The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-17
Agricultural.
What are the Conditions Required in order
TO Constitute u SOilp

We have in former articles described q
number of substances that are demanded
in order that a soil may be constituted. But
other substances must be present, or a soil
is not complete. These must be present from
natural sources, or be added or there will
be no fertility in a field. The several sub.
stances that have been described, and cspec-
tally sand and clay, are absolutely demand
cd. But field that contains nothing but
mineral, or earthly substances, is not capable
of profitable cultivation. Those materials
which have been described, are distinguished
as inorganic, or mineral substances.
Without a soil, or mixture of morgan
ic and organic materials, or foods, no kind
of crop can be successfully cultivated. 1t
is true that some of the essential materials
for promoting the growth of plants are de-
rived from the atmosphere, or from other
sources than the soil from which plants
grow. The most abundant of these sub
stances are carbonc acid and ammonia. A
large part of some of these are furnished by
the processes of nature, and cost nothing.
In order to the formation of q soil, there
must be due proportion of organic matter
in it; nor is it a matter of indifference as to
the special properties of this organic matter
In some of the primitive fields, there is oft
en- an abundant supply, ard sometimes a
superabundance of these materials. These
are derived from the decay of grasses OF
vegetables that have grown from them,
which have been deposited from the growth
and decay of these for many successive
years Such fields may not require any OF
the manures or fertilizers for succession OF
years, and the time when enrichng mater
ials will be demanded, may be greatly pro-
longed by care in the arrangements of sue
cessions of crops.
When the.infuence. of these organic sub
stances have been exhausted, recourse must
necessarily be had to art for supply of the
deficiency.
The most natural and common source of
this supply, is by the use of farm yard ma
nure, or by some substitute for them.
When the matter is carefully examined,
it is found that but a limited range of chem
ical substances are demanded in order to
supply this place. The material, the supply
of which demands as much attention as any
in the whole range, is ammonia. This is
the most important material that is furnish
cd by the application of farm yard manure,
as we'll as by several other substances that
are used as fertilizers, some of which are
sold at a high price. Although they may
bear a high price, it is sometimes measure
of economy to purchase and use them, espe.
cially upon fields that have become exhaust
ed, and in localities where the products of
the farm bear a high price. The chief
question to be solved is, will the application
of certain fertilizer, to a certain field, and
for certain crop pay for the outlay? 1t is
apparent that this question can only be SOL
we'd by first ascertaining what are the defects
of field and this is to be determined by
ascertaining what foods for the crop that is
to be raised, it already contains.
That field is not capable of producing
one crop, is not certain indication that it
will not raise some other, for each crop has
its own special demands. 1t is therefore
important that the chemical demands of
each crop be ascertained, for without this
no one can be able to judge with regard to
the chemical materials that are demanded
by any crop that is to be raised The same
chemical material must needs be supplied,
as those of which the crop is known to be
composed. Some of these come from sourc-
es that involve no outlay or care, and cost
nothing, and others almost nothing, while
Others are only to be obtained by consider
able outlay.-Pairie Farmer.