Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1891-03-12

those elements taken from the soil by
plants, which Is the labratory OF
plant life, have been transformed in
20 mstoral ft for the sustcnance Of
a higher order Of life, 90 to building
up Of the animal structure in all is
different parts, and it Is just that
crush Of tho food Of the plants re-
moved from the soil to build up the
animal. Now If these plants were
returned il ;he.r entirety to the soil,
or 50 much as may not have been as
simulated by animal bodies, and the
dccaying bodies Of these animals
whom they died were given TO the
soil which produced the food that
built up their bodies, then no De
toriorauon Of SOL could take place
except from abrasion, indeed, It's
fertility woull be increased by the
slow yet constant preparation OF
plsnt.looi m the labratory Of the
the earth. How interesting the ie ct
;hat animals cannot, as plants, draw
their sustcnance directly IRON the
soil, but that their food must first be
nodded and assimilated to plant lie.
Where vegetation can not exist am.
mols lric Is no; !cgai: on the other
hand whore vegetation. ~ abundant
go IL an!mnl lie in some other iormi
and the farmer who can cause two
bushels Of grain or two blades OF
grass to grow where only one had
previously grown, is the beneiactol
Of his race.
Now let us look at the matter II
the light Of actual facts. The de
mands Of commerce require pure
Ily agricultural people 10 export lar
gely Of the productions q their soil
80 as to enable them to provide them
selves with articles they DO not pro
iuce. Every bushel Of wheat. corn
oat'. rye, barley, potatoes, etc., ev
cry pound of tobacco and hemp, ev
cry ton Of hsy, every head Of horses
mules, cattle. sheep aad hogs col,
! from the farm removes more or leg
TODD from the soil necessary to th
growth OF plants, and It Is pcrma
uently gone, and unless We suppl
the loss annually, or nave reserv
supply IA the soi ready to be prcpar
cd by the process OF nature Tor plan
food, impoyerishment and final ex
hiustion of the soil must occu
We can not get something from not
ing, We do not possess creative poS
err. There can be no greater toll
than Tor any maui 20 attempt to Gu
luyate, by blowing, exhausted Ian,
WITHOUT first adding 70 1t the foo
that the crop BIO purposes 20 plai
requires. Take as an illustration /,
bacco, a crop with which so man
farmers ia tho State arc iamliia
Its largest nincTa. element IS 10
ash, and unless the soil be new, {
has been re superated by years
: gross, the effort Will be a failure; t
bacco will not grow without q hbe
al supply OF potash ia the soil. Til
Slplant approprIates large amour
Of potash in It's growth, and soon e
= AauSts the available supply. Nv
lcr three crops 10 succession are
y many AS most Of our lands will stan
" lthen a rest for q few years in era
will bring 1t into condition to pr,
y lucc tobacco, the slow processes
y nature having liberated enough pc
y ash to produce 1t.
II 1t is not positively certain, b
. highly probable, that all other mi
., eral elements necessary to che grow
n Of this plant are in sufficient avail
!. bic supply Tor its growth, but
, consequence Of the want Of pota
+, the land can not produce It. WI
:. then, should not the tobacco grove
, after taking his crop OF, estimu
. how much potash has bten remoy
-, from his land BY his crop, and retu
n that much % tho soil before pla!
, lng another crop; TINS can be do
!, nc comparatively small cost; the b.
a crop of |, 200 to 1900 will not ia
lilaNay more than $50 to 200 poun'
.dlThe processes of nature will resto
|, part OF this, and 100 TO 200 poun
Il sulphate OF potash, crushed fine a
= sowed upon the land broadcast att
n. it is prepared for planting, will
n an ample supply for an acre OF lar
% This will not or need not cost
70 farmer more than ~ or s3 ,
. hundred; the addition of sol
- Stacked lime or land plaster wo,
~ probably assist materially, uni
~ the land is uudorlaid with lnaestol
nv in That case the lime would not
Of necessary, All other elements
40 in such small supply in tobaC
10 that an abundance OF them Is to
40 found in nearly all soils, unless
rs rs be phosphoric acid and nitrogen.
Land that is set 10 perman'
no grass and used for grazing stock,
Or though the stock be sold from
-. farm, probably does not lose Its Il
.u,.,, hut eIoNyly ir1brOyps by