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THE QUESTION OF FERTILIZERS One That Is Interesting Every Considerate Farmer. THE ECONOMY OF HOME-MIXING Commlsiioner of Agriculture Nesbitt, In Ills Monthly Talk, Telia How to Get the Very llest Returns From Our Soils ■ t the Leaat I’ossib!e Cost—Fair Supply of Humus Absolutely Necessary. Etate Agricultural Department, Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 1, 1896. FERTILIZING, ROTATION, SOILS, ETC. The question of fertilizers is just now one in which evury thoughtful farmer is interesting himself, not only as to th ir price and the feasibility and econ omy of mixing them at home, but also as to the kinds needed by our different qualities of land, and best suited to the most perfect development of our various crops. A careful study of principles of plant growth, and of fertilizers, and a practical application of these principles to our lands and to our different crops will certainly mean money to those farmers who take the trouble and the time to make the investigation. As no two crops take from the soil exactly the same elements in exactly the same proportions, it follows, that to get the very best our land we must study the composition of our soils, as well as the demands of the crops to be grown or. them. Owing to the principle just mentioned, that different crops make different demands on the soil, it is an established fact, that a carefully planned and executed rotation of crops, exer cises a powerful influence in enabling us to get the very best returns at the least cost, and at the same time add to, instead of diminish the fertility of our lands. Our first inquiry should be as to the general qualities and needs of our lands, and to ascertain these we are compelled to STUDY OUR SOILS. We all know that the t hree principal elements, nitrogen, potash and phospho ric acid are absolutely essential to plant growth, and that while our lands, as a rule, supply all that is needed of the lesser elements, these predominating elements have been, in a greater or less degree, exhausted, from our surface soils at least. To resupply these in the best and most economical manner, is the most important subject, which we have to consider. In beginning this investi gation, we may lay it down as an inva riable rule, that no land will give profit able returns without a fair supply of humus, or decayed vegetable matter on which to build our supply of plant food. Lands which have been recently cleared, cr those where a careful rotation alter nating with green and leguminous crops, has been practiced usually con tain an abundance of humus, but un fortunately, ou the majority of Georgia farms the long continued, clean culti vation of corn and cotton, without al ternating with any humus giving crop, mid the leaving of these bare lands to the washing, leaching action of winter rains and spring floods, have all com bined to deprive them of their last ves tige of vegetable matter. If we keep in mind that no commercial fertilizer can give the best returns without humus, and if we realize that the destructive effect of drouths is in great measure due to its absence, we will at once set about supplying this necessary humus by every means in our power. There is nothing better for this purpose than sta ble manure, and its beneficial effects af ter one application may be observed for several years, but we can only obtain this in limited quantities, and therefore we have to cast about for other availa ble humus making materials. Cotton seed for clay soils, and cottonseed meal for sandy soils are excellent, but are ex pensive. A well considered system of rotation, using green or leguminous crops, fiirst for forage and the residue to be plowed under for manure—is less costly and on the whole more satisfact ory. Here again it is necessary that we be thoroughly familiar with the pe culiarities of the soils with which we have to deal. Many soils have become so much worn and in such poor condi tion, being hard and dry, that it is folly to attempt to plant even cow peas as a renovating crop. On these, Lispedza has been found to do well. It will grow where peas will hot, and by an applica tion of cottonseed meal, may be made to do well on almost any soil. On land, which is in better condition, cow peas are a better paying renovating crop. Their growth is heavier, their roots are larger and penetrate more deeply into the soil, thus bringing to the surface more of the mineral elements which are locked up in the subsoil, and when these roots are left in the land they furnish m- re of vegetable matter to be con verted into humus. On richer land there is no better renovating crop than clover. Its system of large, strong roots extending in every direction, and pen etrating deep into the subsoil, often reaching down several feet, make it pe culiarly valuable, but it is exacting. It will not do well on sa l ly land, but re quires either clay lari'' br lighter land underlaid with a subsoil. Nor will it succeed on laiW* which is not thoroughly drained. It has not the power of the cow pea to forage for a living and having obtained enough for its ewn needs, to leave a generous share for the use of succeeding crops. Clover will only grow on land of good quality where ample food is furnished ready for its immediate use, but once well set, it gives back without stint, all and more than it has received. Where the soil is rich in lime Meli lotus has been tried and found to be in comparable as a fertilizing crop. Its roots are larger and extend deeper into the soil than any other renovating plant, aud those dying at the end of the second season and decaying furnish a large quantity of valuable plant food. It will not grow except on soils well supplied with lime, but where this is present in abundance, though the land be apparently barren, Melilotus will grow and flourish, and for such lands is the best renovating crop known. Crimson clover, hairy vetch, rye, ail occupy important places among our ren- ovating crops, and besides their direct benefit to the land in collecting nitro gen possess the power of carrying on their great work during the winter months, thus furnishing green food for farm animals at a season when most other crops are dormant or dead and covering and protecting the land for a period of several months, when it is pe culiarly liable to injury. On cur ordi nary lauds and under present condi tions, rye perhaps is the crop most used, first, because of its pre-eminent ability to hunt for food, and again, because it may be sown up to and even into the present mouth. The clover and vetch require early seeding, and also that the land be of good quality aud brought to a fine mechanical condition. The seed are also more expensive—and just now that is one of the main difficulties in the way of a more general trial of the vetch. It is comparatively new and the seed are scarce aud high, but those, who have tried it, pronounce £ incompara ble as a renovating plant. A very re cent publication from the United States Department of agriculture recommends it in the highest terms —states that “it has been grown successfully in all parts of the country, and has proved to be hardy it. the moist coastal regions of Washington, the dry prairies of South Dakota and the rich loamy soils along the gulf.” In our own state the com mon vetch has been tried for years with eminent success. The hairy vetch is hardier and in all respects more desira ble. ‘‘The seed of hairy vetch should be sown at the rate of a bushel and a half to the acre from the latter part of April to the middle of May for summer for age, an< from the middle of August to the middle of September for winter for age. Tae nutritive value of the hay is very high. The yield usually varies from or e and a half to four tons per acre, according to the fertility of the soil. We would be glad for farmers, whenever possible, to try, if only a lim ited area in this crop, and report results to this department. We have said enor h art to thsse ren ovating crops to enip...... the import ant fact, that they should form tho foundation for any system of fertiPzing which we may adopt, and that their ro tation with other crops is also of the utmost moment in reclaiming our worn lauds. The next step of importance is to decide on the proper FERTILIZERS to select for our various soils and crops, to be used in conjunction with these renovating crops and with a judiciously chosen crop rotation, in building up our lands. If we could by judicious man agement and feeding produce all the manure we need on our farms, this question would be forever settled, but this has been found impossible. Under present conditions the need for commer cial fertilizers is real, but the enormous sums speut for this artificial plant food may be considerably reduced, if we ap ply ourselves to more carefully consid ered and more judicious methods. Our great mistake has been that we have depended entirely on commercial fer tilizers to supply the gradually uimin ishing fertility of our farms, whereas they should be regarded and used only as adjuncts to a careful system of ma nuring and rotation. They have al ways been found to give best results when the soil is well filled with organic matter, and as mentioned before, this condition can be best maintained by a syst m of grc«n manuring—that is plantuig leguminous crops, cutting a part for stock feed, and turning under the residue for “laud feed.” GENERAL RULES FOR FETILIZING. In buying our fertilizers, two points should engage our attention and study —the needs of the land, and the needs of the crop to be grown. A few of the most important facts bearing on these two questions are all that may be at tempted in the limits of this article, but the farmer who interests himself will find that there is a wide field for invest igation, aud that the vaii itious of re sults, according to different plans of management, and difference in soils and local conditions, are almost limit less. As a general rule, however, it will be found that our sandy soils will require all three elements, nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, while clay soils usually contain some portions of the mineral elements. A soil rich in humus is some times lacking iu the mineral elements. A limestone soil generally contains a good deal of phosphoric acid. Os course the most certain way of finding out what the soil needs is to make the soil itself answer the question by experi menting with different crops and oiffer ent fertilizers, but as a gt leral rule, farmers are averse to undertaking these experim mts,regarding them as too com plicated and too expensive. They have preferred to “trust to luck,” and have lost thousands of dollars by following one fixed rule of fertilizing for all crops and all lands alike. R. T. Nesbitt, Commissionar. Sources of Fertilizing Materials. Question. Please give me a few hints on fertilizers and the best way to select them. I must confess to de plorable ignorance on this important subject, and often I am confused by the multiplicity of terms usedin designating the different plant foods. I have al most decided to try mixing my fertil izers at home, but am somewhat at a loss as to the best brands to buy for the purpose. Would 1 run any risk in buy ing the concentrated materials, or are they of uniform value as to contents and availability? In buying the fertil izers already mixed is there any sure way by which I can at least partially judge of their merits? Answer.—lt is the law of Georgia that each manufacturer register with the State Department of Agriculture the sources from which his nitrogen is derived. This has a more important bearing on our success or failure with different crops than most farmers are aware. Before purchasing any com mercial fertilizers farmers should care fully inform themselves as to the sources from which the three principal fertil izing elements contained in them are derived and their availability fi r the different crops to be grown. The fol lowing important facts are condensed from a valuable bulletin by Profess ir Vorhees. and we trust are iu such form as to arrest the attention of thinking farmers, and also aid them iu selecting the best aud most suitable materials for the various crops to which they are to be applied: SOURCE.? OF NITEOGBN. Ail materials containing organic ni trogen must undergo a change before the nitrogen becomes available as plant food, and tlie time needed for this change varies with circumstances. Th a material may be hard and dense, or tue treatment ii has received may delay the natural decay, or it may be associate ! with other substances which tend to prevent the necessary changes. This causes organic nitrogen to differ in its J degree of availability, not only from i the material, which furnishes it, but from the treatment that material has received. The most valuable sources of organic nitrogen are dried blood, dried meat, concentrated tankage, dried fish, refuse from fish oil and canning estab lishments aud cottonseed meal. These products also furnish more or less phos- J phoric acid. Other materials which are less desira ble as sources of nitrogen, are leather ] meal, horn and hoof meal, wool waste, felt waste, etc. These decay so slowly that they are of doubtful value unless ; the object is to gradually increase the fertility of the soil rather than to secure ; immediate returns. Commercial nitro gen in the form of sulphates and nitrates is extremely so üble iu water, and while very valuable is liable to be i washed out of the soil if applied too heavily or before the plants are ready to take it up. In this form nitrogen should be applied after the crop begins ; its growth, and is then at once taken up i by the plants while the organic nitro gen may or may not be used up by the crop, depending ou whether conditions are favorable for tho changes it must undergo before it becomes entirely available. SOURCES OF PHOSPHORIC ACID. The phosphoric acid of commercial fertilizers occurs in three forms: “solu- I ble,” that- is that which is easily taken I up by plants because readily soluble iu water; “reverted,” or that which is ■ insoluble in water but readily used bv i plants, and that which is soluble only in strong acids and therefore is taken up very slowly by plant-’. All three of these forms are derived from materials called phosphates. “Organic’ 7 phos phates are those containing organic or animal matter; “mineral” phosphates are those which contain no animal mat ter. Os the former, bone in its various forms is the chief source. Os the latter, the river and land phosphates of South Carolina, the “soft,” ‘pebble” and I “rock” phosphates of Florida, the mine phosphates of Tennessee, are those with which we are not familiar. The “min eral” phosphates are insoluble and have to be treated and acted upon strong acids before they become availa ble as plant food. They are first ground to powder and then mixed with strong sulphuric arid, which changes the in soluble phosphoric acid to the soluble form—they then become “superphos phates.” This name is applied to any material containing soluble phosphoric acid as its c >ief element, and of course those containing t-1 e greatest amount are the most valuable. The "soluble” distributes itself in the soil and goes to the ro< it of the plants, while the “re verted” remains where it is placed and the roots of the plants must come to it. 2XII important fact to remember is that phosphoric arid is not washed from the soil; it becomes “fixed” by combinations with lime, iron and other mineral sub stances. Bone or "organic” phosphates are mure valuable than the “mineral,” because of their greater tendency to de cay. ami because they may be used di rectly ou the soil without other treat ment than the grinding necessary to make them more easily available. The finer this grinding the more valuable the product, because very fine ground bone is more easily acted on by the forces which cause it to decay and thus it becomes more quickly available. Another fact which adus to the value of bone phosphates is, that they contain considerable nitrogen. Pure “raw bone” usually averages about 22 per cent of phosphoric acid and 4 per cent of nitro gen. In “boiled” or “steamed” bone not only is the bone made finer, but it is softer and acts more quickly than if it is merely ground. By boiling or steaming the per cent of nitrogen is re duced, while the phosphoric acid is in creased, “steamed” bone is therefore much richer in phosphoric arid than raw bone. “Tankage” is a bone pro duct which contains considerable nitro gen. The amount is variable, depend ing upon the proportions of bone and meat used in its preparation. "Tank age” is not used as much as bone. Os the other phosphates derived from bone, “bone black,” “bone ash,” etc., are much less valuable than the forms al ready mentioned. Superphosphates made from animal bone contain nitro gen in addition to phosphoric acid, and are therefore often called “ammoniated superphosphates. ” SOURCES OF POTASH. All forms of potash are soluble in water and are considered as about equally available, but it is important in selecting any form of potash to specially consider its suitability to the crop to which it is to be applied. For instance, it has been demonstrated that muriate of potash has an unfavorable effect on tobacco, potatoes aud certain other crops, which is not the case when other forms of potash are used. Our chief source of potash salts are the German mines, from which we obtain the kai iiit, muriate and sulphate of potash and other forms in general use. Kainit, which has obtained such favor iu recent years, is a crude product of these mines, and contains, besides potash, common salt and magnesium sulphate. It con tains ou an average about per cent of actual potash. The muriate and sul phate of potash are more concentrated. They are manufactured from the crude forms and contain about 50 per cent of actual potash. In purchasing the ingredients for home mixing of fertilizers, the follow ing may be depended upon to furnish a uniform amount and form of certain constituents, no matter where secured, and for that reason they are regarded as standards: Nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, dried blood, superphos phates and potash salts, all come under this head, and like other articles of trade, have a certain commercial rat ing. R. T. Nesbitt. Sugar Made From lieets. Question. —How much sugar is made annually from beets in Europe? How much in this country? Answer.— During the season of 1891 95 there was made in Germany, 1,850,- 000 tons; in Austria, 1,050 000 tons; in France, 79*0.000 tons; in Russia, 620,000 tons; in Belgium, 285,000 tons; in Hol land, 90,0b0 tons; in other countries. 106,000 tons; a total of 4,847,000 tons. In the same year the product in the United States was 267,0)0 tons—State Agricultural Department, TOMORROW. Tomorrow—aye, to.ncrrow— When will it eoine croundl It always says ’tis coming, But never can bo found. ; It’s always in tho distance. Still it is on its way And will be here betore long, In just one more short day. But when that day approaches Says till tomorrow wait. I get so tired of waiting, it surely must be late. Sometimes I ask a favor. Wait till tomorrow, too, Comes back tho answer to ma, I know not what to do. I know too well tomorrow Will never come around. ‘Tis flitting e’er before mo, Yet never here is found. So ne’er wait ti 1 tomorrow To do what should be dona Today, for you'll be waiting Each setting of the sun. The treacherous one flies on, And it will ne'er be here. For when you think you’ve gained It ’Twill be today, I fear. Tomorrow still will mock you As loud its echoes ring— I’ll come to you tomorrow And all my pleasures bring. ’Tis ignis fatuus like. E’er flitting just before. While you will long to catch it And that it wait implore. Oh, come, oh, come, tomorrow I I long to welcome j ou. Ah, will you ne’er permit me Your tempting face t > view? —Martha S. Lippincott in Brooklyn Eagle. How to Detect a Real Ghost. Hero is something that will be of absorbing interest to the great mass of people who perhaps have never seen a real ghost, but whoaro living in mortal dread that they may run up against one on any dark night. Tho article is from ‘‘Tho Annual of Scientific Discovery.” “Every ono who has pressed his eyes when shut 4s more or less aware of the curious colored figures that are thus brought before the consciousness, and others are again aware that when looking into space curiously shaped bodies float before tho eye as though they really occu pied a place in the horizon of vision These last are occasionally suffi ciently obvious to cause annoyance and the consulting of physicians, who call the disease by a high sounding name which means ‘flit ting flies.’ Those subjective phe nomena of the eyes have sometimes assumed very definite forms, and their study has enabled the physiol ogists to give what are considered very satisfactory explanations of the supposed appearance of ghosts to persons of diseased visual apparatus. ‘‘Besides bringing out some very interesting particulars concerning tho sights and wonders which such persons see during their waking hours, these researches have also ac counted for many so called ‘visions.’ They also give a ready means of de tecting a real ghost. All that is nec essary for this purpose is, when the supposed ghost is seen, to press the sides of the eyeball with the finger, when, if such pressure does not have the effect of doubling the image, the presence cf a real or objective ghost may at once bo doubted and the whole scare bo referred to some de fect of vision. ” —— Dawn In an African Village. I slept in a iiouso to the African Lakes company, a creepy sort of habitation at night. Rats galore raced about tho roof, chasing ono another and squealing most piteously. I was awakened in the morning by cocks crowing. There was a of night insects; the houses in tho dawning light were an indistinct, dull brown; the grass was wet with dew. I heard the shuf fling of reed doors slid to one side or their grating on clay flooring when flung open. A few natives begin to appear, exchange morning greetings and start to blow up fires; men, women and- children crowd around the fires, the gilded clouds in the east withdraw, the sun peeps on the horizon, fires are soon desert ed and daily work begins.—Century. Iler Compliment. Mr. Snaggs—Miss Bellefield paid you a compliment last night. Mr. Van Braam—Waat did she say? Mr. Snaggs—She intimated that you looked like me. Mr. Van Braam —I don’t know whether that is a compliment or not. How did she come to say it? Mr. Snaggs—She did not say it in so many words, but she said you looked like a smart man.—Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph. Blood and Skin Diseases' ' BOTANIC BLOOD BALM never fails 1 to cure all manner of Blood and 18 ’ 1 eases. It Is the great Southern building up and purifying Remedy, aud cures all manner of skin and blood diseases. As a buiMtag , up tonic it is without a rival, and absolutely beyond oomparison with any other similar remedy ever offered to the public. It is a panacea for all ills resulting from impure blood, or an impoverished condition of the human system- A single bottle will demon- , ' strate its paramount virtues. for free book of Wonderful Cures. ' Price, SI.OO per large bottle; *5.00 tor six ( bottles. £* For sale by druggists; if not send to us, 1 and medicine will be sent freight prepaid on I 1 receipt of price. Address ■ i BLOOD BALM CO., Atlanta, Ga. I It has bew ascertained that aH 1 the women who have been disap pointed in love are not old maids; that the majority of them are mar ried. HOOD’S Sarsaparilla has over and over again proved by its cures, when all other preparations failed, that j it is the One True BLOOD Purifier. ' fin Important Ghangc. Beginning January 1, 1897, the pres ent W eekly Edition of The DETROIT FREE PRESS will be changed to a TWICE-A-WEEK. The price will remain the same, SI.OO Per Year. The usual lit rary and humorous fea tures will be continued, and it will con tain all the news, making it an up-to date newspaper. We have just made an arrangement with the publishers of this World Famous Paper whereby we can offer you an excellent bargain. WE WILL SEND The Summerville News AND The Detroit Free Press Both One Year for only 50. 156 ron EKS $1.50. Less than I cent Per Copy. Sample Copies Sent Free. Address, THE NEWS, Summerville, Ga. Western & Atlantic R. R. (BATTLEFIELDS LINE) AND Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway 1 . . TO . . CHATTANOOGA, X NASHVILLE, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO, MEMPHIS aw ST. LOUIS. PULLMAN PALACE BUFFET SLEEPING CARS JACKSONVILLE and ATLANTA .. TO .. NASHVILLE and ST. LOUIS, THROUGH WITHOUT CHANGE. Local Sleepers between Atlanta and Chat tanooga. Cheap Emigrant Rates to Arkansas and Texas. Excursion Tickets to California and Col orado Resorts. For Maps, Folders, Sleeping Car Reservation and any information about Rates, Schedules, etc. write or apply to C. B. WALKER, J. A. THOMAS, Ticket Agent, Ticket Agent, Union Depot, No. 8 Kimbtiflllouee. ATLANTA, GA. C. K. AYER, J. L. EDMONDSON, T.F.A., Ticket Agent, Chattanooga, Rome, Ga. Tenn. JOS. M. BROWN, CHAS. E. HARMAN, Traffic Manager, Gen. Faso. Agt., ATLANTA, GA. LOCAL SCHEDULE. = CHATTANOOGA, ROME & COLUMBUS RAILROAD = EUGENE E. JONES, Receiver. Passenger Schedule In Effect Nov. 15.1896. SOUTHBOUND MIMAM NORTHBOUND Sunday only. Daily No. 2. Daily No. 1. Sunday only. P. M. * A.'M. P. M. A. M. . ... 745 II 44 Cedartown...., 307 600 , .... Conneciions are made at Chattanooga? Rome. Cedartown, Bremen and Car •olton with other lines at these points. For further information apply to C. B. Wilburn, Traffic Manager, Odell, Agent, Rome, Ga. Summ erv ille, Ga. jL - PIEDMONT -STO3K FARM. WZL H’ Green Bush, Ga. JAGKS AND JENNE.TS. A large assortment on hand. Prices reasonable. Stock gvarr.nteed a e i'. ■- L >' IJ ’ 4 filled for any class—from six months to six years old. M. K. HORNE., Prop. PROFESSIONAL. DR. J. T. KOAN. Office in Hoiks & Hinton Block. SUMMERVILLE GA. lam prepared to treat Rupture, Hemorrhoids, Fistula in Ano, without ligature or knife or drawing blood. My operaiious are quite painless. Consultation free. A. L. MURPHY, Jeweler. MENLO, GEORGIA Repairing a specialty. All work neatly and cheaply executed and sacis faction guaranteed. Give me a call. 11. J.-ARNOLD Dentist, LaFayette, - - Ga Does first class Dental work of al) kinds. Will visit Trion once a month WESLEY SHROPSHIRE, Attorney-at-LaW Summerville, - - Ga W. H. KNNIB. J. W. STABISO. ENNIS & STARLtNb- Attorneys-at-Law. MASONIC TEMPI E» ROME, - - - GA. Will practice in all the courts of north Georgia. T. J. Harris, LAWYER, Summerville, Ga. T. S. Bboivn, Dentist. riftice over Hollis & Hinton’s store Summerville, Ga. All Dental opera tions neatly performed aud work guar anteed. Prices reasonable. C. L. ODELL Attorney at Law. SUMMERVILLE GA. Strict atte ntrusted to We Employ SsSQtT WuHF Young Men to dtadrfbtrt* our odvorttM tnents In part payment for a high grado Am, bicycle, watch we send them on approval. K« work done until the bicycle arrives and prows saiisfaetory. Young Ladies ACME CYCLE COMPANY, | ELKHART, IND. 1