Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-01


- TY OF THE sOII. gFszea
There are not less than three ways by
4 which, the productiveness of mosts soils
may be improved, says contemporary, so
that they win yield satisfactory crops OF
products adapted totheir quality, provided
the climate favors the cultivation of the
kind Of crop raised One way of improv-
ing the fertility Of land is BY neglecting to
cultivate it-by allowing vegetable growth
to manure from year to year and to decay
where the plants grew. THIS is natures
own process for rendering barren soils
fertile and rich ground still more produc-
tive. Il is here where the eminent value
of noxious weeds for agricultural purposes
is disclosed. When the farmer neglec. the
proper cultivation of his fields. 1t has been
wisely ordered that soeeds, shall take
possession, and, by slow and
tedious process, g1 accomplish In
an ~ age what an intelligent
tilIer of the soil Is able to perform in few
years. Hence, we perceive why the spe-
cies of -noxious plants ara SO. numerous,
and SO much meee hardy and prolific, than
those plants iwhichAr eT cultivated for crop
products. Wesds are great blessing in
disguise, as every one, from the little chick
weed up to the pestiferous Canada thistle
and couch grass { Fritiesnn repels), plays
the simirable part Of an ameliorator of the
soil. If farmer fails to cultivate his land
properly, weeds come In to supply the de-
fciency. Grass Of all kinds always exerts
an amellorating influence on the fertility Of
the soil, as the roots lay hold Of the inor-
ganic and insoluble substances that are
locked up in the barren atoms Of earth, dis
solve and digest. them, and appropriate the
minute particles to the development Of
their own roots, stems and leaves, which,
after they have decayed, furnish
available plant-food for promoting
the growth of crop-plants, which
must have their pabulum supplied directly
or prepared by other vegetation having the
power to feed upon the granite, mica, lime
stone, quartz and stubborn soil which may
be within reach of the roots. In the fore
going manner the Western prairies have
been improved in fertility for ages past.
Rain water,-which is one Of the most pow
erful solvents in nature-fost, heat, vege-
table growth and decay, and sweeping con-
Aagrations, have all been in operation, eve
~ year, preparing both organic and inor-
ganIc materials, reducing them to a soluble
condition, and storing the particles in the
soil for the purpose of developing useful
plants which win yield necessary food for
man and beast. - IL
Another more expeditions way Of inn
proving the fertility Of cultivated soil is
by employing mechanical appliances forsc
complishing in few years, in connection
with the operations Of nature, what she
alone would scarcely be able to perform In
ages. For example, there are inexhsusti-
bic stores of phosphOric acid in given soil,
which Is so firmly held in the stubborn
clods that the particles are not in soluble
condition. Hence, they are not avail
able by the roots OF useful crop-piants.
The grain Of wheat, for example, is COM
posed, chemically, Of 46 parts in every 100
of phosphoric acid and 30 81 of potash.
Now, then, ifthese substances be absent,
or if they are abundant in the sol, although
in an insoluble condition-not in condi-
ton to feed the wheat plants-it would be
folly to attempt to cultivate wheat on that
soil until its productiveness has been i'm
proved. The elements of fertility may be
in the soil, or the fertilizing resources of
the farm may be amply sufficient, if prop
eriy employed, to develop the productive
ness so that every acre viii yield bounti-
full crop of grain.
The plough and other implements Of hus-
bandry frequently operate like magic in de-
veloping the productiVensss of soil.
Wherever the steel coulter, the share, the
mold board, the cultiVator teeth and the
harrow teeth are brought in contact with
the coarse particles of earth containing
pIant-food, the stubborn atoms are reduced
to fine powder, so that the rain, the burn
ing heat of summer and the disintegr ating
influences of the frosts Of winter set the
vast stores Of phosphoric asid and potash
free; yet, the particles will be retained in
the soil until the wheat plants throw out
their nu merous roots through the soil and
collect such substances as may be available.
In every 100 parts of wheat straw there are
12-l4 parts of potash, and 67-SS parts OF
silica. The foregoing figures furnish the
intelligent tiIler Of tbs soil something of an
idea as TO the requirements of land In order
to produce crop of wheat. If these sub
stances are not present, the land may pro-
duce diminutive growth Of wheat plants;
but the product viii not be bountiful crop
Of fair grain. v< a
In addition to the mechanical crushing
and grinding of the soil, its productiveness
can be rapidly developed BY cultiEsting oe-
casionally q crop Of red clover, the roots OF
which will prepare large amount OF Valu-
able plant food for the cerealia, while the
leaves will collect generous supply OF avail
able pabulum from the atmosphere. Then,
If the crop be fed to domestic animals, and
the accunulations of their apartments be
returned TO the soil where the crop was pro-
dzeed, the acids and the aIkalies in the ma
nure will exert still further amellorating
influence in developing the productive
character of the land. Although no
element of fertility will be added to
a ton Of clover hay, or a ton of wheat
straw by allowing It to be consumed
and dIgested by domestic animals, yet, If
all the liquid and solid portions be saved
with care and be judiciOusly applied to the
land, the dressing will exert stimulating
influence on the soil, which would not have
been felt if the crop had been permitted to
decay where 1t grew. These facts win indi-
cate why soil can be renovated and the
fertility maintained more satisfactorily and
at less expense By making beef, pork and