The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-13

|
is roof, holding the desired plants, to
such a place as desired for study.
| Care is taken to dig the surrounding
trench deep enough in the beginning
to avoid the possibility Of the roots
being still connected with the each
below.
The root experimenters have met
considerable difficulties. For one
thing the fine thread-like portions of
the roots are destroyed at their extre-
mites by the warm water washing.
The threads; however, at the points
where they ended, have zen analyz-
ed. and it has been found that even
at this early stage of the progress Of
the noulishment upward, the great
chemical work, the taking from the
soil Of lime, sodium, nitrogen and the
like had been completed by the tiny
filament. Somewhere. a little furth
er on in the soil which had been wash
ed away. the work had been going on.
1t is the understanding Of this process
which is now desired, and which IS
still apparently as far off as ever.
Nevertheless, some valuable results
have already been attained. Natural
ly. the investigations so far have con-
cerned the plants most valuable to
man-wheat and corn, potatoes, beans
and the like.
'Roots' observed one Of the bu-
reau's investigators, "seem to possess
actual sentence in regard to their
search for water. One Of the inter-
esting and valuable results Of this in
vestieation is that now science can de-
termine which of the plants are deep
feeding, and hence which are most
suitable to dry, insufficiently watered
soils. For instance, a species Of wheat
which had the power to dig down six
feet in its search for food and mols-
ture, would be better adapted to the
,lrv regions Of the west than one that
could dig but four. There are certain
species Of wheat which do splendldly
in naturally soft, sandy soils, but
whose roots are too weak to dig
through heavy soils. This cannot be
determined bv simply pulling up a
stalk. It requires such an investlga-
ton as this which the government
has inaugurated.
"Another thing which has been
proven by the investigation Of root
development is why land laid down to
grass is made better. 1t has long been
known that when the wild prairie is
first broken the soil is mellow, moist
and rich, producing abundant crops.
After a few years Of continuous cultl-
vation the physical condition Of the
soil changes. She soil grains become
fiber, which is bad; the soil becomes
more compact and heavier to handle;
it dries out quicker than it used to;
it balks worse and often turns over
in hard clods when ploughed. This
compact texture makes it difficult for
the young roots Of plants to develop
properly. 1t also causes an INSULT
cient supply Of air in the soil and
makes it sticky when wet, dusty when
dry, so that when loosened by the
plough it is easily blown away. This
is because it lacks roots Of the night
sort-stout, hardy, deep reaching
roots.
"a little table of soil conditions IS
being prepared for regions in which
these root Investigations Will prove
Of especial value-which will prove
interesting and suggestive. seeing that
it may be modified to suit almost any
region. It contains the fact that an
acre of soil to the depth Of one foot
is estimated to weigh 3,225,OO pounds
and then tabulates the facts. namely,
that within the first foot of soil there
is found: 6,722 pounds Of phosphor1c
acid, 32,s97 pounds of potash, 47,4O7
pounds Of lime. Thus within the rea~h
of nearly every plant is found four
times this sum per acre, for nearly all
plants reach four feet downward with
their roots.
"It is figured out that this means
enough phosphoric acid to supply the
wants Of 1,400 annual wheat crops
and Of the other constituents even
more. The relation Of this to the root
investigations lies in the fact that no
root should be deprived for lack OF
ample ploughing of free search among
these chemicals for what it needs"