The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-05-06
Agriculture.
-ov vwEMAY INCREASE SOIL FERTILITY

There is, perhaps, no question of
,-sster Importance TO the farmers
. our State than that of soil fer
flity.
The fertility of the soil would re-
main practically unchanged if all
,,s Ingredients removed in the vari-
as farm products we're restored to
.5s land. Many farmers of this
State have tried to do this by the
40 Of commercial fertilizers, but in
,esd of improving the soil they have
nsstly depleted it. Commercial
srsilizers have been one of the
rsstest injuries the farmers have
AVER had. They have planted but
one crop, mainly cotton, and used
commercial fertilizers TO keep this
crop up to the maximum until the
soil has, by the growing of only one
MOD. become hard and caked and de.
void of humus, the most needed ele-
ment for plant growth. The land
fails longer to produce paying crops
ud is considered "worn out"
CmERCIAL FERTILIZERS ALONE IN
ADEQUATE.
Such has been the method of farm.
Ing through the middle section of
hs State for many years. Suoh
knds as these cannot be brought up
Da state of produotiveness by the
ue of commercial fertilizers alone.
And even if itoould be done it would
Do so expensive that the average
farmer would have to leave his farm
unimproved, and go TO the town or
city TO work in factory, because he
has not the money with which to
purchase such a vast amount of fer
dlizers. It is impossible for q man
y bring up the soil of q worn out
NtOn field to produce profitable
Eps by the use of commercial fer
Ei8ers alone, because in most cases
hey seek to make all the plant food
Esilable. This soon robs the soil of
E fertility and puts 1t in a barren
md Improbable state.
GROW YOUR OWN NITROGEN.
Nitrogen is by far the most costly
cttertilizer ingredients, and yet it
car be secured cheaper than any
other if proper rotation of crops is
paCtioed. This may be done by
putting crimson clover or cow peas
n the crop rotation. Either of these
sops will add much nitrogen to the
coll through the tubercles on the
plant roots but the cow pea is pref
etable, as it makes a rank growth
even if put on poor land, but much
more will be added if the plants are
pOughed under green. This, how
ever is not advised where the farmer
hsSs sufficient number of cattle TO
eat his hay, for the excrement would
contain most of the fertilizing value
Of the hay and at the same time
make finished product out of the
nay which always brings the greater
profit.
CROP ROTATION.
These farmers must learn, sooner
Of later, that soil fertility cannot be
Maintained, if the land is planted in
ae same crop each year, and re
al7es nothing but commercial fer
lzers. Why not rotate crops and
Use beef and dairy cattle and swine
% quit raising all cotton, or all Of
ny other one thing?
LEARN LESSON FROM NATURE.
Look how nature builds up the
Sotn-out fields | The first thing she
Uoes Is to cover the soil with some
p'ant growth TO protect 1t from the
a'fect light of the sun and make it
.s's susceptible to washing away.
11en look how nature continues TO
IpFove the soil, by growing the
pan5 ard shen letting it die and an
.'leT ea2ing it's place, and each suo-
s'7uing generation going through
.~7 same cycle until the land is Gov
''Sa wish deoaying vegetable mat
~. ~, which slowly brings back the
soils fertility.
14enr whyImay not every farmer
NOF5h Carolina assist nature in
- nsIng back the soil fertility TO
DC Worn and unproduotive feldsP
the use of the cheaper COM
M0'ciai fertilizers - potash and
SO'phoTic aoid-applied to some
s0minous crop, suoh as cow