The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-30
HOW TO KEEP UP THE FERTILITY
OF OUR FARMS

Soils have but very little capacity for
holding nitrogen in soluble compounds as
nitric acid and ammonia, while ordinarily
phosphoric acid and potash are easily
! held. The bank which holds the phos-
! phoric acid and potash is solid but not
/ so with nitrogen. To endeaYor to accumu-
| late a working nitrogen capital by the
| application of soluble materials such as
nitrate of soda is folly; but such capital
| is desirable ana its accumulation in
manures, stubble and roots of grass and
/ clover, green crops TO be plowed under,
etc, is sound practice Green manuring
/ cannot increase the quantity of phos-
phoric acid or potash, as the plant re-
turns only what it received from the
soil; neither does the plant prevent their
loss, as the soil has the capacity for
their retention As green manuring
I plants are vigorous growers, the feeding
roots are provided with an acid which
eXerts powerful solvent action. The
myraids of roots ramify throughout the
soil. dissolving phosphoric acid and pot
ash as they grow.
UnoccupieG soils in late summer or
autumn lose soluble nitrogen A growing
crop should. therefore. be kept on the
fields. Green manuring enables the
farmer to conserve soil nitrogen. 1t en-
ables him-to adopt a simile-to put the
soluble nitrates which his effective hand
maids warmth, air and bacteria have been
hold them there during the period
autumn, winter and early spring-when
that active thief-heavy rain-is most
likely to abscond with them. As an il
lustration. Indian corn finishes growing
by September 10Th. While growing, the
roots stand ready to absorb the nitrogen
as fast as liberated. but these roots be-
come inactive at the very time rains are
the most frequent and nitrogen for two
months is likely to be lost by teaching.
AS a preventative / have sown white
mustard about August LIST, and which
grows until November 18th in the corn
field. Winter rye may be sown if the
land is TO be unused until May 18th. Don't
allow bare land after early potatoes or
rye. 1t is bad practice. Plow or harrow
and sow some cheap, quick-growing seed
to cover the bookkeeping down maraud-
ing weeds and preventing the theft of
nitrates.
Glover. peas. beans, vetches, lupines
and few other plants absorb nitrogen
from the air. The supply of nitrogen in
the air is exhaustless and nitrogen is the
most expensive plant food. Through the
agency OF bacteria. which develop in lit
tie nodules upon the roots of the plants
named above, atmospheric nitrogen is as
simulated For success in growing these
air nitrogen-users the soil must be well
drained and puiverized, potash, phos-
phoric acid and lime must be in plentiful
supply, as must the germs of the proper
bacteria and but a small stock of avail
able soil nitrogen. If the proper bacteria
are absent the plant is powerless TO use
atmospheric nitrogen Every crop has
two values, food and manurial. PlOW
the crop in and the entire manurial value
is Obtained while if fed wisely, the full
food value and four-ffths of the manurial
value minus the cost of handling crop
and manure under conditions prevailing
in Massachusetts. will generally be great
er than the full manurial value, hence
the wisdom of feeding rather than turn
ing under a crop which farm stock will
relish. Whether the crop is pastured or
cut and fed green makes no material diff
ference. The manurial effect of roots
and stubble of q green crop is always con-
sid hi from n
p. Brooks, Massachusetts Agricr ltural
College.