The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-09-25
FARMERAsDPLANTER.
THE COTTON, FlELD. =

- -sa~~ - 80 - ffN = sfsf > -
The Advantages of Continued Cultivate,
Set Forth rsn
Your favor asking me to give reasons
why advised continued stirring of tn,
land which You had in cotton, although
the land be dry and FREE. from I'll
noxious growths, is received. To full,
give the reasons which prompted that
direction in the cultivation of YOU,
crop opens to consideration the ques
ton OF cotton tilIage. fImiyh esnswer
TO admits a free circulation Of air
through the ground" but such an an
swer would be, perhaps,as confound.
Ing and as'little understood as the ad-
vice was. There are, in all coils, nat.
urai forces whichs when drought into
active operation, furnish those ele-
ments of the soil which are denomi.
mated plentfood Tm purpose and OBJ
ject of stillage is to Stimulate those
forces to activity. The soil is a great
chemical Laboratory, in8whieh ,altera-
TONS are eoingi on, changing elements
and constituents from state of DOR
macy 10 activity, and tillage, is an ar
tineiai means of promoting and has
tening these changes, SO as to furnish
TO the growing vegetation an ample
supply OF sustaing food TO give vigor
and strength to the plants. To stop
blowing because of dry weather or be-
cause Your crop is free of weeds and
grass, is to suspend those active chem
zeal alterations which are produced by
blowing and subject the plants at the
Tune they require the greatest nourish-
ment to the slow process of natural
change. = Sgtbfff - R8srtfF1
Every farmer knows that air and
water are necessary'and absolutely req
uisite to the life and vigor of vegeta-
ton, but there are too few that under
stand how or why they are essential
Or now they supply the important and
indispensable ingredients in plant life.
Inc chief or principal elements of fer
Unity in lands are potash, nitrogen and
phosphorus acid. 1t is often discov-
cred that they are in an insolnble
condition and are therefore unavaila-
Die Tor plant food; in fact there must
De some chemical action constantly go
ing on to reduce these Important forces
70 condition of availability IN plant
growth. 1t is well known that sthe
food must - - 4. sQlub1e condition be-
fore It can b converted into plant sub
stance. Water Is the znaturel process
oy which these elemsnts are reduced |
from an insolnble toe sol6ble condi- |
tion. IT. not only useful in dissoly-
ing soil food, but it serves an impor-
tant part in difusiug the food audcar-
rying itSto the many mouths Of the
plant. - we'll as 20 keep the cells of
the soil open and expanding. Although
soil water takes into solution the con-
stituents useful for plant growth. st Is 1
TOO slow and must be supplemented by
means to hasten chemical
action. II you stir the land you opcn it
70 1reer circulation of the air, and thus
you supply fresh and larger amounts
d. oxygen and nitrogen, which will be
ased by the plants and are important
elements OF fertility in the soil. Water
being usefpl il siissdly i4g the insoluble
'oii food it is important that YOU con-
'erve it as much as possible. The lands
,oe.sre caltfvatipg afe + udck. sticky
lay, Of dhe coptsct ;textnr& With ifsa
'ores SO small that itisspractica i'm
venerable to WISER or. nbenetrable.
is sluggish and tardy, and ifyou will +,
tudy its nature you will learn that its
exture must be improved sd. that its
'ores may be put in q condition to re-
Give and retain water. How Skhis to {,
'e done? 1t must be found in your
Methods of tillage. You must plow
our lands so as to keep great bed of
Dose, well-pulverized soil to receive, to
tore and 70 preserve the soH water. ;
hat it may be ready mt all fihes to T.
erform its important functions in !,
liant life. This large, loose bed re-
ewes the vapors from the air and con
enses them in its cells and acts as a /.
PONCE, by capillary force lifting the
'ater from below, which in its course !.
ears the soil food to the roots of the !;
lant~ twill prevent that rapidsex-
alauon which causes cracks or fis-l
ares In the earth and through which
ne water rapidly escapes by evapora-
on. Now, having this heavy mulch a
earth around your plants, you should c
lalSe it available for fertiiiziny your b
oil and streng tAehiig tho growth of
our cotton and corn. Every time you a
.ir it you add new drafts of oxygen. q
ltrogen and carbonic acid, which are I,
unlicensed in the pores of the ground
nd taken up by the plants. The plants a,
ed greedily upon these gases and =
lids which form their fiber, leaves and =
uts. Being extracted from the earth =
the growth of the plants these gases
I'd acids can be reisuppiied by lseep-j .,
z Tree and. fresh circulation of air =
rough this cultivated bed. by often !"
irring it with your plows. -. = - :. ?:
The elements Of fertility in the earth =
e Dftan found in an iuSolu d. co.63slaz