FERTILIZERS
(See also Phosphate, Artificial.)
Plant Fertilizers.
As a result of a series of experiments, Schloesing stated that the nitrification of ammonium salts is not for all plants a necessary preliminary to the absorption of nitrogen by the plant. While for some plants, as for example buckwheat, the preferable form of the food material is that of a nitrate, others, for instance, tropeolum, thrive even better when the nitrogen is presented to them in an ammoniacal form.
Artificial Fertilizers For Pot Plants.
I.—Calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, magnesium phosphate, ferric phosphate (sodium chloride).
II.—Calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, potassium sulphate, magnesium phosphate, iron chloride (or sulphate) (sodium silicate).
It is well known that in nature nitrates are formed wherever decomposition of organic nitrogenous substances takes place in the air, the ammonia formed by the decomposition being oxidized to nitric acid. These conditions for the formation of nitrates are present in nearly every cornfield, and they are also the cause of the presence of nitrates in water that has its source near stables, etc. In Peruvian guano nitrogen is present partly in the form of potassium nitrate, partly as ammonium phosphate and sulphate. As a nitrate it acts more rapidly than in the form of ammonia, but in the latter case the effect is more lasting. Phosphoric acid occurs in guano combined with ammonia, potash, and chiefly with lime, the last being slower and more lasting in action than the others. {337}
Nearly all artificial fertilizers conform, more or less, to one of the following general formulas:
I.—Artificial Flower Fertilizer.—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonium nitrate | 0.40 | 1.60 | 40.0 parts |
| Ammonium phosphate | 0.20 | 0.80 | 20.0 parts |
| Potassium nitrate | 0.25 | 1.00 | 25.0 parts |
| Ammonium chloride | 0.05 | 0.20 | 5.0 parts |
| Calcium sulphate | 0.06 | 0.24 | 6.0 parts |
| Ferrous sulphate | 0.04 | 0.16 | 4.0 parts |
| 1.00 | 4.00 | 100.0 parts |
Dissolve 1 part in 1,000 parts water, and water the flowers with it 2 or 3 times weekly. Dissolve 4 parts in 1,000 parts water, and water with this quantity 10 or 12 pots of medium size.
II.—Compost for Indoor Plants.—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonium sulphate | 0.30 | 1.20 | 30.0 parts |
| Sodium chloride | 0.30 | 1.20 | 30.0 parts |
| Potassium nitrate | 0.15 | 0.60 | 15.0 parts |
| Magnesium sulphate | 0.15 | 0.60 | 15.0 parts |
| Magnesium phosphate | 0.04 | 0.20 | 4.0 parts |
| Sodium phosphate | 0.06 | 0.24 | 6.0 parts |
| 1.00 | 4.00 | 100.0 parts |
One part to be dissolved in 1,000 parts water and the flowers watered up to 3 times daily. Dissolve 4 parts in 1,000 parts water, and water with this solution daily:
III.—Plant Food Solution.—
| 1 | 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium chloride | 0.16 | or | 12.5 parts |
| Calcium nitrate | 0.71 | or | 58.0 parts |
| Magnesium sulphate | 0.125 | or | 12.0 parts |
| Potassium phosphate | 0.133 | or | 15.0 parts |
| Iron phosphate, recently precipitated | 0.032 | or | 2.5 parts |
| 1.160 | or | 100.0 parts |
This turbid mixture (1 part in 1,000 parts) is used alternately with water for watering a pot of about 1 quart capacity; for smaller or larger pots in proportion. After using the amount indicated, the watering is continued with water alone.
IV.—Fertilizer with Organic Matter, for Pot Flowers.—
| Potassium nitrate | 100.0 parts |
| Ammonium phosphate | 100.0 parts |
| Phosphoric acid | 2.5 parts |
| Simple syrup | 1,000 parts |
Add not more than 10 parts to 1,000 parts water, and water alternately with this and with water alone. For cactaceæ, crassulaceæ, and similar plants, which do not assimilate organic matter directly, use distilled water instead of syrup.
Chlorotic plants are painted with a dilute iron solution or iron is added to the soil, which causes them to assume their natural green color. The iron is used in form of ferric chloride or ferrous sulphate.
| V.— | Sodium phosphate | 4 ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium nitrate | 4 ounces | |
| Ammonium sulphate | 2 ounces | |
| Sugar | 1 ounce |
Use 2 teaspoonfuls to a gallon of water.
| VI.— | Ammonium phosphate | 30 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium nitrate | 25 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 25 parts | |
| Ammonium sulphate | 20 parts | |
| Water | 100,000 parts |
One application of this a week is enough for the slower growing plants, and 2 for the more rapid growing herbaceous ones.
| VII.— | Calcium phosphate | 4 ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium nitrate | 1 ounce | |
| Potassium phosphate | 1 ounce | |
| Magnesium sulphate | 1 ounce | |
| Iron (ferric) phosphate | 100 grains |
VIII.—Pot plants, especially flowering plants kept around the house, should be treated to an occasional dose of the following:
| Ammonium chloride | 2 parts |
| Sodium phosphate | 4 parts |
| Sodium nitrate | 3 parts |
| Water | 80 parts |
Mix and dissolve. To use, add 25 drops to the quart of water, and use as in ordinary watering.
| IX.— | Sugar | 1 part |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium nitrate | 2 parts | |
| Ammonium sulphate | 4 parts | |
| X.— | Ferric phosphate | 1 part |
| Magnesium sulphate | 2 parts | |
| Potassium phosphate | 2 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 2 parts | |
| Calcium acid phosphate | 8 parts |
About a teaspoonful of either of these mixtures is added to a gallon of water, and the plants sprinkled with the liquid.
For hastening the growth of flowers, the following fertilizer is recommended: {338}
| XI.— | Potassium nitrate | 30 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium phosphate | 25 parts | |
| Ammonium sulphate | 10 parts | |
| Ammonium nitrate | 35 parts |
The following five are especially recommended for indoor use:
| XII.— | Sodium chloride | 10 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium nitrate | 5 parts | |
| Magnesium sulphate | 5 parts | |
| Magnesia | 1 part | |
| Sodium phosphate | 2 parts |
Mixed and bottled. Dissolve a teaspoonful daily in a quart of water and water the plants with the solution.
| XIII.— | Ammonium nitrate | 40 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium nitrate | 90 parts | |
| Ammonium phosphate | 50 parts |
Two grams is sufficient for a medium-sized flower pot.
| XIV.— | Ammonium sulphate | 10 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium chloride | 10 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 5 parts | |
| Magnesium sulphate | 5 parts | |
| Magnesium carbonate | 1 part | |
| Sodium phosphate | 20 parts |
One teaspoonful to 1 quart of water.
| XV.— | Ammonium nitrate | 40 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonium phosphate | 20 parts | |
| Potassium nitrate | 0.25 parts | |
| Ammonium chloride | 5 parts | |
| Calcium sulphate | 6 parts | |
| Ferrous sulphate | 4 parts |
Dissolve 2 parts in 1,000 of water, and water the plants with the solution.
| XVI.— | Potassium nitrate | 20 parts |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium phosphate | 25 parts | |
| Ammonium sulphate | 10 parts | |
| Ammonium nitrate | 35 parts |
This mixture produces a luxuriant foliage. If blooms are desired, dispense with the ammonium nitrate.
XVII.—Saltpeter, 5 parts; cooking salt, 10 parts; bitter salt, 5 parts; magnesia, 1 part; sodium phosphate, 2 parts. Mix and fill in bottles. Dissolve a teaspoonful in 1 3/4 pints of hot water, and water the flower pots with it each day.
XVIII.—Ammonium sulphate, 30 parts; sodium chloride, 30 parts; potash niter, 15 parts; magnesium sulphate, 15 parts; magnesium phosphate, 4 parts; sodium phosphate, 6 parts. Dissolve 1 part in 1,000 parts water, and apply 3 times per day.
XIX.—Calcium nitrate, 71 parts; potassium chlorate, 15 parts; magnesium sulphate, 12.5 parts; potassium phosphate, 13.3 parts; freshly precipitated ferric phosphate, 3.2 parts. A solution of 1 in 1,000 of this mixture is applied, alternating with water, to the plants. After using a certain quantity, pour on only water.
XX.—Ammonium phosphate, 300 parts; sodium nitrate, 250 parts; potassium nitrate, 250 parts; and ammonium sulphate, 200 parts, are mixed together. To every 1,000 parts of water dissolve 2 parts of the mixture, and water the potted plants once a week with this solution.
XXI.—Potash niter, 20 parts; calcium carbonate, 20 parts; sodium chlorate, 20 parts; calcium phosphate, 20 parts; sodium silicate, 14 parts; ferrous sulphate, 1.5 parts. Dissolve 1 part of the mixture in 1,000 parts water.
Preparing Bone For Fertilizer.
Brewers’ Yeast And Fertilizers.
Authorities seem to agree that lime is necessary to the plant, and if it be wholly lacking in the soil, even though an abundance of all the other essential elements is present, it cannot develop normally. Many soils are well provided with lime by nature and it is seldom or never necessary for those who cultivate them to resort to liming. It would be just as irrational to apply lime where it is not needed as to omit it where it is required, and hence arises the necessity of ascertaining the needs of particular soils in this respect.
The method usually resorted to for ascertaining the amount of lime in soils is to treat them with some strong mineral acid, such as hydrochloric acid, and determine the amount of lime which is thus dissolved. The fact that beets of all kinds make a ready response to liming on soils which are deficient in lime may be utilized as the basis of testing.
FEVER IN CATTLE: See Veterinary Formulas.
FIG SQUARES: See Confectionery.