The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-25
FARM AND
GARDEN H.
INTERESTS
The Diversity of Soils.


Philadelphia Record.
No section of the country is adapted to
all crops. but 1t may be safely claimed
that all crops may be grown in this coun-
try. Each farm differs from the others,
and even adjoining farms may be so UNI
like to compel the owners Thereof to
cultivate under different methods. The
climate is the most important factor to
be considered in selecting crops, and next
to the climate the soil is TO be studied
There are hundreds ca farms that do not
pay, but which would give a profit every
year If they were devoted mainly TO those
crops which thrive best thereon. What
those crops should be can only be discov-
cred on each farm by observation. 1t is
related that a certain farmer found his
crops overrun by peculiar grass, which
he could not eradicate, and he became
much discouraged, finally deciding to sell
the farm or cease cultivation. Relaxing
his efforts. the grass Overran his fields,
and neighbor, suggesting that there was
a fine crop of hay that could be cut. IT
dawned on the farmer that the grass
was indigenous 10 the soil it could be
made a paying crop, the result being that
the farm began TO pay, because II was
adapted to the crop that could best thrive
could do likewise, instead of struggling
every year TO grow crops that are more diff
fcult TO produce because the soil Is not
suitable for them.
1t is not difficult to grow certain crops
on some farms for length of time, but
as plants have the power TO select the
plant foods more suitable for their pur-
poses the soil will not fail to become
exhausted of the kinds of plant food uu-
nzed by the special crops grown thereon,
leaving other plant foods III the soil, which
III h.. cd hxva hot how mi
been grown on the land; hence, while there
Is gradual diminution OF one kind OF food
supply, there is an excess OF another, and
certain crops will fail on the land and
others succeed because the farmer does
not make a proper selection of the crops
that would prefer those substances that
exist in the soil. This may be illustrated
by the well-known Glover sickness" or
soils where the land is actually richer than
before, yet fails 10 grow more clover. 1t
is, however, richer in nitrogen only, but
poorer in potash and lime, and the clover
fails because it does not thrive on nitrogen.
but delights in mineral matter. A serial
crop on the land that was not suitable
I nar floX y would yield fo as the
serial crop. lit is matter of adapting the
land to the crop, as the crop cannot be
induced to thrive until the conditions are
favorable, and there is always saving
of time and labor when the requirements
of both the crop and the soil are consid-
cred.
balancing the ratlOnS Tor animals Is eS-
sential in order to derive the largest re-
turns, but ii is just as important TO bal
ance the rations for the plants that are to
be grown on a plot of ground: If the land
is clover SICK, and the cause can be
ascribed to lack of potash, II indicates
that the farmer should apply potash only
and not use nitrogen, for by so doing he
would incur an expense for something that
the soil does not need, but in using potash
he will make no mistake. as it may be in
insufficient supply in the soil for all other
crops. Sometimes an application of lime
will increase the available supply of pot
ash, because the lime exerts a chemical
effect on the soil and brings within the
reach of the plants foods that are insoluble.
The understanding of a field, which car
ries off the surplus water and permits the
air and warmth to penetrate the soil, also
creates changes in the plant food condi
lions. When manure is applied to soils
II may contain the substances which al
ready exist in the soil, but may at the
same time contain a supply of some SUBJ
stance required by the crop, and the crop
will thrive, but it would be at greater
pense than TO purchase the special plant
food required The only way to learn
how to adapt the farm to crops is to
small experimental crops, but If such is
not done then the farmer must rely upon
observation of the growing crops every
year.
There is vast amount of plant food in
the soil, even on lands that are apparently
sterile, the elements being in inert con-
dftion. 1t has been estimated that one foot
deep OF SOIL on an acre or land contains
about 1900 pounds of phosphoric acid 5000
pounds of potash and 5000 pounds of nitro
gen, the value of which, if purchased on
the market, would amount to about S20-a
large sum-but as the plant foods in the
soil are not Immediately available the farm
er can only take advantage of their pres
ence by growing crops which send out roots
for the purpose of reducing the inert sub
stances to q condition in which portions can
be utilized. When foods are fed on the
farm, and manure is spread on the land the
farmer simply returns to the surface of the
soil plant food brought from below, and
when green crop is plowed under the gain
is not only from below, but also from the
atmosphere.