Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-29

| still but in its initiative the results
| obtained by the bureau of soils have al
ready closely interviewer themselves
with the daily work OF the farmer and
have solved planting problems in a
way which harvests nave strlkingly IL
/ Illuminated. The latest phase OF soil
study which has been taken up VIII,
In the opinion OF the student workers,
prove the greatest boon yet enjoyed
by the tilleis of the ground.
In nothing connected with the rove
latlons of tests founded upon the
chemical knowledge has more light
bceu shed than upon the old problem
of fertilization From the earliest days
fertilization of the soil has been one
of the most important and absorbing
questions with tile farmer
IT is certain. according TO the erudi!e
department authorities, that ancient
agricultural people worried over it, and
that may be Ciucinnatus. when called
from his pillow handles to the helm OF
state, was pondering this very ducs-
don II IS likewise held that I'm all
old-time discussions and experiments
there was a vital part OF the problem
which remained undiscovered.
REVOLUTION IN TREATMENT.
The bureau of soils has found that
plants often kill of succeeding genera
tlOUN III inc same SOIL not ny tNlldhoN-
ing It and extracting all the nutrition,
but by depositiug toxic or poisonous
substances which always hamper and
frequently prevent the growth of the
succeeding plant. SO, instead Of de-
voting all it's time to replenishing the
ground with those elements and sub
stances which have been given on dur
ing the growth OF the plant, the bureau
has pursued its experiments OF the
theory of lsolating and removing the
poisonous matter. The discovery of
these hurtful substances disclosed that
with all the necessary mineral or nu-
TRENT elements native to the soil the
plant would not flourish. After Sc
ries of experiments the character OF
the toxic elements was chemically
Identified and there Immediately began
the revolution in soil treatment by
the bureau which continued until II has
uncovered the poisonous eXcreta of all
the most useful plants. The eYil has
been counteracted successfully by the
discriminating use OF chemicals and
| fertilizers, and the farmer,it is claimed,
has been freed from presence more
baleful a thousand times than the boil
weevil to cotton or the natural eH-
haustion Of the land.
AIDING THE FARMER.
Thus far the toxic properties have
been removed IN many INSTANCES Dy u
| number of simple operations. The ca
periments are proceeding with all pos
slble expedition the object being to al
ford the farmer a cheap and convent
ent method of making his land yield
the greatest possible uniformity of
profitable production year in and year
out. The farmers of the country are
as a rule cooperating cheerfuly ana
intelligently with the department, and
;he chief of the bureau of soils, PROF,
Whitney, Is greatly encouraged, feel
ing that the Importance of the work is
properly appreciated by those whom it
most concerns.
Experiments are constantly going on
with commercial fertilizers also with
the view Of supplying a particular fer
tilizcr for each type which viii re-
place all the nourishing elements taken
by the plant in the course of its life.
Az there are more than i80 different
kinds of soil I'm the United States, this
will be no easy task but great pro-
gress has been made, and already Il
number Of sections have been advised
by the bureau Just what elements the
soil requires to be tickled to yield a
maximum harvest.
Commercial fertilizer Is used chiefly
i'm the Atlantic and Gulf states, and
since 1899 It's use has doubled In this
country. until now Sl0O.00O,O0O Is an
| nually spent for this Kind OF soil inn
prUycment,