The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-28

no probability that they win ever be ex-
hausted. The vast stores of phosphate
rocks which lavish nature has deposited
on the American continent alone, in South
Carolina, Florida, Tennessee and otner
localities, give promise of ability to sup
ply the demands of scientific agriculture
for thousands of years to come.
Sir William admits in his address that
the vast stores of nitrates which nave
been found in Chile and other arid coun-
tries have arisen through the action OF nj
trifying micro-organisms. Why. then
should he doubt the ability of these or
ganisms to supply nitric acid in the fu-
ture? In favorable climates, such as those
where wheat is grown. this niuifying &C
ton goes on more vigorously, and the only
reason stores of nitrates are not found
in such localities is because the rains car
ry away those portions which the crops
do not use.
We need not fear, therefore, that we
will be reduced TO the necessity of using
the dynamo and other electrical appli-
ances for supplying the nitrogen for our
fields. The micro-Organisms which live
in symbiosis with leguminous plants will
do this work for US at no expense, oniy
asking for the opportunity TO silently work
for the benefit of agriculture, while pes
simistc philosophers prophesy impending
starvation.
Scientific Agriculture only in Its In
fancy.
Another point which must be consid-
cred when we study the subject of the re-
newal Of the earths fertility is the fact
that the resources of scientific agriculture
are only in their infancy. Practically
within the last fifty years all the impor
tant advances in scientific agriculture
have been accomplished, and the science is
still young. Everywhere throughout the
civilized world are found public men de-
voting the results of their culture, their
natural brain power their energy and
their lives to the study of these great ag-
ricultural problems. In the various de
partments of agriculture national and
state, in the agricultural experiment sta
lions and in the agricultural colleges, this
work is constantly going on. Ii Is abso-
lutely certain that the methods of scien-
tifc agriculture win be rapidly improved,
the means of conserving plant food eX
tended and the methods of restoring that
which has already been wasted improved.
From the river and from the ocean the
vast quantities of plant food which hereto
fore have been carried away will be restor-
ed in time to the fields. BY the decay of
rocks the soil which is removed by attri-
ton, by washing or by wind, will be re
placed. Inexhaustb.e quantities of min
eral plant food are found in the earth S
crust, and only cons of years of unscien-
tiic agriculture would be capable Of ex
hausting them, If ever. These mineral
plant food perform their functions in vege-
table growth, and at the end are as usefu
for further employment as before. They
can never be wasted nor destroyed, and
Il is not likely that they will ever be put
entirely beyond the reach of the farmer.
Two Hands for Every Mouth.
For every mouth brought by the in
crease of population two hands are pro
vided The capacity of the digestive or
gans remains constant, while the skill and
bread-producing power of the hands are
constantly increasing. The future win
bring to labor more power to earth and
make food, and more leisure for the pur-
suit of those arts which bring to toll the
capability and opportunity to enjoy life
and make the most of its passing days.
Scientific agriculture, therefore, awaits
with calmness and confidence the increase
of population which better methods of
living and higher civilization make prob
able. Man, by reason of his ability to
flourish in almost every environment, will
push his empire both towards the equator
and the pole. The Arctic and the tropical
regions will be rendered habitable, and
hand In hand with the increase in popula-
ton will go the science of agriculture,
showing the way to provide abundantly
for the wants of the densest populations.
H w. Wiley.