The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-09-13
SHELTON MASON COUNTY, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3 1896
The Farmers Institute.

AS Tar as we know none OF our Ma
son County farmers were present at
Tacoma last week, which was TO be re-
gretted, as the gist of the discussions
might have been presented at the COM
ing meeting of the County Horticul-
tural Society. Regarding the soils.
Prof. Elton Fulmer read an excellent
paper, of which the following is part
"The soil of western Washington
differs markedly from that of eastern
Washington. All soils contain prae-
tically the same kinds of mineral mat
ter, but in different amounts. The
main bulk of most soils is insoluhle
silica, varying in amount from u per
cent. IN some peat soils to 95 per cent.
IN very sandy soils. Silica occurs in
soils also as combined silica and as
soluble silica. Phosphoric acid is an
other important constituent of all soils.
The greater part of the nitrogen of
soils is contained in the humus, which
is the remains of decayed organic
matter.
Washington soils all contain very
small percentages of sulphuric acid.
Lime, soda and potash are soil constit-
uents. Soda in excess makes alkali
soil.
Potash and lime are very important
constituents. The water-holdine ca
pacity of soil is exceedingly import
ant.
"Alumina, the basis of clay, is found
IN all soils; also iron; but these two
are not important. Only three con-
stltuents are of critical importance--ni-
trogen, phosphoric acid and potash.
Lime is also important. A soil NAV
be sterile and yet contain much phos-
phoric acid, the latter being present in
form not available to plants. The
function of lime as fertilizer is in
unlocking the phosphoric acid and
making it available.
"Western Washington soils contain
more phosphoric acid and less lime
and potash than those of eastern
Washington. The upland of western
Washington is stronger from a chemi-
cal standpoint than the bottom lands.
Peat soils vary greatly in composition.
Central Washington soils are charac-
terized by abundance of sand. Palouse
country soil is dark, heavy, fertile clay
soil. Lincoln county and adjacent
soils are intermediate between the
last two.
81 have analyzed Al samples from
west of the mountains. Every fertile
soil must contain a certain amount of
the three important constituents.
Prof. G. V. Piper, of the Agricultu-
raj college, treated in general way
the important topics of "Injurious In
sects," and "Fungus Disease" He
said: "No small part of the western
Washington farmers income is en-
tirely lost by the attacks of these
enemies. Heretofore, nearly all atten-
tion has been given by fruit growers
and others to the insect pests, the
fungus diseases having been entirely
neglected, although prominent stu
dent of fungus diseases recently stat
ed that these diseases were more de-
veloped in western Washington than
he had seen them in any other part of
the United States.
"Nearly all Injurious insects are
either 'biters.' that is those that swal-
low solid food, or suckers those that
swallow their food only in a liquid
form. Where the leaves or stems, or
any part thereof, are bitten or perfo-
rated, you have to deal with biting
insect; where there are no holes or
bites in the leaves or stem the insect
is sucker" Mr.. Piper then gave
the methods of getting rid of the in
sects.