The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-02-15

soil. and that to release and conserve
the fertility lying dormant In the SOIL,
and that the best physical condition OF
the soil depends on the amount ana
condition of organic matter put INTO
the soil. and that for economic results
the organic matter should be grown II
possible, on the soil to be DenenIeu'
We are informed also that IL we III
cornorate too much organic matter III
the soil q chemical change takes place.
and while there may be an excessive
amount of plant food, it will be locked
nm The chemist can tell us what
niant foods are in the soil, but nature
helms those who help themselves, ana
the chemist refers us to natures laws
and laboratory.
At this iuncture the chemist turns
us over to the plant physlologlst anu
pathologist. These specialists inform
nc that to have healthy plants the
food supply must be governed by pure
food laws, and these in turn are gov
erned by the healthy condition OF the
soil laboratory, preparing, liberatlng
and normally diffusing the 1000 sup
NV That to have a healthy SOIL the
laboratory conditions must be sucn
that the soil scavengers will be pro-
vided with congenial conditions III
which to operate, and that they must
he properly fed, and that the conui-
tions governing those scavengers are
controlled by the same essentials tnaC
govern the pure food supply OF otner
living organisms: viz, air, neat, hshC'
moisture and nourishment.
These little scavengers belong 10
class called bacteria. The bacterlolo-
eist informs us that they are well or
oanized and that in the world OF bac-
teria there are many species of these
microscopic plants, both benehclal ana
detrimental. The nearer nature
laws are obeyed the better service we
receive from the beneficial pacterla,
and the moment the laws are ln1rlnged
upon and the normal balance us
turbed, then we are besieged by other
bacteria, compelling obedience OF nd
ture's laws, and we are punished III
proportion to our depression.
The beneficial bacteria are our pest
co-workers. and the best method OIL
protecting them from race SUICIDE
should be live topic with those Whom
thew serve. These minute nttle GU
workers, if protected, can save u.s. our
horses and cultivatOrs much wear anu
tear. for they will work Wnlle we
~sleen and cultivate the soil IN tne
most scientific manner. The organic
matter essential for their develop
ment. loosens and aerates the SOIL ana
induces oxidation and nitrifactlon pet
fer without than with the cultlvator,
if the decomposition OF the organic
matter is accomplished on the surface
of the soil and not incorporated Win
If and soil moisture is better con-
served than by dust mulch Inc
activity of the nitrifying bacteria
makes friable the soil and destroys
the organic matter to transform 1t TO
bumus. and the humic acid acts on
the soil particles to liberate the lock-
ed I'D mineral plant foods.
The richest and best cultivated soil
&c the virgin soil, built up by the or
ganic matter decomposing at the sur
face of the soil, and is loosened up NY
the activity of the nitrlfylng organism
operating under natural and not lorceu
conditions. The fertility OF the virgin
soil depends on its moisture, texture
depth, exposure, temperature anu ac-
emulation of organic matter.
Then why not cultivate and teed the
soil as nature suggests? The laws gov,
erning this are at our command ana
convenience. The roots of the orchard
tree feed near the surface OF the SOIL
where the balanced ration or avail
able plant food exists, because there is
where it is liberated. The roots
should be allowed to forage without
interruption by tillage to find the
eouable, congenial conditions essential
for best development. This can only
be afforded by the careful building up
of the soil by the permanent mulch
method. which eliminates the fuctua-