The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-12-23


food Il may contain. A clay soil which
has been producing good crops for any
number Of years may be 30 seriously
injured by one injudiclous plowing In
wet time az TO ruin q for the growing
Of crops for two or three years. The
injury lies In the modification Of It's
physical texture. not In the lesHening
Of its fertility. sandy soil may also
be seriously impaired for the growing
Of any crop n the humus
or decaylng organic matter "a
allowed 10 burn cut Of Il.
Il then becomes leachy. Il quickly loses
lts moisture. and becomes excessively
hot In bright sunny weather Similar
remarks may be applied 10 all soils.
That Is. the texture or physical condi-
ton Of the soil Ia nearly always moro
important than its mere richness IN
plant food. A finely divided. mellow.
irlable soil II more productive than a
hard and lumpy ono Of the same chem
ical composition because; Il holds and
retains more moisture; holds more air,
presents greater surface 10 the roots
promotes nlirlneatlon: hastens the de-
composition Of mineral elements; has
leSs variable extremes OF temperatures
allows better root-hold 10 the plant.
In all these ways. and others, the mel
lowness OF the soil renders the plant
food mere available and affords a con-
genial and comfortable place IN which
the plant may GROW.
Tho reader viii now see the folly Of
applying commercial or concentrated
fertilizers to lands OF poor texture. He
will see that n potash. for example.
were applied TO the hard lumps Of clay
4 could no, be expected 20 aid In the
growth Of plants. because plants cannot
grow on such soil. II the same quantity
we're applied 10 proper soil. however.
the greater part Of Il would be pre-
sented to the roots Of plants AZ once,
and ia effects would no doubt be APP
parent In the seasons crop. The read
er viii readily understand that Il d
useless to apply commercial fertilizers
TO lands which arc not IN proper phys
ical condition for the very best growth
VI erop3.
Farmers DO no, appreciate the I'M
portance Of humus a. an amcllator o.
land. In farm lands, q Is usually sup
Piled IN the form Of green crops. stub
Ole or sward. and barn mnnurCs WheE
humus is absent. sandy soils beeom'
too loose and leachy and hot. and elai
soils bake and became lumpy.
Tho writer has much Of this har'
unp'odueliye land. What "a 20 be don
with ~ To cover Il with commercial
fertilizer would be Of little benefit !
must FIRST be put In ft condition for th
growing Of crops. A crop Of Glove
plowed under would quickly improv
q, but the land Is newly planted 10 or
chArd and he does not care 10 seed
down. The next recourse 10 stable ma
nure. OF this enough can be had {
cover the hardest spois. Fer the res
catch OF cover crops must be used. Fol
! lowing beans or potatoes, be can so'
I rye and pillow Il under very early In d
] spring. Now and then be can use
!, fall crop Of soWed corn or oats or some
thing Of the Kind. After a time. b
may be able TO get the land In such
p condition Of tilth as 10 secure an oces
tional stand OF crimson clover. Tn
practice, continued judiclously for
few years, ought 10 radically ehaaf
Q the character OF the land; but all III
p viii be OF little avail unless the plov
r ing and cultlvation-which are now
|. inadequate-can be done In a time
and intelligent way. All this will tai
a time and patience. lie wishes IN
there were some shortcut and lazy VI
D Of improving this land by making son
application Of fertilizer TO Il. but the
is not. The most he can do is to slow
bring Il into such condition that Il "
pay TO put concentrated fertilizers
Il. In short. the first step IN the enrlc
mcnt OF unproductiye land Ia 10 Il
prove its physical condition by mea'
OF careful and thorough tillage. by 4
q addition Of humus. and perhaps by u
dcrdrainare. Il must frSt be put
a such condition that plants can grow
Il. After that, the addition OF ohoI
"a teal fertilizers may pay by giving adj
M lional or redundant growth.
4 l. II nailov