Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-17
rraErasIE MATTER SOILS

! vEGETa BILE MATTER IN SOILS.
Iseestfat for all crops grown in Texas
! you exe constantly advocating an abundant
| supply of decompesed vegetable matter in
| tfe soil. Whiisnot at all quest ioning tho
EcorrectnessS ~ your position, 1 would be
composed vegetable matter plays favorable
| to crops in a soil elas.ed as really good in
dallas, Tex. e0*Yn'
q affords US sluch pleasure Is find Sur cor
respondents 50 notwithstanding themselves
iathe science of things. Truefsf appears
tltat we are MOI stways ablets satkfy them,
nesertheless. ne are ever Wiling tedo the
vers~lest>"we can, trusting to leading and
acknowledged modern authorities for a
prop-up in the positions taken.
Humus, according TO NJ. George Vile, is
IA hydro-carbon. Humus in the soil, &C.
cording 70 Liebig, ais the result Of vege-
table matter in a state of decay, always
containing ammonia in chemical com ina-
tom DIR. EN-. Pendleton says: ut has
been demonstrated that soils Astounding in
humus will increase their nitrogen by oxi-
dation: the soil losing some OF its carbon,
and increasing in nitrogen which must have
resulted from the free nitrogen Of the air.
This statement of DR.. Pendleton is h2sa6'
upon no less an authority thsa@s1fssin-
gault. "In no instances however adds
DR.. Pendleton, shaye xssss destitute of or
ganic matter besnfaund to increase in the
slightest degree in nitrogen. .z..,.....,.
las the decay of woodyfbre vegetable
matter advances, .itstescaping carbon con-
vetts the oxygen Of the surrounding at
mosphere into carbonic aciay hit, the pro-
cess gradually diminishss When it ceases
entirely the remaining product Is vegetable
mould or Eumus. And further decay may
take PLACE by the saction of lime or am
monia. NJ [Scientifc Agriculture, pagee55.
In his Scientific Agriculture, page ass,
DR.. Pendleten fartAeeSsys: X,
We are then justified m the following
conclusions as to the beneficial effects Of
humus, or organic matter, as we use these
terms Interchangeable to to Large extent,
although according to Liebig's definition
there is but little if any difference:
l. Humus renders stiff soils friable and
open.
2. It absorbs moisture from the atmos-
ure.
3. 1t retains the moisture longer than any
other ingredient of soils.
4. 1t furnishes considerable portion of
carbon to plants, either directly or indi-
rectly
.. In its widest sense, il supplies the
mineral elements Of decayed matter in solu-
bic farms for plant food.
6. 1t absorbs and holds free ammonia
and its carbonate, and thus supplies plants
:. II absorbs lime and its carbonate, and
renders II assimilable as plant food
s. 1t furnishes solvent 70 the soil (car-
bonic acid), for the silicate Of potash and
phosphate of lime, by which plants are sup
piled with the two important compounds,
phosphoric acid and potash.
g. In warm climates it cools the soil by
the regular imbibation and evaporation of
moisture
10. 1t Is, in fact, prime agent IN the lab
oratory of nature, for carrying on chemical
changes in soils, producing heat, evolving
carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. as well as
nitrogen obtained by absorption.
Perhaps Of all the benefits resulting from
humus in the soil, this last is the most i'm
portant. Each and every one of these eff
fects have been again and again demon
strated by the writer and others, not in
flower pots simply, but In the open fields.