, 1888-07-28

by Frank they add, "Here, then, is a mOde
of accumulation by some green-leaved
plants which allies them very closely to
fungi themselves n y y but, %inasmuch as
the action is the most marked in the sur
face LAYERS of the soil rich in humuS, y ~
the facts so far regarded do not aid rs in
the explanation of the requirement OF III
trogen by deep and strong rooted legu-
miniouS plants from raw clay SubSollS."
Regarding the direct acquisition OF at
%mOSpheric nitrogen, especially free nitro
gen, by the plants, Messrs. Lawes and
Gilbert, after citing the experiments OF
BerthelOt and HeIIriegel, which were an
nOunCed a year ago last September, say,
owe have important and exact facts III
the cases cited, and it is at any rate clear
that reason leans to this explanation of
the mode in which some of the higher
plants derive their nitrogen, involving the
suppositiOn of the intervention OF micro
organisms in some way. 1t must be al
mitted on II review OF the conflicting re.
suits at present at command, that they do
not justify any confident conclusions that
the compositions supposed to take place
in any important degree, or that free III.
trOgen is to any important extent brought
into combination under the Influence Of
the latter organismS.o On the whole,
they seem to doubt whether the amount
of nitrogen taken from the atmosphere by
either the plants or soil in ordinary CuI-
ture during the period of growth is very
large. They say, 1--WE would submit that
the careful consideration OF the history OF
agriculture, both ancient and modern,
fails to afford evidence of compositions
such as is now sought for. Indeed, We
would say, as we have done before, that
the history Of agriculture through
the world, so far as it Is known, clearly
shows that the fertile soil is one which has
accumulated within it the residue OF ages
Of previous vegetation, and that 1t be-
comes ~intertile as that residue is eXllauS-
ted" AS to the action Of organisms in
providing nitrogen for the plants, they
regard it as very important, but are in
clined to limit it to the preparation Of nj
trOgenOus materials already III the soil
for the use OF the plants, rather than the
acquisition Of nitrogen from the air by
either plant or soil.
Professor AtWater gave an interest
ing account of some experiments perform
ed at the suggestion of the Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station by two
practical farmGrs-Mr. Bartholomew and
Mr.. Fairchild. In reply to an inquiry AZ
to what actual benefit to him aS a farmer
his experimental work had Deen, MIR.
Bartholomew said
II have learned to place great conf.
dence in commercial fertilizers when pro-
perly used, as furnishing the most relia-
BILE and economical materials for increas-
ing my crops.
III nave learned that the effects of the
different substances used, although vary
ing much from each other, are nearly
identical in different fields and in differ
ent years on my farm, always showing Il
tendency to the same characteristics.
~ nave learned that these fertilizers are
much superior in quality to those we OBJ
tanned before the establishment of the
Experiment Station.
81 have learned that this farm, which
my father, after fifty years of acquain-
lance and cultivation, pronounced i'll
adapted to the raising of corn, gives me,
under similar treatment, with the use OF
phosphate of lime in addition, i'll corn, one
of my most profitable crops.
81 think | have learned that by the
proper use of commercial fertilizers as
indicated in the different trials, | can
obtain, at fair profit, finer potatoes, free
from disease, and blemish, than by any
other means known to me.
~ nave learned that by the use of Ole
or more of these substances as adjunctS to
farm manufes, | can obtain at small ex-
pense superior crops of corn, oats and pc.
~y1Eh - a. ~, uTIT1n tho no