Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1883-10-18


says ir regard to the analysis OF soils
In the beginnin@ OF tie application
OF science TO agriculture, the puniic
attention was strongly atfrartr t4c
theory that a chemical analye5a -
was about to offer a sure mgarn E@g .sN .1a4,
ining definitely the condition Z44 ng 81
of our soils, and various rua t8us sG&:aalI-
mated the idea OF this possibility t&g IgI. ra
ses of their own, in nrta ga sacH"e la~
privilege of prescribing t5 5tttuisAjlg tA~
diet required tor each field ot C.a tirm,
Those who should have known better @ara
science is presumptuous. and not having as
yet determined its strength or its weakness.
would attempt by single bold and daring
effort to work far beyond its capacity.
At the present time it is universally re-
coenized by men Of scientific training that
the analysis OF the soil for the purpose of
the individual farmer can offer no solution
to the problem ot what fertilizer or how
much to apply.
While denying that analysis of soils can
give us definite information concerning their
productiveness, and while asserting that the
teachings OF experience have shown that in
most cases there is no direct relation be-
the present analysis value of soil and the
present agricultural value. or, otherwise ex-
pressed, that analysis cannot show with
certainty whether or net soil is in condi-
ton to yield tul crop for the time being.
yet we would not deny that for the purpose
OF science such analysis may possibly be of
some benefit as ofernp tn Judgment of
its general character. the mode pr its occur
renee, or of injurious sGbst&aeaS Wiich at
times it May contain. 1t m&y laa BE Of
avail to indicate to us >he changes pto'iuced
in the soil through the agencies incladed in
the word cultivation. gaiarrsa s.,
! The sell is never ina stable condition. 1t
is varying continually through the. action of
the atmosphere, of temperature aad of mois-
ture. Its eonditioniin respect to soluble and
insolubie elements ia lin continual fux and
reflux. Disintegration relieves plant food,
moisture and capillarity transfer it. heat and
frost have their action, while conditions OF
CuitiSdltut tbufC III dS Wtil ~ d'ttslE TUlHS
factor. ,ho,l aIfly in theirmecha calrelations
but AZ well ilpthe removal Of soluble mate
rial through7fhe harvesting OF the crops.
The aitrates of the soil are subject 70 leach
ing. and ammonia and nitric sria are also
added to the soil through the ageaey of
rains Phosphoric acid is changed from ne
mse'GbiH "a 81 emefe soluble Gems ion aed
az regtcua@ bts's. The v"rugz z,%tss {
wh,s 60 l9 eed Fae raHtss <ta na0Gtag
their ,so8itIa3 and condtioh itat4e aasJl, ac-
cor'h ne is eE Eemcal aud physical laws,
In fe e@p2,s to crops, plants rol4, ves
havedifie powers by which they s
.abled t" appropriate the plant 10 a. ia7
various actions and reactions b@ya .4lt re-
plants and the soil are such egs ~ 4tt ~
soil requires the els FseEa.5 Fttr z& s.ag n
large proportion se a7s sne GssnJ an be
able to appropri3 eiis egs .a n needs.
A soil which c1De~ 3e a.s glsa ral sufi-
cient for huudred crops a. dalsTtl we'd
by analysis Uay ~ ~ CRIES iturs.iy Sst+
rem through sghe ina zy Il tie pszls- ag
reach the elements wH~ A.aaugs ao>3-
lutely ia large quat 5y ro relatively
insufficient IN the r. -.ss --acs Ble to the
plant In such c.as Emo s5#rpg ot q