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This newspaper page contains 21 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Warren Mail
Location
Warren, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Apr 27, 1916
Page
6
The article explains how soil and crop conditions indicate fertilizer needs. It covers ammonia, phosphoric acid, and potash ratios for corn and hay, soil rotation, lime and drainage, and how sandy clay and peaty soils differ in nutrient availability. It stresses adjusting fertilizers to past treatments and crop indications.
The article argues for balanced fertilizer as essential to crop yields, stressing sun warmth and rain plus soil nutrients, seed quality, tilage, and timely actions. It notes farmers across dairying, stock feeding, poultry, egg production, vegetables seek a versatile fertilizer to produce desired outputs at the right time.
A farmer urges planning for richer soil across every field. He advocates conserving animal manures, applying commercial fertilizers, and plowing under green manures to solve soil fertility problems.
A farmer compares soil fertility to a sugar bucket, warning that dividing among crops while selling the rest depletes resources. The analogy warns that without replenishment, the land will be exhausted, like a housewife depleting a sugar bucket without refilling it.
Fifty Sussex county farmers guided by County Agent Paul B Benneth tested top dressing timothy sods with commercial fertilizer. Results show higher hay yields and Cornell data indicate higher subsequent corn yields. Farmers estimate an extra ton of hay per five dollars spent and plan to continue the practice under proper sod quality and spring fertilizer timing.
USDA on April 1 estimates winter wheat production at 495 million bushels, down from 655 million in 1915 and 685 million in 1914. The report warns of high wheat prices and suggests growers boost yields with early spring top-dressing fertilizer, noting one ton covers six to eight acres.
Lime does not replace fertilizers or manures but supplements them as explained in Bulletin 400 from the Geneva Experiment Station. Continual liming without maintaining adequate fertilizer and organic matter leads to declining crop returns, a finding echoed by Ohio and other experiment stations.
If an orchard has borne for years the soil food is depleted. Plow lightly to expose soil and apply 400 to 600 pounds of high grade fertilizer. Potash is important but costly this year so reduce its use. Stable manure can help if available. Apply fertilizer and manure under the tree spread if you do not want to tear up the sod.
Ohio Experiment Station Bulletin 286 reports untreated barnyard manure worth 2.60 per ton, while manure treated with 40 pounds of acid phosphate per ton and kept under cover reaches 4.80 per ton. The station notes manure is not a balanced fertilizer and acid phosphate boosts results.
A farmer’s boy grows record corn and answers a jealous neighbor. The neighbor overhears nightly rustling as the tall stalks flourish across the way. The boy explains success comes from proper fertilization planting and tending the crop.
A study of data concludes acid phosphate at normal price is preferred to ground rock phosphate for soil fertilization in the Eastern States. Heavy use of rock may provide some phosphorus, but most tests show rock phosphate does not become largely available later. Mixing with manure has not reliably increased availability. lime deficient soils or decaying green crops may improve acids.
Samuel Small Jr and his father run three Manchester township farms in York County Pennsylvania. They follow a six year crop rotation with yearly field fertilization and lime application every six years. They emphasize keeping buildings in repair and soil in productive condition using the best fertilizer grades and thorough farm records.
The article explains fertilizers as plant foods containing ammonia, phosphoric acid, and potash. It notes these three constituents are readily exhausted from soil and assigns nitrogen to rapid growth, phosphoric acid to ripening and filling grain or fruit, and potash to stronger stalks and plump grains.
An editorial notes higher fertilizer costs due to wartime pressures but argues crop prices rise with profits. Using 300 pounds per acre of 2-8-2, cost would rise from about 3.75 to 4.75 dollars per acre, a $1.00 increase equating to one and a half bushels of corn. It urges continued use for better maturity and soil carryover.
Edward Schatzberger of York Pennsylvania says he built two York county farms starting in 1871 by observing successful farmers. He stresses soil return through manure and fertilizer with 400 pounds per acre for corn, 250 to 400 for wheat, and about 200 for rye and oats, adjusted to field fertility to maximize yields.
Intensive methods including proper plant food use are shown to boost yields. The article compares farming to manufacturing, urging farmers to optimize soil management and inputs to maximize profits and crop quality.
W. L. Chamberlain advises preparing the land for potatoes with rich clover turf to reduce scab. Do not apply stable manure before planting. Plow eight inches deep, turn under dead clover tops, disk and harrow finely, and apply 600 pounds per acre then 500 pounds per acre in the row. The quick acting fertilizer promotes early maturity and large production without scab.
J P Stewart of Pennsylvania State College urges farmers to raise attention to orchard fertility citing nine years of experiments. Unfertilized trees averaged 78 85 bushels per acre while fertilized trees reached 180 216 bushels. gains up to 825 bushels in older trees. Nitrogen phosphorus and sometimes potash advised with local soil tests to tailor needs.
Proper alfalfa seeding requires a compact seedbed and ample plant food. Seed after early crops reduces need for summer fallowing and yields a market crop. test seed purity and vitality. apply 5 to 25 pounds per acre. inoculation aids results. lime needed for sour soils. 200 to 500 pounds of phosphate-rich fertilizer advised before or at sowing.
A reader asks how to invest $100 for farm profit this year. The piece urges timely repairs, fence upkeep, soil drainage, lime and fertilizer use to boost productivity and efficiency as a business. It frames the spring time for improvements and higher returns.
Carl S. Vrooman, assistant secretary of the U S Department of Agriculture, argues farmers must run farming as a business and seeks profitable production. He asserts agronomic science shows the average wheat yield per acre could be doubled without fear of over production.
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