The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-08-09
Bay City, Texas.
NATURES METHOD OF FERTIL.
IZING.
J. L. LADD.

Some Very Interesting Suggestions From
the Former State Chemist of Florida.
Correspondence of The Progressive Farmer.
1t is surprising how little the hints
that nature gives as to the best meth
ods of securing soil fertility are needed
by the ordinary farmer. In general
way all arabic soil may be said to be
the result Of the growth of plants.
Freshly disintegrated rock is generally
quite unfertile. Kindly nature takes
up the process just where sun and rain
and frost have left it Some form of
scanty vegetation comes, then decay,
then more plant growth, more decay,
until finally the broad forest with it's
deeply-rooted sources of nutriment, it's
annual leaf fall, finally turns barren
rock dust into fertile soil. This is ma
ture's method OF manuring. It is thus
that the available plant food from deep
underlying layers OF subsoil are brought
to aud concentrated upon the surface.
But trees and deep-rooted plants not
only pump up from below a vast store
sof already soluble plant food, but they
are directly concerned in it's increase.
Even the most tender rootIet, from the
acids which it secretes, is able to bore
it's way into the disintegrating frag
ments of rock and thus liberate and
bring to the surface nutriment, which
would otherwise remain securely
locked up. In this way vegetable life
becomes the active instrument of it's
own increase. It will thus be seen that
when left entirely to natures handi-
work, the tendency with all soils is to
constantly improve.
The more closely we follow natures
ways in our methods of fertilization,
the more certain we are to be on the
right track. A soil covered with vege-
tation, whether growing crops or grass
or even weeds, is, other things being
favorable, an improving soil, while one
kept barren of vegetable growth either
by plowing or otherwise, is either sta
tionary or retrograde in fertility.
The old plan of summer f8llowing"
as preparation for fall crops is there
| fore an essentially faulty method. The
disintegrating effect, OF sun, rain, and
atmosphere are apparent enough and
the following crop may be abundant
and seemingly remunerative. But it is
secured at the expense of permanent
soil fertility. Humus, the most precious
OF all soil constituents, is to be sacri-
feed, while from the absence Of root
lets to absorb it, there is always danger
that some portion of the soluble lib
Grated food will be carried away by
drainage or mechanically removed by
heavy rains.
Artificial fertilizers in the hands of
an intelligent planter will not be used
merely to obtain a single crop. Every
thing should be directed with reference
to permanent soil improvement. Re-
membering what has been already
said as to the role which vegetation
plays in natures method Of manuring,
it will not be at all difficult to combine
the two. ALI progressive agricultural
authorities are now urging the use of
clover, COW peas and other similar
leguminous, heavily fertilized when
necessary with potash and soluble
phosphates, as the only practicable
plan of securing simultaneous soil and
crop improvement.
Fall fertilization is of course often
advisable in the case of fruit trees, and
in the lower Gulf States; where winter
gardens are practicable, it is Of course
imperative. Indeed, the earlier these
things are attended to, the better the
results. If the progressive horticul.
turist has taken care to have his