The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1909-07-17
Americas Greatest Problem.


Nation and the Chief Magistrate Of the several
States and other noted men have Journey! 20 he
capital Of the Union TO give time and mind 70
serious discussion Of this subject. This Is IS It
should be and a great pity IL Is that Congress
not far-sighted enough 20 foster the movement
instead OF prohibiting the use OF funds by any
department OF the government TO pay the triaing
expenses OF the commissions which President
Roosevelt had appointed TO study these questions
but after all has been said. the natural resource
which above all others this nation has wasted is
the natural fertility Of its soil. The wealth in
our soils ts many fold that Of all our other re-
sources combined and stated. this has been.
and Ia s;lll being. recklessy squandered II there
acre ever class OF speudthrstts. in any land the
American farmer stands out clearly the ars In the
reckless disregard with which be has managed his
rich inheritance OF soil fertility II by the expeu-
ditura % hundreds Of millions % dollars. and II
by combining all The mighty forces o. the nation
vith that siuglencss and intensity Of purpose
which a great ~ar always arouses. IT would be
possible 70 make the American farmer soc the full
ucecsalty for tho conservation OF our soil fertility
the cost and tho effort would not be too great.
To such an eror, the nation must owe the
mus, be made 70 $50 his individual duty aud re-
sponsib!llty. Fortunately. the conservation Of
soil fertility 10 not simply a patriotic duty. II
vlil give opportunity FOR a display of the high
cat ~" and degree OF selfish interest While
every man who owns acre Of land holds II sin
ply In trust for his posterty stili since most Of
our land throu Ehout the South has had it's fertl-
~ depleted ~ careless AID ignorant treatment.
Il Il Of the greatest direct and personal Inter
cat 10 the average landowner that the fertility
OF his soii DO increased for his own immediate
| needs and financial wcll-bcing
Conservation OF our natural soft resources yea
the increasing OF our soil fertility. IL both pa
'riotic and selfish task 20 which every man in
'ho Nation may we'll afford TO give literally Of
hi" money. mind and muscle that his own present
day needs may be better supplied and the rlghttul
Inheritance OF his children saved 10 them
Fortunately. man cannot deple,o soil fertility
beyond "a certain point His stealing stops when
the soil begins TO Yield returns OF less value than
the cost Of cultivation. Al this point the store
OF plan; food In the soil Ia far from exhausted.
and by Intelligent management the original fcr,i-
lily may not only be restored but the producing
capacity of the land increased beyond the point
which nature alone could reach When land ro-
fuses 10 yield more than one-half bale OF cotton.
fifteen bushels OF corn or ten bushels OF wheat
per acre IL Is TO the personal selfish and direct
interest OF the man filling such soil 10 increase
It's fertility. There can be no doubt OF the
curacy OF this statement. and II is equally
that moa, soils which now give such yields can be
made to pay for their Improvement tho first year
when Intelligent methods are applied No long
tim, Investment is needed the means are at hand
and within the reach OF every tiller OF such soil
to increase it's fertility and receive 100 per cent
prone the cost OF the EFFORT within twelve
months