The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-12-11
Raising sweet Pafatoes with Chemical
PAPER READ AT II GLOUCESTER CoUNTT
FARMERS INSTITUTE, BT JoSA-
meant ii to be

PAPER READ AT THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY
FARMERS INSTITUTE, BT Joss.
THAN WILDE, YSELASD.
Before I proceed to the subject Of this
paper, permit me 10 say q few words 10 re-
gard TO plant life and its requirements.
The soil is by no means a mass Of dead
matter, as some suppose. Every atom
possesses life and all life intelligence snf-
icient fer all purposes of its existence,
however crude, under favorable conditions
evolves other and higher forms of life. The
earth and air are great chemical labora-
tories, the plant being the chemist and By
its powerful agencies attacks and dissolves
these elements in the soil, which are neces-
sary for their growth and development.
There is a reciprocal action Of the plant
with both the soil aud the air, and by the
| most complicated process of chemical &C.
ton the plant food is absorbed by the root
lets, passes up through the stem TO the
leaves to come in contact with the sunlight
and air, aud then passes back through the
body and roots of the plant. depositing a
particle here and there, just where it is
needed to build up a harmonious structure
that would withstand the storms and tenn
pests, as il all its operations were governed
by some intelligent artist.
When the little seed is planted in the
earth, it is warmed into life by the genial
sunshine, watered by the rains from above.
refreshed by the dews of heaven, and
famed by the evening zephyrs. Its roots
strike down into the earth ia all directions
10 search of food, absorbing only that
which is necessary for it's growth. 1t also
reaches out into the atmosphere, absorb
ing gases and other elements. If either
the soil or air is deficient in plant food. it
withers, decays and dies. We cabnot
change the atmospheric conditions, bnt
we can apply those elements in which the
soil IS deficient, and bring it to a high de-
gree OF fertility, and tie question is to day
how can we best do it SO as to make farm
ing pay, with a prospect of low prices.
When our ancestors first landed or the
shores of the new world, they found the
soil rich in plant food, but By a prcf1igate
system Of agriculture much of it has be-
come a barren, d~esolate waste. II we
would escape the doom that has befailen
parts Of Asia, which was oDcs the garden
of the world, where the remains If great
cities. once proud and naughty, lie snoul-
dering beneath the drifting sands, We must
use commercial fertilizers. The great cre-
alive power, the great master mind of tie
universe, could look down the vista of
coming ages and see the time would come
when the soil would be robbed Of it's fer
Utility, consequently during the long ages
in which the earth was in process Of forma-
ton, vast quantities of plant food in acon-
~ceDtrated form was deposited in the earth
to be used By man when that time should
come. We are exporting on an average
100, O00, 900 Of bushels Of wheat a year.
Each bushel takes from the soil near one
and a half pounds Of plaut food. which
would require a million tons Of high.grade
fertilizers TO supply the waste. For all
other kinds Of produce We must add an
other million tons. All must see We must
draw largely upon natures great store
house to keep up the fertility Of our farms.
We have no more right 70 rob nature of
her just dues than We have our neighbors.
We must draw on Germany for our potash,
Chill for nitrate Of soda, and all the coast
states Of the south for phosphate rock.