Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1908-11-12
Something About Soils.

huuUIeue OF iAImeTs IN Anls nlAle
are failing to get normal returns from
their soils not because the soils are
naturally poor, not because there is a
deficiency Of phosphorie acid, potash,
nitrogen or humus, not becauss the
season is unfavorable, she seed bad.
the cultivation careless, or the fertili-
izsrs low grade, but primarily because
the soils are sour.
Of course any or all of the above
named troubles may also obtain and
there are great many unprcductive
soils that are not sour, but the soil
work OF this Experiment Station in
cooperation with farmers all over the
State has located so many soils in
which the fundamental trouble (spd
in many cases practically the only
trOuble) was due to aeidity, that the
best endesvors on the part Of the Sta
tion in locating and correcting the sour
soil of the State is believed to be clear
ly demanded.
1t is quite possible that an under
taking of greater immediate practical
value to the farmers would be hard to
name, for it is quite possible that an
acid condition Of the soil may be re.
sponsibls for more short crops than
any one suspects. 1t is known that
acid soils more readily lose their solu-
BILE phosphates by teaching, and it is
not quite safe to say that SO many of
our soils under normal conditions
would require 80 many applications OF
phosphate fertilizers. Many Of the
failures to get heavy stand Of clover
and other legumes may be due to the
fact that the bacteria which play such
an important part in the growing Of
such crops cannot thrive in an acid
soil. We even hear Of troubles in get
ting stand Of grass on soils which |
under normal conditions would run to |
blue grass if left alone. All Of these
and a dozen and one other troubles
could be due to an acid condition OF
the soil.
The Station is prepared to do its
part in finding ont how much Of the
farmers troubles is due to sour soils,
and would be glad to examine every
farm in the State. II only remains
for farmers to send the samples Of soil.
The Station agrees to examine care.
fully every sample received, no matter
how many this may be. 1t is not the
to make an elaborate soil
analysis in every case, but simply to
determine whether or not the soil is
sour, and if so, how sour, and to re-
port promptly the facts to the party
sending the samples, along with advice
as to treatment, etc. And just here
it is to be observed that no matter
what may be snybodYs opinion as to
the value of soil generally, there are
two or three points on which every
body is agreed. Soils do sometimes
become sour. q So long as soil is
sour normal crop is simply out Of
the question. 8. A chemist can tell
whether OF not the soil is sour, aud if
sour, how sour, and the remedy is
cheap, quick, safe and certain.
Acid soils will be considered at
length in bulletin to be published
soon. One point, however, should be
noted here. Acidity is usually the
last trouble suspected. As rule the
owner of an acid soil has long since
made up bis mind that the soil is just
naturally poor, or that it has been
made poor by hard farming. That
this may not be the case, and that the
only trouble worth mentioning may be
60 easily corrected seems almost too
good to be true. OF the sick soils,
which during the past year found
their way to the Experiment Station
las the place Of last resOrt), thirty per !
cent. were sour. The plrties submit- |
ting these samples were asked what |
in their opinion was the matter with
the soil?" 1t was often suspected that
the soils were "Worn out, run down,
farmed to death" etc, bat acidity was
not mentioned in any case.
Certainly it would be well worth
the few odd moments required TO take
a qampls or dozen samples if OnlV to
know positively that soil is not acid,
nor likely to become acid in the near
future.
All samples viii be examined and
reported in the order received.
ILL., A,...s nansina nnennonia.