The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-05


of the West contains twice the nitrogen
that soils titled for half generation do.
Specific data showing this fact will soon
be given. That crops and tillage bear
direct relation to this fact is evident by
the constant increase of the nitrogen IN
the soil laid down to grass by Sir JOhn
Lawes. the increase being in proportion to
the time that the soil had lain under
grass. The amount began as low in nitro
gen as O.10 per cent, increased to VIZ per
cent when laid down but short time AS
the years rolled by the amount rose to O.l5
per cent, and for ground under grass Tor
a long series of years still more until the
maximum was reached in rich old pasture.
Both in carbon and in nitrogen the long
titled areas contained but about one-half
the amount that the long covered soil
held.
And vet the fact remains that the titled
acres were constantly yielding more of dry
crops per year. Why these two seemingly
contradict tory facts? The reason is precise
ly that which has much to do with the de-
termina ton to till more but with system
1t is not fully understood why it is that
nitrogen accumulates in the soil when the
ground is under close covering crop, yet
it is known by the Investigations of sew
eral persons that nitrogen is taken up and
held by the action of several forces in the
soil, and that the amount varies with the
soil as we'll as with it's conditions. Humus
stand in the rotation of Wilson Farm for
the good offices noted, although but for a
very sort time, for the reason that, when
closely covered, disintegrat ton is slow, SO
vey slow under its sealing action, circula-
ton of air is at it's minimum with it. We
wait long enough for some of its good
offices and then turn it over, and under a
tillage crop let in the air and give to this
crop the fairness that decay of the roots of
grass and the stored up nitrogen which be-
comes unlocked under the action ,of fer
mentation stimulated into action by the
freer flow of air and crcula ton of mOiS-
ture provides. Latent energy is thus
turned into potential force.
Let us recall the splendid illustration
furnished by the apt work of DR.. Sturte-
Vane. He found that a soil covered with
grass allowed but 40.4 tons of water to
leach out of it for the year. containing 03
of pound of nitrogen to the acre, while
bare soil stirred yielded to the lysimeter
1,241 tons of water and 219 pounds of nitro
gen to the acre.
Yes, tillage does aid decomposition, al
though too much ruins it, and SO it is pro-
posed to realize upon the storage under
grass and then at once follow up the
grains that will slow the porcess and prac-
t1cally extinguish it with the clover that
follows the grain--indeed that accompanies
1t. But after the clover then tillage the
next year, for we must avail of the nitro
nature, and by tillage make it ours in an
appropriate crop. After this, grain fol-
lows and then timothy for the good offices
OF the grass again. The one operation
gathers from nature and the other restores
it to nature. The proposition it this, play
these forces against each other and bag
the game.
Frosts seal up the soil in this far North
too much, and the plow must make the
most of the short stay of the sun while
wheeling to the north.
Stand by the Sheep.
Every farm of so or more can profitably
carry a flock of % to 100 sneep, no differ
ence how low the price Of wool may drop.
The Breeders Gazetts gives this candid
and board-minded view of the situation in
regard to wool and mutton: When sheep
bred for mutton as wine are bred for pork,
flock husbandry will have rested on bed
rock We do not mean chat the time will
ever come when the sleeps fleece will be
worth no more than the hogs bristles but
we do mean that the profits from fleece
alone have been long emphasized in this
country. In the temperate zone the human
race must be clothed in wooden garments.
Substitutes are found for many articles of
food, but it need not be feared that inven-
ton or discovery will supply product to
supersede wool. OF course shoddy suppiants
thousands of pounds of wool, but only the
poor wear shoddy, and if free wool means
cheap wool, then even the poor will dsca I'd
shoddy and be clothed in Nooens. Either
way the market for 1leeces will be main
tanned so that the tiockmaster may at all
times count on some tangible returns from
the coats of his hooks-the incdentals of
sheep bandry, if you please. This Is put
ting 1t at its worst. AS a matter of fact
wool, even at present prices, and good
mutton carcass will never let q man take
Christmas dinner inside the almshouse--and
yo1or1 noIh rat, ro,t
aye, better-be admitted. BE not deceived.
Fashions in dress may change and the lus-
trous long woods, the combing medium
woods and the fine woods may go up or
down, but fashion in mutton chops and legs
does not fluctuate. 1t has been growing
greatly under the influence of the superior
quality of mutton now coming on the mar
ket. But mutton-eating on this continent
mas not yet reached a 1.-THE of it's volume.
Exclusive wool-growing may be face to
tace with dire extremity, but flock hus-
bandry fronts smlingly a prosperous fu-
ture just now unfolding before it. Large
focks may be scattered but few are the
farms which cannot keep sheep to advan-
tage. Fresh mutton should supercede salt
pork on the farmers table. The double
profits-aye the treble profits-of the
golden hoofed animal should be reaped on
every farm. Give up the sheep? Is that a
theme for Christmastide? Is the aSsocia tion
of the shepherd with this gift holiday so far
forgotten? AS the Judean shepherds saw a
great light, so on this Christmas time may
the American farmer behold the rays Of
brightest truth, dispelling politicians fogs
and pointing him to the maintenance on his
farm of that animal which never dies in
his owners debt. Then will the green bill
sides of agricultural America be dotted
with the feecy-coated sheep and prosperity
return to industry which is inseparably
linked with the history and prosperity of
mankind.
The Farm Home.
BY Waldo F. Brown
I frequently receive letters and some
| times visits, from men who have accumu
| lated a modest fortune as merchants OF