West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-12
HOW 1T WORKS.

ways Consideration with tho Careful
Farmer.
While perhaps not more appreciative
of the principle involved the farmer
who has made livestock products
leading feature of his farm industry has
uncon sciously maintained the produc-
tive capacity of his land, and gradually
improved his condition, while those neg
lecting this important feature of farm
industry have gradually reduced the
producing power of their soil, and if
not in all cases positively poorer have
made but little Roadway. Considering
the amount of the elements OF plant
life which are included in the great
body of the soil, and the very trifiing
changes which ordinary human effort
can make either i'm the bulk or con-
stltuents of the soil of any farm, it
would seem as if it were OF little CON
sequence whether the farmers made
any efforts or not for its amelioration.
Nevertheless, if crops are to be raised
and profitable husbandry sustained
these efforts can not be neglected, but
must be persistently maintained. The
materials which we add may be incon-
scquential i'm bulk, and rs far as they
add to the stock of fertile elements al
ready in the soil, of very trifling inn
portance, but the changes which they
induce in the soil itself by their
presence, or by the form in which
we present them, exert wide
influence upon production. The true
source of fertility in the soil is the soil
itself 1t is only TO avail himself more
rapidly and with greater certainty of
what is already there that the farmer
derives profit from adding more. II is
not sufficient merely that there should
be organic matter in the soil in order
that its mineral elements can be appro-
Priated and large plant growth secured;
but 1t seems necessary that there should
be proportion of organic matter
undergoing slow oxidation or decay i'm
the soil in order that its latent product
i've powers may be stimulated. Silica.
alumina, lime, potash, soda and other
mineral clements which plants require,
are generally present in sufficient
quantities, but not available. because
not so really and rapidly soluble a. 10
support successive heavy crops. The
addition of organic matter is not simply
the addition OF so much material. but
its decay in the soil hastcns the sOlu-
bility Of all The mineral elements pre-
viOusly present As the result of the
process Of decay more or les. carbonic
and perhaps nitric acid are generated.
which exercise powerful solvent action
when mixed with the soil water. and
thus % very small quantity Of manure
spread upon the field may lead to cbcm-
ical changes, combinations and recon-
binations throughout the body Of tho
soil which no chemist can follow and
OF which mono can measure the results,
save as they are seen i'm the Increasing
production.
And here is where the stook-growcr
has the advantage. He always has "a
supply Of manure. so that once In so
often every part Of the farm can receive
q portion, and enough To- keep the doors
of Che Great stOrc-houses Of nature al-
ways unlocked. The grain-0rOwcr can
not duplicate the same results by thc
use Of concentrated commercial fcrt-
lzers. They may restore. in part what
has been removed, on they may act as
temporary stimulus for % time but they
do not answer tHc purpose Of barn
yard manure, because they add nothing
20 Doe slowly oNd.zod boo the soil and
render lhe natural supplies of fertility
available Nature is bc farmer best
friend and be- who raises live stock 10
consume the major portion of the prod
uci- Of The farm Keeping as close 10
the kind mother as 30 Is possible IN de-.
and by iudic.ous uso Of the mauurcs
81 hand can always have his land. no
matter what bee take from it. iD the
very highest productive state And II
be- dovOtes part of 30 20 the production
OF grain Che yield will be- sufficient TO
secure him Che largest compensation.
CleyCi0nd HCrad