The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-27

the result, and this is the form that the plant
requires its food.
Now comes the question, shall we supply by
application in some form, all the food the plant
requires, part of it, or any of it? How to an
swer this question will leave for the individual
to solve for himself personally, shall say, that
we supply through artificial means part of it.
Many instances of experiments have shown that
by thorough judicious tillage production crops
can be grown for many consecutive years.
A crop of 800 bus. potatoes requires from the soil
25 lbs N, 20 lbs. P2O5 and 102 of K2O. Now if we
supply half of that amount and call Oh natures
storehouse for the other half, it seems to me the
best plausible policy.
OF course the best way to supply fertilizer is
by an application of stable manure of 10 tons to
the acre. using of course the spreader to distribute
it. On our land we find that that amount is suf-
ficient and gives as good results as larger guam
titles, besides analysis shows that that amount
contains enough available plant food necessary
for a crop and there is no use of applying extra
as the available elements will simply revert to the
non-available or else escape. 1t is far better to
apply oftener and not so much at time.
Barnyard manure has other properties besides
adding plant food, it furnishes humus, (Which is
decaying vegetable substances) When we get
plenty of humus into soils our task is easy, as
so much depends on the amount of humus given
soil contains. 1t acts sponge toward retaining
sufficient moisture and this is very necessary
when we think that crop uses hundreds of tons
of water during its growth 1t also aids in many
chemical ways to make the non.available plant
food available. Humus also has tendency to
darken the soil, which increases the soils power
to absorb and retain the suns heat There is so
much that could be said about humus that if
farmers generally would only realize the import
ance of it, they would not keep cutting their stub
bes so low and pasture short. So l would
plead with you, if you do not have quantities of
barnyard manure, use cover crops pillow some
thing under to get this vegetable matter. Even
within my limited experience of nine or ten years
have been able to see what wonderful help de-
caying vegetable matter is to the SOIL but not until
my sojourn at college did know how it did it
Then again we find our yard manure teeming
with nitrifying bacteria, which innoculate our
soils These bacteria thrive on our various legumes
and take nitrogen from the air and store it up in
the little nodules found on the roots of the clo-
vers, peas, etc. If the soil becomes too acid,
resulting from action of these nfrifying bacteria,
and there is no base forming substance available,
like lime, then their beneficial action ceases.
Hence oftimes the good results noticed on many
lands by an application of lime to get good
stand OF clover, and if we get good stands of clio
yer, good other crops are sure to follow.
Just few words relating to use of commercial
fertilizers, we do not feel warranted in discon-
tinuing the use of them. On our farm we find we
get good results from barn manure together with
application of P205 IN shape of South Carolina
Rock. II we want the other elements we buy
Al, At.
able to save from IS to - per ton by so doing
Now how are we going to get the soil to furnish
the other hall of the plant food2 1t is needless to
say that a greater part of it will be accomplished
by proper tillage, and think you will admit that
the best time to cultivate crop is before we plant
1t. The reasons we till land are, 1st to make a
congenial resting place for the plant, as this is
the main use the plant has for the soil, for only
very small portion of it is required for nourish-
ment 2nd, we till and cultivate to get rid OF and
aidin the decomposition of vegetation thus adding
to the store of humus, which you remember is so
requisite to rich, productive soil. 3rd, we till to
increase the amount of film water. This film
water is the thin film of moisture found adhe ring
to the surface of the soil particles, and the finer
the soil che greater the aggregate particles surface
1t is very important to have all the soil moisture
present possible without having the ground sat
urated, as plant takes all moisture dissolved in
this film moisture. Then again the finer we have
the soil particles the greater the power of capil-
larry attraction, thus bringing up the moisture
from beneath. Right here presume you see what
an advantage a shallow cultivation is. especially
after rain as it makes a dust pad cutting off
capillary attraction and aiding to hold the mois-
ture. Cultivation at the right time and under the
best circumstances will work wonders There
are many little things that effect plant growth.
some of which we cannot control, but if we study
and observe various conditions we surely will be
better able to keep abreast with the wonders of
nature.
Mr.. Sharpless was on motion
rendered a vote of thanks for his
paper.
The following resolution was Of
fered and unanimously passed:
WHEREAS: This Club is, as its name
implies, farmers organization and gen
orally confines its deliberations to ques-
tions of special interest to the agricultural
community. yet upon questions of grave
public policy upon which there is neces-
sity for concert of action upon the part of
all good citizens, they deem it duty to
speak out in the interest of public order
and decency.
ReS0i9ed:. That we deem the impartial
enforcement of what is called our Local
Option Law to be a question of primary
Importance and believe that in the selec-
ton of candidates to fill the various county
offices, to be voted for this year their at
titude on this question should be con-
sidered, and that no man should be elected
to any position, the duties of which are
Immediately connected with the execution
of law, who is not in sympathy with its
purpose.
ReSoI0ed, That we commend the ma
jority of the Editors of our County papers
for the firm stand they have taken in the
recent contest to rid our county of legal.
lied iniquity.
In the call for questions Mr..
Cherry asked if the termination of
corn was impaired by shelling with
an ordinary shelter. All present
thought not, as all practiced it.
Calls over the 'phone during the
afternoon from the Cecil Democrat
and Cecil Whig requesting copies