Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1898-01-22

V%N there is still Isuch
M1, ~ miseonception as 10
&/ the conditions un-
III der which this loss
may occur and the
degree 10 which II
n.v he prevented. The porous eharae-
tsr Of most soils 10 doubtless ehiehs
,ssponsIbIe for the fact that within The
msu,ory OF farmers still In active bust
usss the belief was general that q
vary material loss OF soluble plant
,ooa was inevitable from most soils
whenever the supply furnished was
much In excess OF the immediate needs
q he crop to be grown thereon. IL
soils really leach. the lost or ieached
material OF course escapes In the
water draining through the soil. Care
mi and systematic study OF drainage
waters. both by the use OF the iysi'
meter and the tile drain during the
past few years shows hrst that the
aetnal loss OF nutriment In drainage
waters Is far less frequent than WAS
supposed, and second tho character OF
The waters gives definite knowledge
q the kind OF nutriment carried away
ty them and the conditions under
vhIeh the loss takes place. That
The danger Of loss Ia greatly exagger.
sled 10 well demonstrated by my own
personal experience. For two entire
growing seasons a fertile sandy loain
showed absolutely no loss Of plant food
ala depth OF three feet. that ID. no,
trace OF either phosphoric acid. nj
trugsa or potash reached three feet
deep In tho pefcolatinx waters Az
nosi plants send their roots 10 great
r depths than this II Is evident that
ihsrs was not only no loss from the
boll. but that all the nutrimsnt APP
piled, or within three feet Of the sur
facs. was accessible. Tho important
suastion now Is: Under what conditions
coss leaehlng occur and how can loas
from this source DO preventadf II 10
DOS accepted that nitrogen ia tho only
ons Of the three food essentials which
b susceptible TO teaching 10 such an
srtent A. 10 reader its loss Of mato.
rial consequence, and this loss In sx-
siasiysly Of nitric acid. This. however.
The last and ANAL form Of nitrogen
and The only one actually taken up
By the crop. All other forms or sources
o. niiroEen must be decomposed and
niric acid be formed before aaAimi'
hiioa can begin. These other forms
inelHdinE all fcrtiilxing forms or
sources Of nitrogen except the nj.
uaiss. Of which nitrate OF soda 10 the
oay one OF commercial importance to
NE farmer. are under no normal soil
coalition acceptable 10 tho teaching
property. Il therefore follows that
hese forms Of mnnurea or fertilizers
nay b used in any quantity and Al
any time desired without danger OF
nsa from teaching. In using stable
manure the important practical fact IL
Ma' the manure once Incorporated
WITH the soil becomes fixed beyond the
FEASIBILITY Of ioaa. since nitric acid
lormation II 40 slow an TO never en-.
eeed the power Of a crop 20 utilize.
A9rasoa. on the other hand. being
susceptible 10 teaching. should be APP
piled only TO meet the immediate de.
nands OF the growing crop lest loss
nom teaching follow. The hner the
sOh particles In any given case the
greater tho absorbing power and tho
49, u the probability OF ioss. This
'Act explains the absorptive power OF
muen soils. rather than. as IL commonly
supposed. the presence OF high humus
consent in such soils. Az already init
mated phosphoric acid and potash are
W. capable OF teaching through agri.
, yl soils under normal conditions.
'a's fact IL due To the absorptive pow
" 81 soils for these substances and
nelt compounds. The important fact
- enis connection IN that the soil con-
.u.uent exerting strongest force In
ais direction 10 the silica, which com.
~, Sses 80 large part of all soils. These
Ills nigh In content Of silica, of which
.anu IS typical. are usually OF coarse
1a.ure and are those usually consid-
wv as especially susceptible TO leach
rs ~ appears. however, that leach
~ OF TWO OF the three essentials OF
s p. food Is actually prevented by tho
rns.e OF silica or sand. A very Inn
sO.snt practical result OF these facts
suat potash salts can be applied 30
ssu y as to overcome any possible evil
s $3.50 IRON the presence OF chlorine on
ia crops and yet no possible loss
noin teaching follow.
ii. Il. Stockbridge.