The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-17

Q
best of il all is that they are at any and
I all times both ready and willing to impart
all necessary Information to each and
every wide-awake, would-be progressive
soil tisler, who goes to the fountain head
for instruction and help out of his many
difficulties and perp.exities, as a result OF
above noted extensive researches; from the
apparent avidity with which this informa-
ton is seized upon by the more progressive
Of our soil tillers. and the eagerness of ex-
pertinent station workers, editors of agri-
cultural journals, etc, to impart all desired
information upon these and kindred topics
formulas for home-nixtures, for special
mixtures, and for general mixtures, have
multiplied until the cnes whom these
formulas We're intended to benefit are fair
ly perplexed by their very numerousness
and diversity of composition. He is non
piussed, puzzled and is about as far from
knowing what 10 do as he was before these
great and extremely valuable discoveries
were made.
While all these formulas. when obtained
from reliable sources, may be as good as
can be, for the several crops for which
they are recommended, and in skiliful
Thands are abundantly capable of fulfilling
each and every purpose for which they
were compounded. it is too often the case
that they fall into unskilful hands, who,
although they have studied somewhat the
needs of their crops, have never even
dreamed of such a thing as studying the
particular needs of their various aud often
widely different soils.
A man should first learn the soils Of his
farm, their peculiar, distinguishing charac-
teristcs, their physical or mechanical
condition and whether 1t is necessary to
try to improve them in this respect, he
should ascertain near enough for
al their cn6nl-
ical contents, which of the more i'm
portant plant foods-nitrogen. phosphoric
acid or potash-preponderated which Of
| these elements, II any, the soil was defici-
ent in; and which, If any, were in excess.
VIII the unlocking theory when put in
to practice on this soil be all sufficient to
supply the crops literally with plant food,
or must additional plant food he obtained
| from some extraneous source?
To improve its mechanical condition,
when packed, baked and run together,
| does it need drainage, tillage or humus-
! the most or any two of them, or a union
of all three?
These and many other all important
| problems will come up for solution and
must be given due consideration, as well
| as be intelligently solved, before the most
| scientifically prepared formula can get in
| its best work. A formula that would suit
all crops on all soils is just as hard to
come at as prescription that will cure all
| the ailments of the human family under
any and all circumstances.
Every stable manure, much as it has
| been Wanted as a complete fertilizer
needs the addition of both phosphates and
| potash in order to properly balance the
excess Of nitrogen contained therein. 1t
IS this extreme variability in soils that
leads some individuals to say that moth
| hNr IT,.
! science can decide the proper kinds and
| qualities to be applied through a series
of years on some lands, although we take
| no stock in above statement, and don't
| believe a word of II, we have no quarrel
| to make with those who do. We simply
believe they fail to understand their bust
ness TO the extent that 1t is both their
| privilege and duty TO do. We have two
| methods of learning the necessities of our
soils. One is by putting the question as
| TO their chemical contents to the chemists
| submitting a sample Of the soil, or soils
| ana getting him to analyze them This is
termed chemical analysis.
With our extreme diversity of soils. even
on the soils of single farm, and some
times very small one at that, this meth
| cd would be altogether too expensive for
the average soil ti,ler, as well as being
unsatisfactory and to some extent unre-
/
Inc information that he is so extremely
anxious TO know. 1t can give the exact
chemical contents in every instance: but
| knows nothing of the availability or state
or preparedness of the chemicals he has
determined as being present. The other
! we Will term practical analysis and con-
slsts in putting the question to the soil
ltself. This is an economical method, re-
| curing nothing but close observat ion on
/
! date, as to the important part perfornoed
| by each and all of the leading elements of
fertility in the upbuilding of A perfect
| plant, together with the deeterious and
decidedly injurious consequences of either
a deficiency or excess of any one or moro
! of these equally invaluable and indisnen~
saoIe substances. But here again il is i'm
! possible 70 make the mistake Of doing
| considerable part of his observing IN.
der decidedly abnormal conditions A
normal season, and normal conditions a.,
/ lstlng throughout, is what the observ;ne
! toll tiller needs, and must have hafors
! any reliable data can be secured. or IN
formation of value deducted of their form
Tnere are two distinct, widely differing ana
| yet equally rellable and Trustworthy
| methods by which the OBSERVING farr,ey
may practically analyze his own soils tn
one is by MISREPRESENTATION" care
| fully testing each and all of the ,,ario,,z
fertillzing substances. singly, and In all
possible combinations, the other by con-
| stantly and carefully watching the erou,th
! of his crops, the color of the folio,a
whether they have tendency to fruit
heavily, or to go too much to stalk vine
or woody growth. This method of testing
| the chemical contents of ones own soii
We have found to be pre-eminentlv salts,
| factory, although we have carried on
| Experimentation, too.
! 1t possesses one decided advantage over
any and all other methods, in that II re-
| quires no outlay of capital whatsoever
This is one great point in its favor, vet
1t does take considerable study on the
part of the soil tiller before he can suc-
coed in deducing therefrom conclusions Of
positive value We see nothing discourage
ing in this In this mundane sphere there
are mo gains without palms, and the
soil tiller who prides himself upon his
profession, and is in love with his work
cannot fail to find the study a reverend
ing source of satisfaction, pleasure and
delight. While the information acquired