The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-05
is one of great importance and sx-

is one Of great importance and sx-
pense.
1T, therefore, Follows that y.
through the fnstrumentality az art IN
the modification of natural environ
ment and in the proper selection OF
seed and In the naturalization OF spe-
cies, the area OF production OF these
staples could be enlarged ana their
number multiplied In each OF the
States, It would greatly rebound TO the
interest OF both the producer aMd tns
consumer. This in great measure
has been accomplished for II has been
demonstrated that in the Aus,ro fer
Ian Belt, embracing the greater part
Of Georgia, South Carolina. Alabama.
Mississippi, Louisiana and Central
Texas, that certain hybrid varieties
of corn and wheat IAN be produced al
most as abundantiy Us IN those stafes
naturally adapted to their growing
In this adaptation Of developed ny.
birds to natural conditions unsuited
for their appearance. the great proo-
largely solved.
> TT has been demonstrated that art
ca mot 80 change the natural condit-
.c,,s in the northern and middle east
m and western States. and mp to this
time in any other latitude or area out
sid, OF the Southern States of the Un-
ION 30 that cotton can Be grown.
Therefore, the Southern States have
natural monopoly OF this great
stanIe. ON the other hand, It has been
demonstrated that almost all plant
life that naturally thrives In Northern
states can, through the Instrumental
ity Of agricultural art be profitapiy
and satisfactorily grown In the SOUTH
ern States.
Advantage Of South.
TT, therefore. follows that through
the instrumentalities OF natural envi-
roment and the application OF asricui-
,nral science and art. the Southern
States have an advantage over any
orther given area In the world. These
two circumstances should make the
| agricultural lands In these states the
most valuable OF any in the world ana
the great problem for the South IL to
| educate and instruct her agricultural
classes In the science and art OF asfi-
| cultural that her people may enjoy the
natural blessings bestowed by Al
mirhtv God through the culture ac-
ouired by study and experience.
ST stands to reason that IL the farm
| ar bby extending the science ana arr
| OF agriculture can produce douoie tne
ouartity and at the same time improve
the quality of>the south's great staple.
| cotton, to the acre. ana tnat too
with no more physical labor p's WIN
a great deal more intelligence, leass
the other acre for other agricultural
lproducts or for another tenant that II
will double the wealth of the south,
| with the same labor and industry now
employed and that II would at the
same time double or triple It's popuia-
ton.
| sThe idea that sometimes prevails
that our lands are worn out is IN part
true. but the idea that also prevails
that these lands are permanently worn
out that is TO say. exhausted OF their
intrinsic plant food. Is a mistake, ana
there IL scarcely a more important de-
partment of agricultural science than
that which is devoted to the restoration
or rehabilitation OF the soil. AZ this
time, the method for this purpose Is
the use OF artificial plant foods, known
as commercial fertilizers. That these
are useful, indeed, Indispensable. under
existing conditions, tho common exps-
rience of farmers proves, but that there
is a better method because a natural
one is not generally known BY this
is meant the growing of certain plants
which have the power OF appropria.-
ing the nitrogen in the air. These
plants are known as the leguminosae.
TN appropriating the free nitrogen
of the air to their protoplasm, tHey
mot only make the best food for ant
mails by supplying the necessary pro.
tein, which is, essential in all foods, but
they also, through the instrumentality
Of their roots and stubble. supply the
soil with the nitrogen necessary "a
the growth of all plants. Therefore
the growing OF these plants not only
supplies the best food for beast, but
also under II naturally enriches the
soil with the most essential of plant
foods Conspicuous among these plants
are alfalfa, clover, peas and melielotus
To prepare the ground by ARTIFICIAL fer
LITIGATION for the growth, OF thess
plants may be necessary. but to grow
them not only supplies an abundant
and nutritious food for animals, bu
also enriches the soil.
TN this connection, q further fact
may be pointed out: that before the
nitrogen in the roots and stubbie o;
these plants can be made available nj
plant food In the soil. the presence Of
a small bacteria in the roots OF the
plants Is necessary. II, therefore. fol.
lows that in soils In which this bacte.
ria is not found. such soils must be In.
fected by other soils where II IL found
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