures— 
On heavy soils drill superphosphate or 0-14-7, 300 
to 700 lbs. to acre. For lighter soil use 0-12-12. If 
the organic matter is deficient or legumes are absent, 
4-12-4 is advised. For Forcing Early Growth—200 to 
500 Ibs. of 5-10-5, 6-8-6 or 10-6-4 annually in the 
spring. 
Massachusetts recommends use of following 
maximum fertilizer amounts: 
On Legumes—800 Ibs. 0-10-20, 0-14-14, 4-12-16 
On Grasses—800 Ibs. 7-7-7 
Delaware recommends: 
Corn—On heavier soils, 3-12-6 at 200 to 400 lbs. 
per acre. On sandy soils, 200 to 400 Ibs. of 4-12-8. 
On heavier soils of low fertility it may be advisable 
to plow under 300 to 400 Ibs. 4-12-8. 10-12 tons 
manure per acre should be used where available. 
Spring Oats—4-12-8 at 300 to 400 Ibs. per acre. 
Fall seeded grain—On sandy soils, top dress late 
February or early March with 200 lbs. nitrate of 
soda or equivalent. Heavier soils of low fertility 
should also receive a spring top dressing at about 
three-fourths this rate. 
West Virginia—Circular W.S. 12 states that the 
fertilizer now being used there is less than one- 
fourth the amount needed for maximum production. 
Emphasizes that to use fertilizer efficiently, the soil 
must have the proper lime content. 
Connecticut Station suggests best use of manure 
will be secured by covering a large acreage and 
supplementing with commercial fertilizer. For in- 
stance, 6 tons of manure and 200 to 300 Ibs. 
sulfate of ammonia (or 300 Ibs. 10-10-10) will make 
an excellent treatment for grass meadows, and prob- 
ably produce more hay than 12 to 15 tons without 
fertilizer. 

