The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-01-02

given them by those who are working
in their interest. All progress made
by farmers, however. is very gradual.
as it requires u year or more to demon.
strate facts that have been presented,
aud there are many details to be OBJ
served, according to climate. soil
and other conditions, which pre-
vent farmers from adopting radical
changes too hastily. Many Of them,
however, fail to recognize that gain to
the soil is a profit as well as the sum
derived from the sale of crop, and
that when the soil is enriched 1t then
contains additional wealth or invested
capital which may bring in satisfac-
tory returns in the future. This can
not be refuted, as every farmer knows
that fertile farm is more valuable
than one that is impoverished, and
that poor farm requires an outlay Of
capital to restore it to its proper con-
dition, while the other has capital ly-
Ing idle In the soil, but safely in
| vested.
In all soils is an abundance of GER
tain plant foods, though there may be
a deficiency of some kinds; yet this
abundance, like gold in the earth,
must be mined and brought to the sur
face. 1t is useless until made availa-
Bile, and to obtain it is an object which
should always be kept in view. The
roots OF plants are useful agents for
that purpose, as they go down into the
subsoil and bring plant food to the
surface. This can be accomplished
by growing plants, because they
are capable of secreting or.
ganic acids which dissolve the
insoluble substances of the soil,
which are Immediately distributed
through all portions of the plants.
Farmers who grow clover are aware
that clover enriches the land and that
1t can utilize potash in the soil to bet
ter advantage than by the use of nitro.
gen, yet it Is heterogeneous plant and
returns nitrogen to the soil when
plowed under. The advantage OF
growing crops to be turned under,
therefore, depends upon their capacity
OF dissolving inert matter. In the soil
and making the land more fertile by
rendering the plant food more availa.
BILE.
The soil may be we'll supplied with
nearly all kinds of plant food, but It Il
impoverished in proportion as any one
su distance may be lacking, just as q
chain is strong only in proportion t.
the strength of it's weakest link. L
there is a purchase of some fertilizer
; which the soil does not require, the cos
to the farmer will be increased abov,
the sum really necessary to supply
his land. This may be demonstrated
by referring to the fact that as clover
takes potash from the soil and nitro
gen from the atmosphere, a potash fer
tiiizer will be cheaper for the Ian,
that has produced clover than will
supply of nitrogen; but all crops tina
!. produce seeds will be benefited b,
: phosphatcs, though even in thes
cases much depends upon the kind O
,, soil. and for that reason there is n
!. possible mode of treating all farm
alike, which renders it imperative tina
every farmer study his soil and OF
: serve the conditions to which it is sut
. jcct. When there is an abundan
growth OF wood with intense foliage
nitrogen is seldom lacking In the sol
and II the stalks Of plants are stron
and the seeds well filed out an
= plump. lime, potash and phosphori
: acid may not be required. These rule
are not infallible. however, but the
' will assist the farmer to certain e,
, tent when he has under onsideratio
> the matter OF procuring fertilizers
Philadelphia Record.