davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-09-09
ABSORPTION OF N1TRATEs BY PLANTS

EVIQenIly Ine very OcSG mcGAoU VI
utilizing the products Of the activity OF
the soil ferments is to have them alb
sorbed by growing crop. For this rea-
son, as we'll as for others of an ecOnomi-
cal nature, the farmer should have as
little waste land as possible. Every acre
which he possesses should either be de-
voted to forest, orchard, grass, pasturage
or cultivated crops. By thus occupying
the land he will reduce to a minim UNI
the losses which occur from the teaching
of the soil by water.
1t is we'll known that all agricultural
crops store immense quantities OF Or
ganic nitrogen in their tissues. AS a
rule, the highest percentages of nitro
genous organic compounds are found in
the seeds of plants, but it must not be
forgotten that certain grasses which are
harvested for hay also contain large
quantities of nitrogen. This is especially
true of clover 1t is easily seen from
the above how wasteful is the practice,
now happily almost extinct, of burning
the residue of cereal crops, as. for instance
Indian cornstalAs and the straw of wheat,
in order to prevent them from obsGruct-
ing subsequent tillage. In this wasteful
process it is true that the phosphoric
acid and potash are saved and returned
to the soil, but all the heterogeneous COM
pounds are, practically lost and dissi pa
ted in the air. The quantity Of am
monia and oxides of nitrogen which are
produced in combustion is insignificant
when compared with the total nitrogen
Gus content of the refuse matters men
toned above. 1t is far better that these
residual matters be chopped as finely as
possible and turned under by the plow
Although they may not decay with suf
ficent rapidity to be OF much benefit to
the next crop, yet they will gradually
become decomposed and serve a most
valuable end in contributing fresh stores
of humus and nitrogen to the arabic
soil. Combustion is the most wasteful
and also the least scientific method of
disposing Of the refuse of the fields.
FALLOw FIELDS.
In former times it was a common
practice among farmers to allow field
to lie fallow for one season in order to
increase it's fertility. The ACCESSIBILITY
of this process is extremely questionable.
During moderately dry summer there
is probably very little loss experienced
by blowing field after the spring rains
and keeping it's surface sufficiently well
cultivated during the summer to pre-
vent the growth Of weeds. In the alb.
sence of heavy rainfall the stores Of
available nitrogen in such soil will un
doubleday be increased during the sum
mer, inasmuch as the processes of nitri.
fication will be continued and the stores
of nitrogen thus oxidiZed, in the absence
of absorbing bodies, will remain in the
soil. Even in case of rainfalls which
may carry the soluble plant food below
the arabic soil, there may not be any
notable loss, especially if such down
pour be followed by dry weather. In
the latter case by the evaporation from
the surface and consequent capillary
movement of the soil moisture upward,
the available plant food carried below
the reach of the roOtletS of plants will
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-09-09

like Chile saltpetre there is added to the
soil material which can in no manner
foster the growth and development Of
nitrifying organism. To feed soil
with food of this kind alone, therefore,
would be to virtually produce famine
in respect to the nitrifying ferments
which it contains.
1t is therefore highly important that
additional methods Of supplying the nj
| trogenous foods Of plants should be prac-
| ticed. Stall manures and the refuse of
castle and poultry yards furnish consider
able quantities of heterogeneous materials
suited to the needs of the soil fern ents,
and useful after oxidation to the grow
ing crop. In the growth Of leguminous
plants, as has already been intimated,
another important supply of organic nj
trogen may be secured, some of which,
at least, is clear gain from the atmos-
phere. Other important forms of nj
trogenous materials are found in the
pressed cakes left after the extra ction of
the oil from oil-producing seeds, such as
flax and cotton seed. These cakes are
Exceptionally rich in heterogeneous mat
ter, which may be secured for the field
both by the direct application of the
ground material to the soil or by first
feeding it to animals, the part which
escapes digestion in the latter case being
still valuable fertilizing material. In
the case of cotton seed cake, moreover,
it should not be forgotten that there is
some danger in feeding it, especially to
young cattle, on account of the poison
Gus heterogeneous bases (cholin and betaln)
which it contains. These poisonous
bases produce no deleterious effects
whatever on the soil, although it is
doubtful whether they are attacked very
readily by the nitrifying ferments Other
sources of heterogeneous foods for the soil
ferments are found in the refuse of
slaughter houses Dried blood is per-
haps the richest in nitrogen of any or
ganic substance that is known, and is
readily attacked by the soil ferments.
The heterogeneous refuse Of slaughtered
animals, after the extraction of the fat,
is dried and ground and sold under the
name OF tankage. 1t is substance very
rich in heterogeneous matter. The bones
of animals are not only valuable on &C
count Of the phosphoric acid which they
contain, but also have large percentage
of heterogeneous material which renders
them particularly we'll suited for appli-
cation to soil deficient both in phos-
phoric acid and nitrogen. For this rea-
son, burning bones before grinding them
for fertilizing purposes, which IS done in
some localities, is extremely wasteful.
For a similar reason, also, the compost
ing of coarsely ground fresh bones with
wood ashes is not to be recommended,
because of the tendency of the alkali of
the ashes to set free. in the form of am
monia, at least part Of the heterogeneous
content of the bones.
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OCEAN.
The farmer, happily, is not confined
alone to the land for the sources of or
ganic nitrogen with which to supply the
demands of the nitrifying ferments of
his field. The ocean is made to con-
tribute to the stores of heterogeneous
70 L i.oI, L. :.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-09-09

| winch nave lain fallOW during the sum-
mer and which are afterward exposed to
the saturatlng rains of the autumn and
winter. In these cases the nitrogen will
be thoroughly extracted and all the
soluble matters which may have accumu-
lated during the summer will be lost.
1t is advisable therefore in all cases, in
stead of allowing the fields to lie fallow,
to seed them with catch crop, such as
barley, rye, or peas, which may retain
the products of nitrifcation. When the
time comes for seeding the field with the
! intended crop, the catch can be turned
under with the pillow, and, in the pro-
cess of decay, furnish again the nitro.
genous food in an available form. This
practice should never be neglected in
fields which lie over during the winter in
| preparation for planting during the fol-
lowing spring. OF course, this statement
does not apply so particu larly to fields
which may be plowed late in the
| autumn, after the activity OF the nitrify-
ing ferments is practically suspended
for the winter. In a temperate climate,
fields may be plowed late in November
or during the month of December, and
the freshly turned soil be exposed to the
&C lion of the weather during the winter
wit hout great danger Of loss
In many localities even an earlier pc
riod might be chosen for the autumn
blowing, which should be deep or &C.
companied by subsoiling. The loosened
soil should be brought into good filth
and thus form an absorbent which will
hold large quantities of moisture, be.
coming available for he following sea-
son during the period of deficient rains
THE SUPPLY OF RAW MATERIAL FOR THE
ACTION OF FERMENTs.
| A field is as poor as its most deficient
| fertilizing principle. A plant, like an
animal, demands balanced ration. 1t
can not live upon phosphoric acid alone
In order to secure the most economic
method of ferGiliZing, the pecullarities
of each field must be carefully studied
and its particular deficiency in plant food
determined. In the case under consid-
GRAFTON it may happen that field will
have an abundant supply of potash and
PHOSPHORUS and be deficient only in nitro
gen. In such case it's pristine fertility
will be restored by the application of
nitrogen alone, provided the other con-
ditlons in the composition of the soil are
favorable to the development and activ-
ity of the ferments which oxidize nitro
gen. Virgin soils. as rule are ex-
tremely rich in nitrogen. This arises
from several causes. In the first place,
such soils usually contain large guam
rity of humus, and this humus is excep-
tionally rich in its heterogeneous elements.
In the second place, virgin soil is apt
to be well protected from teaching.
This is secured either by a forest growth
or on prairie land, by the grass. In the
third place, there is well-marked ten
dency in soils, especially those covered
by grass, and presumably those also pro-
tected by forest growth to develop fer.
ments capable of oxidizing the free
nitrogen of the air. When virgin soils
are subjected to cultivation, it is found
| thoir 1oifrn0on oon+o~+ - n,,Io
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-09-09
Soil Ferments in Agriculture.
No. 5.

BY DIR. II. w. WILEY.
Chief of the Division OF Chemistry; U. 8. De-
partment OF Agriculture.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-09-09
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OCEAN.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE OCEAN.
The farmer, happily, is not confined
alone to the land for the sources of or
ganic nitrogen with which to supply the
demands of the nitrifying ferments of
his field. The ocean is made to con-
tribute to the stores of heterogeneous
matters to which the farmer has access.
The vast quantities of seaweed which
are thrown up annually upon our shores
are rich in heterogeneous matters. The
value of this material, however, is not
generally appreciated, but in some parts
of the country it is carefully gathered
and utilized. The value of this product
gathered annually upon the shores of
Rhode Island alone is nearly 100000.
While seaweed, for obvious reasons, can
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
sILvER onIEcr LEssoN.


San Antonio Express.
Thoa.. Who arc welded To- the idoa off
e. "a ,..,iu.,,t ...t..,... 49,. .,...
''- ANA "''l'''''''- '''''' @' '' f''''' "'
use ratio or W 10 rrE@rd-eSs OF the CONE
mrfcAi .nnie OF the white metal al the
l.,. I,.t ,..,,,.,.,. 49,, ...
'-"''f ga" '"-' " N"''"''' o-!''' ''Na''
IA me cnsa ot tHe MeNlVan international
ahous al Porrirlo liag. Mexico. opnosits
t.,.l ,.-. ~ 3D.. ,,. -.
''f'' ""0' ''''N ""' "lN"SH
hefn pa.d in NcNcan money " ben tho
slofs Wr.e H.7l WAtk iitf Hh4 tha
ale OF wages H%ru, th, NeAiv.-l dollar
Ns0 worth ~ cents ln 3 % f"nrt. The
prio, ct stNrr Fra4uu!Y dt'.ni"1 unit
lNe MtAi'hu dollar "4- wprt4 less t-An
~ cents in good money, ana toW iH ~uttn
about = cents, Nail, thc Nal8e of money
Ctcnnel however, tine rate OF Mas H ih
Ar>ican dollars remained tle came. thr
practical onec being "a reduction ot about
40 ptr cent The Woritmon nntly de-
terWiueJ That they could not longer exist
under such conditions. and on g. 0lsaI ot
a demand for a - per cent advance IN
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
TARIFF MEAsrRE HLocKnn.

-Four republican senators are having the
falls Of party wrath emp,iel upon them
lus; now by reason % their action In u.s.
listing the democrats and popnlsts in the
senate in preventing The taking up Of tho
1ariff bin which went 10 the senate from
PIE house. These men arc Garter. chair
inan, by the way, Of the republican Ma
ional committee. and Mantle his col.
hague, Teller and Dubois.
! The country did not demand this so.
aiied revenue raiser" in the shane of a
Jew tariff measure-d!d not want II. in
act. although the republican house rushed
4 Through under whip and spur. TO the
fedit of the Western and Southern popu-
asts. they voted against the measure In
lie senate. along with the democrats. put
/, was not patriotic opposition to an in
reased tariff that actuated these four re-
a.biican senators from the States OF Mon
aua, Colorado and Idaho. Their assist
snce under the circumstances was valua.
nc, but II sprung from selfish ana
savlsh devotion to the free silver senti-
|tent In their respective communities. They
zRciared by everything high and low that
~ tariff measure should be taken up I'M
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21

to undertake tho tAsk OF getting rtd or
this troublesome little insect. Tho matter
IS National one, affecting not one STATE.
but larry section 81 the country, Morr'
over the United States ) cr,ter aoio
to make the tgAt than any orr state
or combination % States. II has a well
equipped en,cfn ,iesicsl department, wsich
has already made study ot the Mexican
we0vll and which has carefully consid-
erca all the means by which u0Stous IN.
scots can &c &c; ria pf. Ii would cost
much less. thcct0-e. 70 ges IA 9, tne
weevil q the Vnltcd States Department
Of agriculture TOOK charge 81 the work
Il has indeed a,rvaiy suggvs tESi 4 ttlcty
OF ieai,nr with tne weevN ana an ~
needs is the authority " cansTe u carry
out its plans and ar appropriation Nltn
which 20 SO the wcrN
AS we have said, VIC DO not c@,icNc
the cotton exchange Is eSasgurltsrg the
damage from this Mexican invader. Tho
experience Of the Sgs.th VITA tne cotton
worm, ami France with the rnyuaNsra.
warns Us that prevention IS escapes, ana
pest and thGi MIA proper efforts Va
can get rii 81 the weevil now wren
q few years hence G may cost MI iprs.
n not - altogether Impossible. ina IN
sets VIII havF spread over 80 large -
ssctioio % the cccntry.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
JUAN GOMEZ DEAD.
First Leader of the Insurgents Died In
Prison in Africa.

First Leader of the Insurgents Died in
Prison In Africa.
New York February 20-The Herald
this morning says The sudden death
last night of Senior Manuel de La Cruz
private secretary to Thomas Estrada ral-
ma, and the receipt OF a cable message
from Madrid announcing the Seath at
the Spanish penal colony at Ceuta. At
rca of Juan Gualberto Gomez, who was
the first man to lead Cuban force in
the field at the opening of the hostilities
oud February 81 1895, has cast u gloom
over the Cuban colony in this city. The
news from Ceuta by way of Madrid was
telegraphed by the junta TO every Cuban
revolutionary club in this country and
was cabed TO every similar club In South
America and elsewhere.
Juan Gaulberto Gomez was one of the
most brilliant leaders that Cuba ever pro-
duced lie was editorin-chief of the
Havana Daily La Lucha and was editor
in-chief of the Equalda, the organ of the
separatists In which he boldly advocated
separation from Spain and absolute Cuban
independence long before the revolution.
While Jose Marti was at work In this
ting them ready for the present revolt,
Gomez had charge of the organization
in Cuba He was the president of the
committee OF seven, which is famous in
Cuba for its work In preparing for the
revolution when II was decided to begin
hostilities Gomez left Havana with six
teen men and on February q he declared
the war as begun near tbarra In MatanZas
and fred the first shot
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21

less there was tackled to Il free coinage
OF silver provisioa
More rational men. even among the
strong free silver advocates. had begun to
recognize the folly OF further wasting time
IN passing free silver resolutions in the
senate. only to b. negativcd emphatically
TN the house. The republicans. who were
welded to tho tariff measure. saw that
sach a resolution would only handicap the
'revtnu hill ard resolu,oiy opposed H..
The breach resulted. with both factions
determined. ana the four Western -cpub.
iicans, particularly Carter. the republican
National chairman. are being soundly and
roundly abused by their Eastern party as
sociatos.
Blu; when republicans fall out democrats
set their dues. THIS action Of sir. Tslls
ard his associates Is more than likely TO
prevent any on>ertsd or successful tarisr
legislation by the senate this session. such
a measure could hardly run The gaun,.e,
OF tho WHITE Housc anyway. hut the pref
lderi is rot Tx sly 70 be called uron to excr-
ess the veto rover. Tho eatremc free
silver contingent or the senate. in a were.
has eGectuaiiy blocked any financial or
revenue legislation this session II other
sreat National issues ana demands should.
In oonse Queucs. receive pron.p, attention
there would be no srea; regret among the
pecple at large Cor any legislative in.scar-
riAgcs SO far rccor3ed
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
"roo MANY Hol.InAYs.n

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The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
A REPUBLICAN CONTROVEksh
Governor Bradley Issues a sta'ensu' :"
His Position

Governor Bradley Issues a Statensu' :"
His Position, . -.
Frankfort. Ky, February -,
strained relations between 1--WE
Bradley and Congressman Hunter 'A .,.s
publican nominee for senator So srs
Blackburn. have reached er's' ~.
the publication in Louisville Oh an :.
charging Governor Bradley win W Nj.
sponsibllity OF his candidate ~ snsntI
elected. MIR. Bradley touay ,ai al IL
that Or. Hunter make a ueAS "a NJ
charge. Hunter declined 10 w .itna,ss
added that the gravity OF the s ~ ~.
might have been prevented py coysfts'
ornor. After several passage, bscssss
Bradley said Hunter was mau hssors !
the governor would not Suihs. ir,sei \
republican caucus and pledge I Iinnftr &
issue "A certificate Of election 70 insmc,rsi
the plan of unseatinE enousn,
to make sure OF hunters elevuyy'sh e,ses
More serious trouble Is eAPe0
Bradley and Hunter. ,,sde psss
Tonight Governor Bradley no tss -
statement OF his position vn II bar
atorial contest, in when ne sa ~, nresfs4
never failed when opportuhi.,G;t he slsc,
TO urge that the nominee S, nod 10 atttl
cd. | have positively decDnen Il sestS
any caucus where the questlo. haIst vi
to be discussed. / have sai said nss. is y
it-that II gentlemen conIestiasy an ~
entitled to them. it is an QUIZ Se.T prlyiksri
government To deny them then., rwnl u
and If not entitled to the ,,sn,
equally outrageous 10 seat w" AZ tix
I'm the event that melnesrator sh1sa1
body should be unseatod q s ,S,nntrsnl,l.,S
he elected. desired TO aeI ., unte sh'a.aa
and unpledged when q, cer err hseu trdt Y
he demanded, have always ,rdIeslss 2
my party and the man wru M becausf
contrary himself misludges AZ"
his own party iniidelity,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
WIIp SCENES.

London. February "A Parts dispatch
to the Daily News says the government
victory has caused great surprise in the
nate.
"a matter OF precaution admittance
% tho sepatc chamber has been forbid
don without special passes, The guards
were doubled and precautions taken to
secure telephone service to the perfect
Of police.
The Posts Paris correspondent says
Throughout the sitting the radicals main
inincd "A storm OF hooting, bowling, crccr-
nag ,ud bnrgiug with their desk lids,
whila the center was equally noisy.
THE Parts correspond MT Of the Times
saws: The cabinet has obtained vic
tory after declarations which have mini
mfzod considerably It's revolutionary ton
denotes ana under conditions wilton show
that ITS days are numb red.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
FORElGN nRIEEs

KINGSTON, Jnmaica-An uprising OF
The Marcons has taken place at St Eliza
beth
PARASITIC president he's signed Wal
lers pardon. Orlers are being issued tor
hts release,
NENLIN-rhc great tailors strike which
has been In force Tor several weeks IN
many cities OF Germany has been ended
hy the employers granting a l2le per cent
increase Of wag's.
LONpON-In the house OF commons
" llltm H. Long, conservative member
for Liverpool introduced u bill to aneud
the act OF 1897 TN regard To animals with
,he !dca ot Ahollshing tho discretion NOW
enjoyed by the minister Of agriculture 10
admit foreign cattle and 10 make the
present restrictions permanent
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
DENtsON ORGANr1rn

Fort Worth, Texas, February eo-John
l.. Ward, presiden; Of the Texas South
ern Baseball league, returned yesterday
from Denison, where he went or baseball
matters. Ever since Waco failed to come
10 the scratch tho managers have had
makiug H. ORC Of the league teams The
p,oplo were enthusiasts ana in two
hours raised Si0 ~ the amount neces-
S9ty Ia, pat good team in the field.
toiuey. will be president OF the club. and
J Il, Cullinauo secretary. q. L. Hack.
ford. VINO Is connected with one ~ tbe
banks IN the city Will see to the build
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
The New Orleans Times-Democrai OF
Monday says:

The New Orleans Times-Democrai OF
Monday says:
The arbltrators, Messrs raithorn and
How, who came South 10 pass on the
question OF grain rates from Gulf ports
aud the complaint OF Galveston Of favor
itism toward New Orleans. after thorough
~ insTagsiiilg the harcor Of tire island
City, lind that New Orleans - much the
better port for tho export % grain. Tho
grain business requires vessels Of large
SIZE and draft. and New Orleans Offers
them thirty feet, against only twenty iest
ut Galveston. This lowers the freight
rate. decreases the Insurance and gives
New Orleans such an advantage that T.
Is impossible to put the TWO ports an terms
of perfect eluality NStdue not tna
steamship lines discrtlninates IA favor oG
Now Orleans,
This we have always known here In
fact, We have been too much disposed IA
the past 10 depcnd on e, and nos improve
our terminal facilities so aE 60 util 80
them. With its natural ADVANTAGES. tHe
terminal facilities Y has lately secured
and a reduction IN the pof1 charges which
have SO initiated against fhis port. Ntw
Orleans superiority wIh De $50 marked
that no one will dare call q into dispute.
The tialVsstca charge 81 aisur't ui- alton
promises to have The effect Of advertising
New Orleans ADVANTAGES
When the Western farmers hogan look
inE for q Gulf port some years ago fHCl~
eyes seemed bent or tiala es'or. We called
attention at the time to the fact that New
Orleans Offered them an tA@ lsland Di'y
did and more ton In The way 81 despair
water and tho mighty Miss ssipui stretch
ing far into the Interior ana assuring au
aii-yatar route 20 seahrari Thcv prdha-
hly recognize tho advantages az New Or
leans now for they are shiunin1 their
grain here by she millions uf bushels. ana
II s. ante evident that it Sc destined 70
Become the port ~ cxpor. for tae grain
crop OF the West
Upon which ths Galveston News com
,,rnrs 80 Fotlo,r.-. .ir,a,,-s-.-,,to.-s ,--- CD.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-21
cnncAGo.s nEADLrss WOMAN.

Chicago, February 2O,--The dead body
of Mrs Ellen Randolph was discovered
today at 2iS4- Dearborn street. The body
presented horrible appearance The
head was completely severed from the
body. 1t lay by the body and blood from
me wounds had strcamed all over the
face and scalp and covered tho shoniders
aui bust OF the body. The pillow had
been cut open IN the struggle and feathers
clGng. 10 the clotted blood. almost cover
ing the. upper portion of the body. The
husband OF the dead woman is n raj,roa n
porter and has been away from home
on MS run for several days No arrests
have been made