The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-02
Humus ms n Plant Food.

The soil that declines to respond to the
husbandman's call, is found upon eXami-
nation, generally to be growing deficient
in decomposed animal and vegetable mat
ter. 1t must be supplied when exhausted
the painting steed must rest at the brow of
the hill and the overcropped soil, either
by fruit vegetables or grains, must be
restimuiated to further activity.
Loss of humus involves the loss of nj
trogen, which is taken out by the crop,
and heterogeneous foods are most essential
as they contain largely the elements which
build up the muscular system nitrogen
is the muscle builder Humus is supplied
in well-prepared fertilizers and all nat
ural fertilizers, green vegetation plowed
under and thus made a portion of the soil.
A systematic rotation of crops is essential
as, for instance, a crop that leaves little
If any resduum in the sol, soon e&hausts
its fertility, land cropped to cereals every
year diminishes in rate of production and
10 restore them to vigor, grass, clover and
crops which furnish a return of vegetable
matter must be used.
In our arid regions the soil that lacks
humus. also lacks the power to successful
ly retain sufficient moisture, but added, it
marvelously increases its retentive power
and consequently increases fertility by
creating conditions whereby the plant is
placed in a position to receive and retain
its food
In soils of sand. humus is an important
| factor, as the combination of the potash
and phosphoric in the sand are resolved
into new elements called "humates, -
which are readily taken up by the plant,
when before 1t could not successfully use
them, as the introduction of the humus,
the life-giving elements present, were as
placing knocked rations before hungry
workman. Thus the humus has not only
the quality of being food, but ii also as
sists in changing the former inert mate
rial into available plant food
The mechanical effect of humus on stiff
clay soil is equally remarkable as 1t
transforms pouting, ungenial child into
duty and obedience, the mass that was
| unfolding, cold and resentful 10 the plia-
biiity of trusted servant.
| 1t has been stated that by reason of the
slowness of decay of vegetable matter in
arid regions, chemical fertilizers have
| been supplanted. The fact Is. the great
lack of humus- making Ingredients COM
rels the use of expedients that lack many
of the essentials of vegetable mould or
humus. The tin COW is used extensively
where the real one fails to be present. yet
no enc will attempt to deny the place the
genuine would occupy provided it was ex-
| pedient to keep her. We take our medi-
cine in capsules, but the steady diet in
everyday wholesome food that is easily
asslmilated and available.
Prof. H. Synder of the College of Agri.
culture, Minnesota, who has made de:p
study of the question. may be summarize
as saying: The decline in The crop-pro-
ducing power of many soils is due to the
loss of the partially decomposed animal
and vegetable matters known as humus
The humus of soil is diminished by the
continuous cropping of grain, cotton, po-
tatoes or any crop with which the land Is
kept constantly ur der the plow. without
the addition of any transforming ma
terials."
The loss of humus involves a loss of nj
trogen, which is one of the elements COM
posing humus.
Humus in the soil is increased by the
use of well-prepared farm manure. green
manure and a systematic rotation of
crops in which grasses. preferably the
clover family, are anted
Soils with a liberal amount OF hunus
are capable of more effectually withstand
ng drouth than simiiar soils with less
humus, and in ard regions this loss is
more serious than in rainy climates.
George P. Hall