The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-03

Science has done little as yet for the
practical benefit of the farmer in the way
of soil Investigations. We speak of avail
able plant food, OF fertilization and tillage,
but we know little of our soils, except that
they in some way furnish suitable condi-
tons for the growth of plants. We have
learned that when we apply nitrogen or
potash or phOsphOric acid in available
form the roots of plants take it up and
growth is made. But there are primary
facts about the construction and action of
the soil that are highly important to the
practical farmer, but which can only be
revealed by science. Thus far We have
been left to grope after them blindly and
10 learn only by haphazard experiment.
We furnish 10 the soil only small per-
centage of the plant food crops remove
from our fields. Much of it either comes
from the air or the soil itself. each year
rendering quantity ayailable-a quantity
that is considerable in its effects upon
crops, but nearly infniesimal IN COM
parison with the remaining unavailable
stock. There is in our soils a large stock
of plant food that is soluble in water and
available when there is sufficient moisture
during the growing season, but that Is
locked no when water is lacking. All
have noticed that thin fed may pro-
duce big crop of grain or vegetables in
favorable year. one of well distributed
rainfall. This fscS proves that short crops
are not always due TO lack OF fertility, but
of soil moisture
Wemay finally learn that the mechan
ical condition oithe soil affects crop Yields
more than variation in quantities of plant
food. As good tlllage increases yields, the
saying Is current, "Tlllage is manure" IL
Is explained that tiliage renders the plant
food available, thus producing the same
effect as manure, by increasing the amount
of crop. But this saying only reflects the
old idea that yields are In proportion Sole
w TO amount of manure, while the lacts
doubtless are oftentimes that the Iillage
benefits chiefly BY changing the mechan-
zeal condition of the soil.
The water in the soil is the most I'M
pOrlant element with which, as farmers,
we are concerned. Its effects are many.
Science tells US that 30 per cent. by vol
ume, OF the soil is minute spaces filled
with air and water. This proportion
varies with the character of the soil. the
constitution, shape and arrangement of
its PARTICLES Around each particle in
finitesimally small is film of moisture,
thin or thick according to the amount of
wate- Certain chemicals change the
nature of the soil so that il retains or ex-
pels water more or less freely. Farmers
nave learned that salt and lime belong 10
this class The elements commonly called
plant food in fertilizers when dissolved by
the moisture OF the ground affect its
mechanical condition.
Ii is possible that science can reveal
truths about the soil, and point out meth
ode o; affecting its mechanical condition.
that VIII benefit the farmer more than he
now imagines possible. Sufficient avaia-
BILE plant food Is not all crop may need;
the particles Of earth may be in such a
condition that plants may starve in the
midst of plenty. The most of our fields
yield in great measure to the treatment we
give them with the pillow and harrow, but
the day will come when science will open
up the way for rendering comparatively
unproductive ones fertile simply by sup
plying the agents for a chemical change in
the soil that will affect its mechanical
condition most favorably. Here is a wide
open field and a few learned men have
already begun a study OF the problem.
why Pay High Pricese
There are certain business principles
vel understood in the business world
One of these is that a sale Tor spot cash on
to slow paYing customers al a much higher
price. Another rule Is that it is much
better TO sell a cash customer at a very
slight profit than 70 lose the SALE and let
competitor do the business The third
point 10 be considered is that the number
OF nlddlemen between producer and con-
sumner determine the number of profits
the consumer must pay.
Now, il farmers will bear these three
points in mind they can soon see wherein
they are losers. When an agen. or dealer
6xes price on a machine be is compelled
TO make 1t sufficiently high to cover the
average cost OF making sales and col
lections, including a margin to cover losses
rom bad debts. If they are excessive in
amount. then the merchant Is the loser.
but the average loss from this source is
never stood by the merchant. Goods are
always marked TO cover this average loss,
The paying customers are the actual suf-
ferers.
The average selling price of machines
covers the average expense OF the agent
in selling and collecting besides a fair
profit for his time and investment. Whose
fault IS It That the price is so materially
increased in this way? The farmers fault
most assuredly. The agent would prefer
TO have his expenses cut down BY selling
for cash and BY selling To men who can
set up machine and run IL without call
ing on him to aid them, and could sell
them at much less price.
Refuse salt ON wheat
II is claimed that the winds OF the sea
carry salt in solution nearly halfway
across England. DR.. Madden estimates
that on some parts of England lying near
the coast 600 pounds OF common salt are
deposited every year on each acre. 1t is
not impossible that the high crop average
OF that country is. in some degree due to
this free application of salt that tends to
keep down insect growth, even if iJ is not
needed for plant food At inland points.
where the air contains little salt, applca-
tions have been made that increased the
yields OF wheat 10 marked extent.
Ten or twelve years ago careful expert
ments were made on wheat ground living
within q few miles OF our Atlantic sea-
board, and no benefit was noticed. In
this case the sea breezes furnished all that
was needed. If it is a plant food, COM
mon soil contains enough for all growing
plants. Prof. Shelton saws that salt does
not enter into the composition of plants as
necessary element, and therefore is not
q fertilizer. 1t kills insects in the soil and
also promotes the decomposition of vege-