The Marietta Journal

FERTILIZERS.

We have looked over everything said about fertilizers, and all reports of their use in crops, as far as we could find anything in our papers, and we have come to the conclusion that those, who appropriate them to their poor land, and trust to the results of their rich land, commit a serious error. We have seen statements made by intelligent farmers to the effect, that, in wheat, corn and other productions, the yield of the crops did not pay for the fertilizers used. This we have noticed for a year or more without expressing our views on the subject, lest they might mislead some, from their inaccuracy, and we express them now, for the consideration of those who have had much experience in the use of commercial fertilizers. In the first place, we have been struck with the fact that unpaying results followed the use of the best fertilizers in the country. In the second, that they were used on poor land. In the third place, that we have noticed no reports of failures from the use of the fertilizers on rich lands, but a striking and unmistakable increase of crops from their use. When we find a uniform declaration of larger yields from their use on rich land, and a similar declaration on poor land we are forced to the conclusion that the money, paid for them, for use on poor land, is thrown away. When a human being's stomach is worn out and has lost its power of digestion and assimilation, ham, roast beef and other strong food, will do him an injury, and, for the same reason, when land is worn out, hot and stimulating commercial fertilizers will do more harm than good. Such land must have rest, or be filled with humus on light manures, to regain its lost fertility. A crop of rye or cow peas plowed in when in bloom, is a plant food which it can digest, and in a year or two, it will be in a condition to assimilate the nutritious properties of Peruvian Guano, the super phosphates of lime, and similar active commercial fertilizers. We have no doubt that excellent fertilizers have been considered valueless when the whole difficulty consisted in the poverty of the land. Our corollary from all this is, the strong fertilizers should be applied to good and strong land, and gentle means be used to recuperate that which is poor and weak. - Milledgeville Union.