“Do you fertilize the corn?”

“Yes, Suh.  We can’t grow nothin’ heah without fe’tilizah.  We got two hundred pounds fo’ three dollahs last spring and planted it with the co’n.”

As Percy turned in at Mr. Thornton’s gate he saw a white man and two negroes working at the barn.  “Pardon me, but is this Mr. Thornton?” asked Percy as he approached.

“That is my name.”

“Well, my name is Johnston.  I am especially interested in learning all I can about the farm lands in this section and the best methods of farming.  I live in Illinois, and have thought some of selling our little farm out there and buying a larger one here in the East where the land is much cheaper than with us.  A real estate agent in Richmond has told me something of the progress you are making in the improvement of your large farm.  I hope you will not let me interfere with your work, Sir.”

“Oh, this work is not much.  I’ve had a little lumber sawed at a mill which is running just now over beyond my farm, and I am trying to put a shed up here over part of the barn yard so we can save more of the manure.  I shall be very glad to give you any information I can either about my own farming or about the farm lands in this section.”

“You have about a thousand acres in your farm I was told.”

“Yes, we still have some over nine hundred acres in the place, but we are farming only about two hundred acres, including the meadow and pasture land.  The other seven hundred acres are not fenced, and, as you will see, the land is mostly grown up to scrub trees.”

“Your corn appears to be a very good crop.  About how many acres of corn do you have this year?”

“I have only fourteen acres.  That is all I could cover with manure, and it is hardly worth trying to raise corn without manure.”

“Do you use any commercial fertilizer?”

“Well, I’ve been using some bone meal.  I’ve no use for the ordinary complete commercial fertilizer.  It sometimes helps a little for one year; but it seems to leave the land poorer than ever.  Bone meal lasts longer and doesn’t seem to hurt the land.  I see from the agricultural papers that some of the experiment stations report good results from the use of fine-ground raw rock phosphate; but they advise using it in connection with organic matter, such as manure or clover plowed under.  I am planning to get some and mix it with the manure here under this shed.  Do you use commercial fertilizers in Illinois?”

“Not to speak of, but some of our farmers are beginning to use the raw phosphate.  Our experiment station has found that our most extensive soil types are not rich in phosphorus, and has republished for our benefit the reports from the Maryland and Ohio experiment stations showing that the fine-ground natural rock phosphate appears to be the most economical form to be used and that it is likely to prove much more profitable in the long run, although it may not give very marked results the first year or two.  May I ask what products you sell from your farm, Mr. Thornton?”