West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-01

FRO. Iv--roADiSo MANURE HPRKADKR-
this, IL no manure Mt nil IL available.
somo humus may have 60 DO supplied
from some other source. This Is, ,espe-
cially true IL tho soil is naturally poor
In humus. Ono OF tho simplest ways
TO supply this is by green manuring.
Ihis means tho turning under of nj
green crop, such ns clover, cowpeas or
some other legume. This supplies both
humus and nitrogen. Tho best tlmcto
plow under such n, crop ds,in tho fall.
30 that 10 will havo time to. decay be-
foro spring. A largo mass OF unde-
cayed material plowed underIn tho
spring checks tho upward movement
OF moisture and a. liablo to make tho
land sour.
Another method OF adding to tho hu-
mus supply is by moving n crop of
clover about haying time and letting 10
nc on tho ground. Tho second. crop
can bo cut In the same way or used for
fall feed or for seed.
"ctover eielSy Soil.
After clover has been grown for N
considerable length of time, especially
If much has been plowed under for
green manure, the land,is liable to ,be-
come Glover Sick" This Is caused by
an excess OF acid I'm tho soil. This
acid can DO noutralized by'thofapplica-
uon OF ground limestone. Caustic or
quicklime is not so good as limestone.
since it burns up largo quantities OF
humus and In general is too violent I'm
It's action. Limo has another ndvan-
tage on clay soils I'm that It causes the
particles TO adhere together I'm larger
masses, thus making tho soil more
porous. Tho usual 'rato of application
III from twenty to forty bushels to1the
acre. With the appllcation.of lime. ,ns
well as.with tho adoption -ofsanysother
new method. It is best to try at on,R
small scale first. Then if it proves
profitable Its use can bo.extended.
Tho Judlcioug use OF cloversorlsome
other legume VIII effectively solve the
humus and nltrogen problems. There
remains the question: Of tho potassium
and phosphorus supply. Clover also
aids with these. Tho humus formed
from IL helps 10 dissolve tho unayail-
able materials and prepare them for
the use OF the plant. AS statedabefore,
there Is enough potassiunH instho,upper
seven Inches OF the average prairie
soil TO last COO years under the most
intensive culture and enough phos-
phorus for fifty years. Clover changes
this seven inches into twice as many
feet. Clover roots go down ten orsa
dozen feet or farther. Alfalfa rootssgo
down twenty feet or more. Thesedeep
roots bring up minerals from theslower
layers OF soil and leave them where
the shallower rooted grain crops can
get them.
Making Fertility Available.
Gypsum, or land plaster, has a con-
siderable effect in making potassium
and phosphorus available. AppIledsat
the rate OF 600 or COO pounds. .perncre,
IL Will often increase crOp yields,con.
sidcrably. It also has a benehciaHef.
feet on alkali soils Use one 'or 'twd
bushels TO the acre.
Probably tho most effective way OF
making phosphorus, potassiunVor 9TH
er plant foods available IS by tllage.
Frequent and thorough cultivation,
keeping tho soil hno and mellow, fa-
vors tho chemical processes.by which
locked up plant food IS madOSaYailable.
It must be remembered. however,
that the faster these enthusiastically
Grated tho sooner wilt tho supply be-
come exhausted. When rotation with
legumes, tillago and tho application OF
limo and gypsum no longer produce
satisfactory results &c is n sign that
there IS lack Of potassium or phos.
phorus, or both I'm the soil. Phos-
phorus IS more liable to bccomescanty
In amount since tho supply Is smaller.
Bonemeol and ground phosphate rock
are the best forms I'm which to apply
this material The former isfquicker
imits action, but cOnsiderablWmoro ex.
ponsivc. Potasslum'is usuallysbought
In tho form OF murlate or sulphate.