The Saint Paul globe., 1897-12-06
EuRICHINC THE SOIL
vs. UABLE DISCOVERIES MADE
REGARDING TIE QUALITIES
OF SOME PLANTS.
GET FOOD FROM THE AIR.
MAKES THEM VALUABLE TO THE
FARMER FOR GREEN
MANURING.
BACTERIA WHICH LABOR HARD.
Their value to Plant Life just Be-
ginning to Re Under
-~,t stood.
BACTERIA WHICH LABOR HARD.


searches in agricultural affairs have
produced wonderful discoveries in re-
cent years. For example, it is now
Well-knOWn that certain plants breathe
and absorb the nitrogen Of the air;
and that they carry on that process
through their roots. This discovery has
greatly simplifled the manuring prob
lem, and made it possible to greatly
increase the fertility of some soils with
out going to great expense.
One of the Oldest means of improving
soils, is green manuring; that is, plow-
ing under green crops raised for that
purpose. Roman writers and agricul-
turists advocated green manuring 1000
years ago; and it was a process fully
understood when the valley Of Jordan
was the garden spot of the world.
Although green manuring is therefore
not q new process, it must be said that
its intelligent application to the soil,
is of very recent date. 1t is known that
legulninous plants, clovers, peas, beans,
lupines, vetches, ETC., can take up the
nitrogen Of the air, and can grow with
out being manured with nitrogen. But
the non-leguminous plants, buckwheat,
spuuy, mustard and the like, derive
their nitrogen almost exclusively from
the soil. Consequently, when such
plants are returned to the SOIL they do
not enrich it, but simply give back the
nitrogen they have absorbed. 1t will
thus be seen that green manuring must
be scientific, If 1t is to be of any value
to the soil.
Intelligently applied green manuring
stands next to barnyaFd manure, as
humus former; and it becomes the chief
resource of the farmer who understands
his business. 1t furnishes the surface
soil with fertilizing materials needed
for crOpa, increases the humus and inn
proves the tiltheof the soil. 1t is a
fact that in some cases absolutely bar
ren lands have been reclaimed by this
process, since the chemists and practi-
cal farmers have discovered valuable
facts and applied them 1t is we'll
known that the Jack Pine plains" of
Michigan responded to scientific treat
ment, and the light sandy soil respond
ed, in three years, with paying crops.
The principal plant fertilizers are
nitrogen, phQsporic. acid, and potash.
Good crops cannot grow or be grown
without these fertilizers, each or all of
them; and whenever nature will sup
ply these fertilizers, the crops are more
valuable, because their production is
cheaper When it is remembered that
the nitrOgenOus commercial fertilizers,
in various forms cost from Is to 20
cents pound, the immense advantage
of having green manuring material to
produce this nitrogen from the air, and
transmit it to the soil, will be appre-
ciated by the farmer.
Scientists call this process soil inocu-
1ation; a very good name for it. The
air which is breathed into our lungs is
about four-fifths nitrogen, and one
fifth oxygen; and the nitrogen acts in
the capacity Of a dilutant, because
pure oxygen would burn out the lungs.
But, while applying nitrogen in such
large quantities, as a dilutant of oXy-
gen nature rat the same time applies
a great fertilizers for the vegetDle king
dom, but, it is only in recent times
that men have discovered how to intel
1igently apply this limitless supply Of
nitrogen.
For a long time the farmers and
scientists wondered what produced lit
tie nOdules, or tubercles, on the roots
of leguminous plants. Close observa-
tion and careful analysis developed the
fact that the nitrogen enters the pores
Of the soil, and through those root
tubercles enters the plants, and fer
tilizes and stimulates them. In other
words, the roots of these plants are
quire the nitrogen Of the air. By
green manuring the nitrogen is then
plowed into the SOIL and becomes a
part of it. Soil thus enriched can grow
all sorts Of crops, which would be
otherwise impossible of production.
Another ownderful thing about it ALL
is the fact that different IeguminOus
plants are accompanied by different
forms Of bacteria or microbes, lower
forms of life, which have something to
do with this nitrogen assimilation; but
the microscope has not yet revealed
their marvellous and manifold duties.
Since the discovery of the bacteria,
and the demonstration of the fact that
they are necessary to the life and de-
Velopment of certain IeguminOus plants,
the scientists of the department of
agriculture have been engaged in the
study of the best process of bacterial
incubation Of the SOIL 1t has been
finally concluded that the surest way
to introduce the proper microbes into
the soil for certain plants, is to dig
up soil known to possess the bacteria
and veneer the other ground with il.
Only q light dressing of the soil is
necessary; as nature multiplies the bac
teria with sufficient rapidity to meet
all demands.
For many years practical and scienti-
fic farmers were puzzled by the fact
that certain plants, with certain ma
nuring would grow abundantly and al
most .lUXuriantly in some soils; while,
the same plants, with the same sort
of manuring, would not grow in other
and contiguous soils. The fact was
plain; but they could not explain the
reason for it. Finally the bacteria were
discovered Then they were carefully
studied. Many men gave the subject
their attention. The unanimous cen
clusion was that the bacteria were
ne cessary, as we'll as the manuriug;
and hence, they began the successful
transplanting of bacteria.
Isn't it strange that so much of in
terest and value to the human race,
should depend upon the presence and
work of these lower forms of life, which
can only be discovered by the micro
scope? There are sermons in the
clods.
Rarnie has been cultivated in some
sections, for the purpose of producing
fabrics from its silk; but no machinery
make it profitable for that purpose
line. Up to date, ramie has been found
to be a wonderful nitrogen producer
1t is especially adapted to dry climates,
and will Withstand long droughts For
green manuring, alfalfa is today re-
garded as one of the best leguminous
plants in the world. Under favorabla
conditions alfalfa has been known TO
thrive continuously for from eight to
fifteen years.
The scientists of the department Of
n------
Ess=z=-yI1 ga p a "a