The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-09-18

x a FACULTY Of a university is
4 required to fit one plant to its
proper locality. one man may
learn enough to cultivate the plant
after So IS placed. We first apply To
the meteorological to learn about the
rainfall. That has much to do in
tue helecIlon OF the plant for a To-
cahiy in which it can give the best
JUS me plant grown in thirty
inches Of rainfall acquires capacities
that would unfit il for doing its hest
work IN ten or dfteen-inch rain
Iall- Inc heat units above the point
or termination must be considered.
All OF our cereals are comparative
Ialiures If they do not get enough
neat. The corn crop of the upper
Mississippi valley has suffered this
season for want Of heat. Sometimes
the corn crop and others suffer in
many localities because Of too lit
tie moisture, so we have 10 90 to
the scientists who study meteOrolOgy
and keep records over long periods
OF tins 60 learn what moisture may
be expected in any given section Of
our country When these conditions
are ascertained, we go to the ex-
plOrer who knows what we require
and where he is likely to find the
plant TO suit given conditions. II
II is a plant for a light-rainfau state
he goes where plants have been
grown in light-rainfall conditions for
centuries to sustain heavy popula-
lions OF men and animals.
Wheat, oats, rye, barley, spe1t and
other grains are being introduced
from those old countries that have
adapted themselves to dry condi-
tons through long periods or have
been produced by natures method Of
hybridizatiOn, and have been selected
by observing men long before school
men turned their attention to the
improvement Of crops. Grasses. le-
gumes. fruits and vegetables are
found tn remote corners of the
earth by the explorer who knows
what he is sent for. and through
these means additional areas OF our
country are brought under cultiva-
ton and habitations are extended
over our lighter-rainfaH areas.
Husbanding Of Water.
''The outstanding Of our waters that
go to waste where the snow meIts
in the mountains. through govern
ment agency, is a new departure for
which we may thank President
Roosevelt. All other influences COM
bined would have failed to Secure
the legislation. 1t was a wise move
ment. It will result in making homes
for millions more people. 1t will make
markets for manufacturers and bust
ness for commerce. It win help to
balance of the growth Of our cit
les. 1t viii result in producing the
hundred million dollars worth of
sugar we now buy abroad 1t will
do all this and much more. and still
leave large areas that cannot be ir-
riEated.
After we get what we can from
the man who studies the weather and
the man who studies the plant, we
must turn to the SCIENTIST who stud
les the soil This is a new line Of
research that has utterly been neg
lected by educators and scientists. as
far as a practical application Of facts
to everyday life is concerned. Our
soils are mixtures of original rocks
that have been disintegrated by the
action of agencies that have operated
through long periods Of time and are
still at work. Water has been the
carrying system and is stiu at work
above ground and beneath the sur
face One Of your beautiful valleys
seems TO have similar soils all over
it, but # is certain to have as wide
a variety "a the mountains from
which the material came. The school,
men have neglected inquiry into soil
variation, soil moisture and soil COM
position, from which plants get nu-
triment. The whole field lies falIow
and awaits the coming Of the stu
dent Of soils and soil moisture.
Mineral Plant Food Abundant.
You have abundance Of mineral
plant food I'm nearly all your soils.
They got it from the rocks and are
still getting tt by water above and
below the surface. The husbandman
must see 10 ii that atmospheric plant
food is supplied-nitrORenO matter
that comes through the instrument
tality or Ieguulinous plants and is
prepared for the plant by bacterial
agencies that cannot exist In the soil