The Van Buren press., 1894-11-24
CONSERVING FERTILITY.
A Few Hints In Regard to Keeping tn
Soil Up to Its Work.

SOL Up To It's WORK.
Scientists are always soaring farmers
about the exhaustion of the fertility Of
the soil. In new countries their show
ings are usually regarded as mere
alarms of theorists and of no practical
Importance. As years come and go,
and diminishing crops show that t.,
scientists were right, and as the b VS.
abandon the old, worn-out farm, the
value Of the scientists advice to save
the manure is realized.
Prof. Geo. L. Hotter. chemist Of the
Oklahoma experiment station, has pre-
sented, in a way to be easily UNDER
stood, some figures of the value of the
ingredients taken from the soil by
standard crops. He says:
SHOULD our farmers continue to raise
crops year after year without paying
any attention to fertilization, twill be
a few years only until exhaustion will
be plainly seen. The sooner we recog-
nize this necessity of fertilization the
better. 1t is not a question for the up
land farmers alone, but Tor their neigh
bors on the bottom lands as well.
The three fertilizing ingredients Of
most Importance are nitrogen, potash
and phosphoric acid. Nitrogen is worth,
we will say, IS centsper pound; potash,
cents, and phosphoric acid, cents.
In one ton of wheat straw there are II
pounds of nitrogen, 12 pounds potash
and AZ pounds phosphoric acid At
the above valuation these are worth as
manure S2.94.
"In one ton Of corn stalks there are
II pounds nitrogen, IS pounds potash
and 10 pounds phosphoric aid, worth as
a manure S4.76.
''Too frequently the straw and stalks
are burned or disposed of in some other
manner, and not utilized as manure.
These products usually remain on the
farm.
"Let us consider few products that
are sold. When the farmer has dis
posed of 35 bushels of wheat at IS cents
per bushel, he has in hand $26.25. II
we care not for the value of our land
and the necessity of maintaining fer
tility, the above statement is correct;
but let us go a little further. In dis
posing of 25 bushels of wheat the farm
er has taken from his soil 80 pounds
nitrogen, Is pounds potash and 10
pounds phosphoric acid, and has taken
from his land 49, 0s worth of fertilizing
ingredients. Ifhe sells the same num-
Der of bushels of corn, he has taken
from his land 80 pounds nitrogen,
pounds potash and 10 pounds phos-
phoric acid containing &c. worth Of
fertilizing ingredients. Should he sell
~ bushels of oats, he has taken from
his land 81 pounds of nitrogen,
pounds potash and ID pounds phos-
phoric acid, which, in manurial value,
is worth So. 10. What has been said Of
wheat, corn and oats may be said of
everything that is raised on farm.
"While it is not advisable to use
wheat, corn and oats for fertilizing
purposes, it should not be forgotten
that the ingredients they draw from
the soil should be returned Il we would
maintain the fertility. The wisest
thing for our farmers to do is to begin
right now, and carefully and intelli-
gently consider the question of how to
best retain the present fertility of their
soil.
"Work all the straw you possibly can
through your stables, and when this Is
done do not be afraid to haul manure.
Do not have your stables located on the
bank of creek in such a way that
every time it rains the water from your
barnyard will drain into said creek, for
in this way the water soluble portion
of the manure is carried off and moth
as fertilizer, is of little value.'-
| Kansas Farmer,