Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-12-10
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
rEEMiNG LIFE IN THE SOIL AND
ITS INFLUENCE.
why a Vegetable Mulch Is valuablc-Re :
sults of Feeding Roots-Use Sc
lected Seed--Farfh, Notes
ami Home Hints.
The Living Soil.

OiUwn ClOus WulCu tuo Tuuo SWdiu
turrs with his share and treads upon.
writes w. F. Massey in the Practical
Farmer They see that living things
grow out of this brown soil, and are
apparent to the eye, but to speak OF
the soil as living, they do not compre-
bend. But the term may be truly so
used. This brown mould on the
upper surface of our fields, as far
down as cultivation enables the air
to penetrate, absolutely swarms with
life, both vegetable and animal,
in such minute forms that, to the or
binary vision, unaided by micro
scope, all seems lifeless. These low
forms OF life have wonderful infu-
ence upon the fertility OF the soil, and
on the health of those living upon 1t.
Darwin long ago showed the wonder
full amount OF work done by the earth
worms which every one can see but
it is only in recent years that the work
of the microscopic forms OF plant and
animal life in the soil has been made
apparent. The animal life in the soil
is mostly apparent in earth-worms.
the larvP and pupe OF insects, ETC..
but the unseen forms Of vegetable life
are infinitely more numerous.
Fungi. whose reproductive organs
are OF large size, like the mushrooms
and puff balls, are. of course, very
apparent but low down in the scale
of vegetable life countless millions OF
plant organizations, occur in this
mn all l. IL re- f.
Fungus forms of plants are divided
into two general divisions. LIST. Those
which get their sustenance from living
organisms, and which are called para
site fungi 2d. Those which feed
upon decaying organic matter and
are called saphrophytic fungi To
this class belong this mighty multitude
in the living soil. We are all familiar
with the effect produced by the
growth 81 one OF these saphro-
phytes, known as the yeast. plant the
rapid growth OF which. in solutions
containing sugar. is the cause
OF alcoholic fermentation. All through
this living SOIL uncounted mil
lions OF similar plants are pro.
iucing fermentation OF other char
acter, particularly what is known as
the nitric ferment producing nitric
acid in the soil. These. and forms
still lower and more minute. are ac-
lively engaged In promoting this nj
trio fermentation. Bacteria, so small
that one thousand could pass abreast
through the hole made by fine sew
ing needle increase in fertile loan with
rapidity almost inconceivable. and
aid materially in the process. But the
greater part. probably. of the nitriflca-
ton in soils cultivated in regular rota-
ton OF crops, is caused by a vegetable
fungus OF higher order than bac-
terium. and at least Of partly para
site character. This is small uni
cellular fungus. found to inhabit cer-
tain tubercles or swellings upon the
roots Of clover and other leguminous
plants. This is the organism which
yives this class OF plants their great
value as renovators Of fertility in the
soil, But the lower forms of bacteria
are found to be wonderfully active in
soils Astounding in decayed organic
matter. These are truly saphrO-
phytic. and their action in keeping up
the nitric fermentation furnishes an.
other argument for the practice of
burying vegetable growth in the soil.
A crop OF field peas or clover. by
means Of the higher ferment associ-
sted with them in their roots, accum-
ulates large amount OF nitrate. main
ly nitrate OF potash. while the decay
Of their tops buried in the ground fur
nishes food for myriads OF the bacte-
rial forms to continue the process
The presence Of these bacteria in de-
caying vegetable matter accounts for
the benefit derived from the covering
OF the soil with a vegetable mulch.
such as wheat straw. Many farmers
in large wheat growing districts, have
found the most profitable way
to use their straw is to spread
1t at once on the surface of the
soil. Land covered in this way
during the latter part OF the warm
season. and the following winter. is
found to have accumulated much
larger degree Of fertility than can DO
accounted for by the mere decay of
the straw. The abundant food given
to tho nitrifying bacteria promoted
their growth, nitric acid was produced,
and this seized on the otherwise in
soluble potash In the SOIL and two i'm
portant elements of plant food were
formed. On the other hand, we see
how soil, kept exposed year after
year in the clean culture of cotton,
becomes dead poor literally. There
is no food for the nitric ferments, and
the term dead poor is truer than we
may think, and nitrogen must be
bought in expensive fertilizers that an
intelligent course of culture would
have provided almost free.
Results Of Feeding Roots.
Carrots are better adapted for
horses, producing a sleek coat, healthy
appearance and good appetite. A
horse getting a mess OF them every
night seldom requires medicine. Sheep
that have fair share OF turnips or
mangels through the winter and spring
seldom lose their wool before shear
ing. The ewes have stronger lambs
a N