The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-19

, S!S'eiH VI grain FARMING as was taken
OF in the crops. If the losses of MI
trogen are so large in Minnesota with
her favorable climatic conditions for
conserving this nitrogen in her soils.
what must the losses amount to in
our climate from soils equally well
stocked with this plant food?
Two Ways to Get Nitrogen.
All living things contain nitrogen,
but some plants. and especially the
seeds of certain plants, contain larger
quantities than others. Notable among
these highly heterogeneous plants are
the legumes or pod-bearing plants.
These plants, while richer in nitro
gen. do not take it in larger quanti-
ties from the soil; but are able to
take 1T from the air, nearly four-fifths
If which is nitrogen. These plants
toke nitrogen from the air in the soil
through the assistance of certain eth
er very minute plants, called germs or
bacteria, which live on their ,ots
Some have had the erroneous idea
that this nitrogen gathered from the
air in the soil was stored up in the
roots. but this is not very largely the
case. 1t is used by the growing pla mt
and is stored or used in the forma-
ton OF the stalk, leaves and seeds If
the plant
OF the cost OF an S-2-2 fertilizer,
about four -ninths is for the two
bounds in hundred Of nitrogen
which it contains and for an S-3--3
fertilizer, more than half the cost is
for the nitrogen. 1t, therefore. fol-
lows that we buy not far from $685.
100000 worth of nitrogen each year
which Is largely taken from our own
soils. when we could obtain the same
amount from the air at less than one
third the cost.
There is a great variety of these
legumes which may be grown. Some
grow to maturity In short time, or
at such season of the year that they
do not interfere with the growing of
other crops. Fortunately, also, some
grow during the season Of the year
that our lands are usually bare and.
therefore, are serviceable not only as
nitrogen-gatherers. but also as cover
crops. Not all will do well on all
soils, but nowhere in the South Is
there any lack of suitable conditions
for growing some sort Of legumes on
all soils at all seasons. When the i'm
portance of the foregoing facts are
fully realized and acted upon. tlI'
will soil improvement begin in real
earnest.
For the present it may be stated
that bur clover, crimson clover and
the vetches are the fegumes most
suitable for growth during the cool
seasons of the year and cowpeas. soy
beans. alfalfa, velvet beans. lespedeza
and red clover, the most serviceabie
for summer growth.
In a recent article in The Progress
sive Farmer we gave the analysis of
many of these plants. which facts
should, in connection with the suit
ability Of the plants to our particu-
lar conditions. be taken Into cons G.
Grafton in selecting the legumes TO be
grown for the collecting of nitrogen.
What the Legumes viii Do for Us.
The writer has seen 20 acres Of fine
sandy soil with clay subsoil from s
t, Is inches beneath, which had not
received pound of commercial nitro
gen in over twenty wears, producs SIS
bales Of cotton. In short, it is satc
to state that any farmer who Ave
years hence buys nitrogen for staple
field crops will not have lived up ~
his opportunities as an intelligent far
ner.
AS intimated already, the full value
OF legume crop to the soil is not
measured by the nitrogen gathered
alone, for the mechanical condition of
the soil Is always improved; but we
shall now consider briefly and solely
| the value Of the nitrogen gathered by
these legumes per ton of hay pro-
duced and then state the results Of a
few tests showing actual increase in
| the succeeding crops as a result Of
these legumes.
Value OF the Nitrogen. at 90 Cents a
Pound, i'm One Ton Of Hay.
| Japan clOver-lespedeza $50
Alfalfa. 9.l5
Bur clover :. :. 80. $50