The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-11-17
is estimated that there will be pur-
chasers for at least 5000 machines.
statement Regarding Soil Analysis.


Press Bulletin Nc. 157 OF the New
Mexico College of Agriculture and
Mechanic Arts and Agricultural Ex-
permanent Station at Mesilla Park.
Sodium. magnesium. iron. albumin
um. sulphur, silicon. chlorine, calcium,
potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen
are plant food elements used by all
plants. and derived by them from the
soil on which they are grown. If a
soil contains an abundance Of these
elements in a form available to plants
IL is in the highest possible degree OF
fertility. Toe mucno of some of the ell
ements is, however, under certain
conditions even more injurious to
crops than a scarcity. An xcess of
salts of sodium potassium and nagne-
sium for example causes "aIkali"
soils. By analysis of the various
plants the chemist can determine the
amount of each of the elements they
contain, and calculate the amount re-
moved from an acre of soil by each
crop. In this way IL should be posi-
BILE to determine by an analysis of a
soil whether or not IL is in need of
any of the plant food elements for a
special crop, when the amour found
in an acre of the soil is calculated to
The depth at which the plant usually
feeds. An examination of this i
will show any soil to contain far more
than the amount of plant food nSceS-
sary for one ear. This is a very nee
| essary state otherwise a soil would
lie exhausted by one years cropping.
The elements are conserved in the
soil by being In al insoluble form and
| not available to the plant. only small
amounts being rendered available
from year to year through natural a
gencies. In some soils there is not a
sufficient amount of all the elements
! into an available form for
| ore years cropping. Such soils are In
nee of fertilizers. Analyses of many
| soils, together with fertilizer expert
nsents. indicate that all of the ele-
ments of plant food mentioned above
occur in abundance. and in an avail
able form, in nearly all soils except
calcium, potassium, PHOSPHORUS and
nitrogen. In many soils an application
Of these in a form available to plants
will increase the crop yield. A study
of New Mexico soils, and the waters
with which they are irrigated, shows
That they usually contain an abund-
nee of all the elements except phos-
phorous and nitrogen. The amount OF
these is nearly always small. and
heir application TO the soil, in the ex
periments hat have been conducted
SHOW that they are often needed by
our crops. They are especially needed
in an organic form. which has the ad
ditional advantage of adding somt
much needed humus An economical
and desirable source for both ele
nents H. stable manure and bat qua
no.
The chemist has no means OF
measuring the exact amount of avail
able plant food in a soil, and his
analysis may be of little value in de
;ermining the immediate crop produc
ing power of a sol ndeed without
making a number of analysis of each
soil type from every locality tas
chemist can tell little about the fer
tility of the soil. This would be a long
and tedious operation and makes il
impossible for the station to under
take work of this character free OF
charge for the individual. For those
who desire to la this work done
here a fee of s1.OO will be charged fol
lei complete agricultural analysis
10 partly cover its cost.
The chemist cannot tell the farmer
the exact o of the various ele
nants that would constitute an excess
and result in injury to his crop. since
this depends upon the character OF
soil, drainage, crop, etc.: but knowing
these conditions he can advise, al
least within rather wid limits, and
often suggest a remedy. Work of this
character will he undertaken free OF
charge for citizens of New Mexico.
Those desiring soil analysis made
at this station should first write the
chamist concerning Instructions for
taking samples.