The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-06-15
THE FIELD
Maintaining Fertility of the Soil.


fertility may not seem of much impor-
lance, but in the course of time he
will come to know how very important
it is just as the New England farmer
has long since learned Many farm
ers in the western states are already
noticing the decrease in the yield of
crops from older lands, and If better
methods of farming are not resorted
to, it will not be many years before
the application of commercial fertili-
zers will be necessary.
The fertility of the soil is one of the
great corner stones of prosperity to
the people and the wealth of the ma
ton is dependant upon it. We should
be careful to use better methods OF
cultivation and return as much plant
food to the soil as we take from it,
The term fertile, as it is generally
used, means the ability of a soil to pro-
duce crops. Although soil may be
rich in plant food it is not really fer
tile unless the elements that cOnsti-
tute this food are in available form.
The fertility of the soil may be main
tanned in many ways. First, let us in
vestigate different methods of tillage
as to the effect of each upon soil fer
tility. Many farmers harvest their
crops early enough to let the land be
fall-plowed, while others do not work
the land in the fall at all. The man
who cultivates his land in the fall is
the man who raises the largest crop
from a given area. Fall tillage loosens
up the land so that the water from the
melting snow soaks into the ground,
nd "a yC
greater depth, which is very beneficial
to soil that has a scarcity of available
plant-food. Fall-plOwing, Also turns
up the subsoil to the action OF the ele-
ments, and not only brings this soil
with the dormant plant food to the top,
but pulverizes it and breaks up the
soil granules, so as to expose much new
surface of the soil grains to the action
of the elements Thus tillage helps
greatly in maintaining the fertility OF
the soil.
The rotation of crops has been given
much attention in the last few years
by the leading farmers. There are
several practical systems of crop rota-
ton and of course the one to use is the
one that best fits your condition and
locality. Soil will not stand continual
cropping without deterioration to some
extent Every rotation should have
some pasturage of meadowgrass In It.
Change the meadow or pasture from
field to field as often as it can be prof.
itably done More than two grain
crops should not be raised in success
sion from the same field if it be posi-
BILE to raise some cultivated crop or
some legume crop. A catch-crop or
cover crop can easily be worked in be-
tween grain crops and with great ad-
vantage in most cases. If necessary,
plow catch-crops under for green ma
nure. If possible, use a legume crop,
either to harvest or for green manure
such as soy-beans or cow-peas since
these crops add considerable nitrogen
to the soil. Legume crops OF one KIND
or another should enter into all rota-
tons. for nitrogen is one OF the chlef
constituents which most soils are de-
ficient in.
BARNARD manure is source or Ter
tility which is sadly neglected by many
farmers. If the crops of the farm are
fed to stock and the manure returned
to the land in good condition, the PROB
lem of maintaining the soil fertility
becomes much simpler. Quite OFTEN
the manure is piled up where the rain