The record-union., 1899-05-21

show very plainly the Vitality and COM
parative productive quality of the
samples. Oats belong to the cereal
family. which is easily grown, but does
not add nitrogen to the soil. Beans
belong to the leguminous variety, which
absorbs nitrogen and fertilizes the
earth. The buckwheat was chosen be-
cause two crops of it can be taken,
every year
Soil is enriched with nitrogen either
by direct deposit from the atmosphere
or through leguminous plants, whose
roots are the homes of an organized
bacteria, which feeds upon the nitrogen
and excretes it in the form of nitric
acid. These organisms are in the SOIL
either naturally or by incubation.
AS an illustration of the latter method
land was found full of nitrogen, but
which would not sustain plant life. Or
ganism bacteria, forming in size a mass
about the size of a small marble, were
placed in the ground, and, as they null
tiplied very rapidly, soon the nitrogen
was converted into nitric acid and plant
life rendered impossible.
After filing the pots the seed is even
ly laid over the soil and covered to the
proper depth. The soil is then saturat-
ed with water from the reservoirs in
the pots, and termination begins, the
trucks laden with pots being run into
the outer air during the suhshiny days
and placed under cover in rain or at
night. The plants are watered daily, or
as often as may be necessary, during
growth, in such a way as to always
. keep a sufficient supply of moisture for
the use of the growing shoots. Distilled
water is used, so as to prevent the addi-
ton of foreign fertilizing matter to the
soil. A careful record is kept of the
quantity Of water added to each pot, in
/ order to show how much rainfall each
year would be necessary or should be
/ had to produce a development or crop
equal to the one obtained under the az
tificial or experimental conditions.
Periodical notes are made regarding
progress of vegetation, height, strength
and color. AT or near maturity the
pots are transferred to a Photographic
studio on the grounds, grouped accord
ing to the soil and crop and photograph
ed. Thus a record ofsvegetation in the
pots is secured, which may be used in
comparing the growths in the various
pots and in Illustrating any popularity
. of soil as shown by the vegetation. The
plants then are carefully harvested,
numbered, air-dried, finally ground and
| analysed to ascertain the amount of
plant food or nitrogen, potash and
phosphoric acid removed from the soil.
AS to planting, two pots are filled
with the same sample soil. In April
one pot is planted with oats and the
other with beans. They are harvested
in July The buckwheat follows them
and is harvested along about October.
The supply of filtered water varies ac-
cording to the need of the soil. If the
earth is very rich the plant grows very
rapidly, and as the water escapes
through the leaves more of it is re-
quired than when the soil is poor.
| knowledge Of the amount of water to
be given is derived by ascertaining that
66 per cent of the total amount neces-
sary to saturate the soil is used by the
plant The maximum degree of satura-
ton is discovered by taking samples of
the earth, filling them with water until
no more can be held, and then after
weighing them the difference between
| that amount and the figure reached
when they have been air-dried gives
| ll4C ACSuIl QSSIItu CCIu6 SOIL VIII take
| 100 per cent of their own weight-that
! is to say, they will hold water equal in
weight to their own dry weight These
are mostly clay soils. although rich,
! loamy, organic sold will hold $50 to 2OO
per cent of water. or double it's own
bulk.
| The best soil is the virgin prairie
| earth. never touched by plow or har-
| row; that has lain covered by grass
since the beginning. 1t is found in the
| West-in Illinois, Indiana Kansas, Iowa
and States near by, where the earth is
particularly rich in available nitrogen
and organic matter that furnishes
| plenty of food for leguminous plants.
1t is generally dark or black in color.
and, nowadays, but little of it is to be
| found
| Science is doing good deal in the
! farmers interest. Mr.. Wilson says 1T
has learned a secret that has given a
| new impetus to the beet sugar industry,
| and this means that we are going to
make a great deal more beet sugar 1t
means also that the United States Gov
eminent is quietly adopting a new and