The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-12-10

are fertile and only need drainage
and protection against overflow.
The first step, then, in the recla-
nation of our unproductive uplands
Z would suggest is terracing, where
it is needed. I find a number OF our
farmers, In other respects pro-
gressive, still cling with favor to
the hillside bitches to carry off sur
plus water. The terrace, properly
constructed should Ie on level, the
purpose being to prevent the con-
centration of water and thus avoid
erosions.
The next step is deep plowing and
as rapid incorporation Of vegetable
matter as practicable.
AS a preliminary matter l con-
slider lterracing very important. Al
ter land has been broken deep and
contains sufficient humus, it Will ao-
sorb most of the rainfalls we have,
without injury; and I do not then
consider it necessary to have the
terraces close as the regular three
feet fall, unless the land IS very
! steep. Rows, however, should al
ways be made as nearly parallel to
the terrace lines as practicable.
Deep plowing Of land void OF hu-
mus will probably not prove profit,
able. nor with humus for general
crops, until they follow a crop OF
legumes. The mechanical condition
NAV be made as good as possible by
good blowing and incorporation o. OF
vegetable matter; but, without sum
cient available plant food, crops will
not thrive. This brings US to the
consideration Of the subject OF Ter
tilizers.
Upon what I consider good au-
| thority, there are thirteen elements
that enter into plant growth-hVe
metals, four non-metallic solids and
four gases. Of these nature sutfl-
GENTLY supplies all except one OF
each class. Potassium is metal,
phosphorus, a non-metallic solid, and
nitrogen a gas. Without the presence
Of each of these elements in the soil
crop cannot be successfully grown.
The commercial fertilizers which
cost us so much each year have
marked on the sacks the quantity OF
each Of these elements. These ele-
ments are necessary, but whether or
not the county gets value for the
enormous outlay in purchasing COM
mercial fertilizers, I consider doubt
full. IF the conclusion OF LaWes
and Gilbert, that slight annual de-
cline in the production of wheat was
due to the consumption of nitrogen
in the soil, is applicable to our worn
out soils, as is probable, ! close
sctudy Of the subject Of nitrogen
NAV prove very profitable to us.
The air we breathe contains near
| " 80 per cent. of nitrogen, and II
would seem that of all the elements
of plant food Nature has supplied
nitrogen in abundance. But 1t mas
been demonstrated that plaqts are
not nourished by free nitrogen. IL
must ,enter into combination, and be
taken up through the roots or plants
The most available forms IN com
merce are ammonia and n1trates.
These are very costly fertilizers, and
on that account, if we have to de-
pend solely on the commercial com
bounds there is danger that the e1'
nense would exceed the profits:
The subject, then, that should en-
cage our attention is how best to t.
obtain am abundant supply OF avail
abla nitrogen. Much available nj
trogen is taken from our SOILS II
lection seed. If the seed should be
returned to the land, with the stalks
there appears to be no reason why
1.-The soil should become depleted Of
any plant food; for the lint IS con-
! posed mainly Of carbon, Of whlcf
there is always an abundance. Bu'
the exhaustion Of nitrogen is neces
sarily very rapid by the removal o.
the cotton seed.
The best of all fertilizers IS sta
BILE manure, which contains avail
able nitrogen, potash and phosphor
ic acid in proper proportions, but Il
seems that in a cotton country
enough Of this kind of manure cal
not be obtained, and only a sma!
area can be supplied from TIM;
source. But there appears no rea'