Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-02-28
TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT SOILS.


from which they are themselves derived.
at the same tine often rely more upon
artificial treatment than the original
source for their fertility. There are,
indeed, few lands of such character As
TO be permanently independent of the
aid of applied fertilizers; therefore the
necessity for knowledge of the chemical
constituents of soil in order TO know
what crops it will best grow and what
elements of plant food il requires.
Soils composed Of coarse land, while
they may be rich in mineral elements,
are, in the absence Of judicious treat
ment, n continual source of disappoint-
ment TO the cultivator. They allow a
rapid descent of water through them,
are incapable of supplying moisture
from below by capillary attraction and
are deficient in the power of absorbing
moisture or fertilizing gasses from the
atmosphere. Fertilizers applied to
these lands are of little or no use be-
cause they are not retained. The con-
sequence is a failure of crops, especially
in times of drouth. These soils, how
ever, with proper management have
their mechanical defects corrected and
their value many times enhanced. Fall
blowing when there is clay subsoil
within reach is very beneficial, because
it brings up the clay to mingle with the
sand surface by the action of frosts and
rains. A green crop or two turned I'M
der further assists in stiffening the tex
ture of the land, improving its capilla-
ry action and facilitating root action.
When there is not clay subsol within
reach of the pillow, the use of lime in
conjunction with vegetable matter turn
ed under is advised rs one of the most
effectual and economical means for the
ameioration of the land.
The successful management and cul-
tivation of clay or stiff lands are much
more iaborious than the lighter soils
Clay soils under proper treatment, how
ever, endure long and yield great va
ricty of crops. They are generally
adapted to the cereals, make good grass
and pasture lands and grow fine fruits.
Clay lands are deficient in veg
etable matter and are there
fore greatly benefited by an
application of the same Lime is also
beneficial to such lands, assisting to
remedy their stiffness and tenacity. ANY
substances which serve as divisors, pre-
venting the adhesion of the particles of
earth both in times of drouth and ex-
cessive wet are OF great service.
Good drainage is especially necessary
for clay soils. Without drainage sea-
sonable work can seldom he done in the
spring. Every farmer knows how
troublesome clay land becomes If run
together and packed after having been
plowed. Much needless work is caused
by blowing such lands too early in the
spring. Fall blowing is n great assist
anoe; it adds humus through whatever
growths may be ON the farlace, and the
alternate freezes and thaws of winter
break up the inert clods and grind down
the soil into \ more soluble mass. Cold
and unproductive soils which have stag
nani water sufficiently near the surface
10 be reached by the roots Of plants re-
quire 20 be underdrained.
Alluvial soil may be said to have no
distinctive character, beng composed
of successive deposits, continued through
a long period. They partake somewhat
Of the soil of the country from which
running waters haze washed and de-
posted them. Alluvial lands, of course,
are rich in humus and do not need the
assistance Of green crops turned under
or the application in any form of vege-
table matter They are generally de-
iicient in the mineral elements aud are
benefited by phosphoric acid, potash
and other Mineral plant-food. The
same may be said Of soils known as veg.
afabla molfs AMI t.npfsini.,,- !. lar,-a mn,
cent. of vegetable matter. sl1o
Loans ara soils in which clay and
sand unite, sandy loans being those in
which the sand predominaies and clay
loans those in which the proportions Of