The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-03-28
NrnacT -

H.,
the seven will make tip almost all OF lhe
mass OF the world. In addition we IL" "
the various metals, which are OF S"ch
value in the arts, and potassium Pho9-
Dhorus and sulphur, which are essen
tial for all animal and vegetable IKE
In plants we find but thirteen io' no
of matter. including sodium, ni"S NO.
ium and chlorine in addition to those
named above.
The first four come almost cntiEefF
from the air, while the nine nI'ne'"'
substances all come from the Sol!. No'
all are of equal value, as many a'' |"
great abundance. while others are F'te'
Silicon is abundant in plants, OuI is
the base of sand, and with ALUMINIUM
which is not found in agricultural
plants, and is common in clay, makes
I'D the great mass Of our SOILS. lhey
form the framework of our soils, ana
are nearly, if not quite, soluble. lhey
hold the lime. magneSia, potassium
phosphorus and sulphur, when are
more soluble and enter the plant IN
solution in water. These last cannot
be dispensed with, as no plant can gro"
without them.
Upon Thursday morning Dr. ke.zle
gave a talk upon Soil Exhaustion.
In the early days the valleys or the
Mohawk and the James were thought TO
| be inexhaustible, but after cropping 1or
number Of years the yield obtained
was so small that the crop was not prof.
| table, and when that condition was
reached they were exhausted. there
are two causes for soil exhaustion: 1>
unsuitable physical conditions, such as
too wet or too dry, too loose or too com
pact. 90 that they are not in condition
TO grow crops, and (N when plant food
IS lacking. The soil is not mine tc
be worked out. 1t must be cultivated
with reference to it's continued fertility
ANYTHING else is robbery. All soils have
supply of reserve matter in an IN
soluble form that will be gradually
drafted into service. Potash is de-
rived from the decomposition OF the
mineral ingredients Of the soil. Field
spar one of the constituents of granite
contains over 16 per cent. of potash
and as it weathers it decomposes ant
produces clay, setting free a large
amount of potash, of which 1856 pei
cent. IS available as plant food. Tn
greatest danger is from the exhaustion
Of the soil nitrogen. While it exist!
in immense quantities in the air, 1t Il
in q free state-in that form it is OF NJ
value to most crops. AS rule abou
S% mounds of combined nitrogen PEI
acre are annually brought down in rail-
or snow, but this is insufficient for farm
crops. The humus of the soil, as a re
su]t of nitrifcation, yields up larg
amount of combined nitrogen. Nitrate
are easily washed out of the soil, bu
It can be largely prevented If some crol
is kept upon the land, as winter rye
which will take it up. Fallow LAM
develops nitrogen, but large amour
is washed away.
In his fourth lecture DR.. Kedzie spok
regarding Manure and FERTILIZERS.
He considered barn-yard manure as tn
hest material for use as a fertilizer
and the pivot of successful farming. B
r,eans of charts, the loss Of the ma
nurial elements when it is exposed t
tho weather was shown. When keD
for a wear under the caves Of a barr
more than four-fifths of the ammonf
and nearly as much of the potash wa
lost In the open air, but away fror
the caves, the loss was slightly less
hut was more than two-thirds for tn
above elements. Only about one-fourt
Of the phosphoric scid was lost unde
either condition.
Wood ashes came next In value as
fertilizer; 100 pounds of wood ashc
free from dirt will contain pounds {
potash and 81 pounds of phosphori
acid and will be worth nearly so cent
per bushel. AS they are seldom pur'
: one-half the above will be high pric'
Leached ashes have lost part Of thei
potash, but are generally one third q
4 valuable as the unleached. There
t little value in coal ashes.
All the remains of vegetables an
!, especially Of animal materials are {
: great value as fertilizing materials, q
9 we'll as for their physical effect upo
o the soil, as the capacity of the soil
O hold water depends largely upon tn
;. amount of vegetable matter 1t contain
: The lack of nitrogen can be hslped b
growing leguminous crops, such
clover and peas, as they have warts
tubercIes upon their roots which hav
= the power of utilizing the free nitroge
OF the air.
: From Farmers Review special r.
e port of South Haven (Michigan) farm
irs' institute.)
Michigan Horticultural Convention.