The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-04-04

to guard this priceless treasure of a
deep and fertile. but exhaustible soil
A Lesson for the West.
CampbeITs Soil Culture Manual re-
marks that in the eastern part of the
United States, as well as in the other
countries, there is no need for argu-
ment to convince the farmers of the
great value of barnyard manures. They
have demonstrated it many times. They
do not waste any.
In the western states, more especially
in the semi-arid regions, farmers have
come to have an entirely different view
of the value of barnyard manures. In
the entire belt it is probable that at the
present time a large proportion of the
barnyard manuTes are burned or thrown
away.
Campbell shows that this is all
wrong. In no other section of the cOun-
try is the soil of such a character as to
respond mere quickly and effectively to
the use Of barnyaTd manuTes, and in no
other place viii the effect of such
mauures last longer, OF be of more per-
uauent Improvement than in the semi
arid west.
The reason is that our western soil is
light and naturally rich in the primary
elements necessary to fertility. But 1t
is also well adapted to holding moisture,
and there is, in fact, no great drainage
of the water. There is much loss of the
value of manure in regions where the
rainfall is heavy, for the under drain
age carries away the best part of it. In
the seni-arid belt, however. there IS
none of this loss Of fertility by drain
age. The light rainfall is therefore a
distinct advantage in the treatment of
manures.
But in the semi-arid regions there is
difficulty in making the best possible
anpIication Of manure. The atmosphere
is dry, and the soil may remain dry
for a long period, so that the manure
lies dormant on top of the soil, condi-
ton not conducive to nitrificatiOn or
decomposition, and many farmers have
failed to get good results. Then it is a
| fact that in the barnyard manure, as il
| is gathered in this dry country, there
/ is much loose and coarse straw in an
almost perfect state of preservation
not very well fitted for helping the soil
When the manure is plowed under, as
/ il must be to get the best results, the
soil is So loose and light that there is
not sufficient weight to press the whole
down. and make a compact mass as
best serves to make good bed. The
soil. with the fresh fertilizer mixed in
has retained an open and porous COndi-
ton down to a considerable depth
which proves a, detriment to the soil
with the natural result that the crOf
burns out and weeds gain the ascend
ency. The throwing of coarse manur'
on the top of the ground. leaving it il
punches. or the blowing Of it unde
faT in
of little value In fact, such a system
of applying manure brings about q con
ldition frequently much worse than I
none had been applied Especially i
this true in the semi-arid region, wher,
much greater care must be taken to ge
the manure perfectly mixed with tn
soil.
Americas Real Yellow Peril.
Comparatively little attention is paic
lin this country to the practice Of re
turning to the soil much Of the rlchnes.
that we rake from it. We are not ye
far enough advanced in civilization t.
utilize the sewage Of cities.
I Here are the words of Sir James AL
exauder Grant, vice regal physician II
Canada, when somebody asked him il
New York his opinion as to the mos
important question before the people
of North America:
Turn TO practical account genera
/ sewage. as is done in japan: utilize
this sewage fsr the fertilization OF IN
productive areas, and there is no say
ing how many lives may be saved ano
how many millions be added to hotf
I the United States and Canada"
Japan is not a lone example. Sewage
/ farming is practiced in Berlin, Paris
/ Birmingham and elsewhere in Europe
as well as in South birmingham
/ Mass. Los Angeles. Cal. Plainfield, y
J.. and Pullman, III. Agricultural LAND
irrigated by sewage has been found t
acquire an increase of % to 50 per cen
in rental value. South Carolina orchard.
are so irrigated with great success. The
problem. which science solves, is tina
of sewage publication, with saving O
the nitrogen and other fertilizing ele
ments-
TIE real yellow peril Of America d
the sewage peril, not less from the pos
sible effects on health, than from il
loss to the soil At Glasgow, Scotland