The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-22
Natures Mcthod of FcrtiIizins.

1t Is surprising how little the hints that
nature gives as to the best methods of Sc
curing soil fertility are needed by the or
binary farmer. In a general way all ara
BILE soil may be said to be the result of
the growth of plants, says the Farmer
and Fruit Grower 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 de-
cay, then more plant growth, more de-
cay, until finally the broad forest with
It's deeply rooted source of nutriment, its
annual leaf-fall, finally turns barren
rock-dust into fertile soil. This is ma
lures method of manuring. 1t is thus
that the available plant food from deep
underlying layers of sub-sOil are brought
TO and concentrated upon the surface.
But trees and deep-rOoted plants not
only pump up from below a vast store
OF already soluble plant food but they
are directly concerned in its increase.
Even the most tender rootlet, from the
ACIDS which IL secretes, is able to bore
its way into the disintegrating fragments
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 instru-
ment Of its own increase. 1t will thus
De seen that when left entirely to natures
handlWork, the tendency with all soils
is to constantly improve
Inc 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 vegetation,
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 blowing or
otherWiseJ Is either stationary or retro
grading in fertility
The old plan of summer following" as
q prepare ton for fan crops is therefore,
an essentially faulty method. The d!sin-
tegrating effects of sun, rain and atmos-
phere are apparent enough, and the fol-
lowing crop may be abundant and seem
ingly remuuerative But il is secured at
the expense of permanent soil fertility.
Humus, The most precious of all soil con-
stituents, is to be sacrificed, while from
the absence Of rootlets to absorb it. there
Is always danger that some portion of the
soluble liberated food Will be carried
away by drainage or mechanically re-
moved by heavy rains.
Artificial fertilizers in the hands of an
Intelligent planter viii not be used merely
TO obtain a single crop. Everything should
be directed with reference to permanent
soil Improvement Remembering what has
already been said as to the role which
vegetation plays in natures method of
manuring, II viii not be at all difficult
to combine the two. All progressive agri-
cultural authorities are now urging the
use of clover COW peas and other similar
leguminous plants, heavily fortified when
necessary with potash and soluble phos-
pilates, as the only practicable plan of
securing simultaneous soil and crop i'm
provement
FAN fertilization is, of course, often adj
Visable in the case of fruit trees. and in
the lower Gulf states, where winter gar
dens are practicable, 1t is of course imper-
ative. Indeed, the earlier these things are
attended to, the better the results. If the
progressive horticulturist has taken care
to nave his ground covered by a heavy
summer growth of COW peas or some other
equally effectual gatherer of nitrogen and
humus, ne occupies a distinct vantage
ground. The problem of fertilization is
greatly simplified. He can probably stop
buying Nitrogen and pay out his good dol
lars for phOsphoric acid and potash.
Neither of these fertilzng elements are
likely to waste and after the summer
rains have ceased, the sooner he gets them
Incorporated with the surface soil the bet
ter. For This purpose a harrow is super
Tor to a pillow and some form of light cul-
tivator better than either.