The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1906-01-24
How Shall We Make the Soil More
PrOductive?

no difference what crop he grows. In
the last number of the Southern Plant
err, Prof A. NJ. Soule, of the Virginia
Experiment Station, answers the ques-
ton for the farmers of that state Of
course, the soil and crops raised in
that state are quite different from
those of Florida, yet the general prin-
cip1es are the same all over the coun-
try. Therefore our gardeners and
fruit growers may learn something of
real value from what was written for
the Virginia farmers.
While there are a great variety of
soils. some rich and some poor, still
nature has been quite liberal in stOr-
ing even in our poorer soils COM
Daratively large amount of plant food.
if chemical analyses are to be relied
upOn. For instance. in a comparative
ly poor soil the chemist tells us that
in the first acre foot. that is the soil
to a depth of - inches and surface
area of 66X66O feet. there are often
several thousand pounds of potash.
Yet. strange TO say. pOtash-loving
crops. such as tobacco. will not yield
well on this soil unless supplied with
considerable amounts of plant food in
an artificial form.
This brings up for consideration
several questions of vital concern to
all persons interested in tillage opera-
lions. WHY is it. if the chemist finds
this food in the soil i'm quantity. that
large crops are not obtained from the
land? This is an old. old story. one
that has been written and talked
about for years and still it is .srrpris-
ing how few of those who really till
the soil understand that plant food
may he in the soil i'm abundance. but
unless in a soluble form. that is dis
solved in water. it will remain useless
to the plant
The first problem. therefore. that
cOnfrOnts the farmer who is blest with
an abundance of poor land is to deter
mine the best means by which he can
render the plant food in his soil avail
able: for while commercial fertilizers
should be used under intelligent prac-
tce. the farmer can never hone to be
successful and put all the plant food
needed by the growing crops i'm the
soil in an artificial form. The cate
chism of the farmer. therefore. should
contain one commandment which
shonld be constantly before his mind.
first. last. and all the time: namely.
tillage. more tillag e continuous tiIIage.
Were the virtues of tilIage fully ap-
Dreciated in the South there would be
less complaint of small cron Yields
and of hard times on the farm. If
the farmer understood more fully that
tillage simDlv means the setting free
of more plant food the stimulation
or crOD growth. the Improvement of
the soils physical condition. and in
creasing its caDacity for holding and
storing moisture. he would find greater
pleasure in the cultivation of his crOD |
and it would cease to be the drudgery |
which it is too often felt to be at the |
present time. 1t is not uncommon TO |
hear certain good farmers criticised |
for the perSistency with which they |
cultivate their SOIL and it is the gen
era1 belief. unfortunately. that too |
much cultivation is a waste of money
and only results i'm loss to the farm
er. SO long as the farmer is improving
his soil. opening it I'D for the free
of air and water. he is
simply vitalizing it. increasing his
stores of plant food and adding to
the crOD-prOducing capacity of his soil