Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-11

three elements furnished all that Is
needed for the propagation Of the bac-
terra, and the bacteria make the fer
tility.
A familiar Illustration Of the bacteria
theory was given in the killing Of land
by a stroke Of lightning. Every far
mer knows how the spot where light
ming strikes a field often remains dead
and barren for years. The reason Of
it Is because the lightning kills the
bacteria-the millions and billions Of
of the soil. Proof Of the correctness
of the theory is to be found in the
fact, that a few shovelfuls Of stable
manure on tho spot-or even few
shovelfuls of the adjoining soil will
restore the fertility at once. CONNER
cial fertilizer won't do 1t, because COM
mercial fertilizer contains no bacteria.
Any kind Of numus will do II, because
all humus Is full Of bacteria.
The professor did not want to be
understood as saying that 1t is unnec-
essary to supply plant food; but he did
want to be understood as saying that
the secret lay in supplying the plant
food in such a way that 1t would lie
available. To be available, II must be
soluble In water. And even an abund.
does not furnish all the conditions nee
essary to fertility. The trick lies in
keeping the bacteria, the yeast germs
In the soil thriving, and this means
both air and moisture in the right pro-
portions, and to get air and moisture
In the right proportions, involves stir
ring the soil and drainage. Too much
moisture Is more fatal than too little,
for that means the drowning Of the
yeast germs. Too little air means their
asphyxiation.
While on this phase Of the subject,
he explained how the texture Of the
soil had to do with the regulation Of
moisture. Where soil Is compact and
dense, the water cannot circulate free
ly, and where 1t is open and porous, the
circulation Is too free. The principal
means of correction are lime and hu-
mus. Lime and humus open close
grained soils and improve the capillary
circulation. Humus acts as a sponge
In coarse grained soils and holds the
moisture. The coarse grained soils do
not need so much lime, but more flu-
mus.
He explained at length that the prin-
cipal elements of plant food-the ele-
ments that are to be supplied that are
Of real value-are nitrogen, phos-
phoric acid and potash. The nitrogen
Is to be had In various commercial
forms, but the cheapest way to pro-
duce 1t is to grow II" by means Of
peas, vetches and other legumes.
Phosphoric acids to be be had in abund-
ance from vegetable matter, and most
soils contain potash enough, IL it can
only be made available.
II we must buy commercial fertili-
OF ,1d
only that which the soil needs. He. was
positive that as a rule the Piedmont
soils contain an abundance Of potash,
and to buy this element is waste Of
money. He has never seen any lack
Of potash in red clay soils, and he
made the statement point blank that
potash never prevents rust unless the
potash Is actually needed by the soil.
Most of the money spent for potash In
the Piedmont Is simply thrown away.
The price of nitrogen ranges from
about Is cents pound in nitrate of
soda, to 90 cents a pound in cotton
seed meal, and to buy 1t in cotton seed
meal Is a waste Of money. Phosphortc
acid costs about 5 cents pound and
potash about cents pound. And
the cheapest way to buy all these
things, Is in their most concentrated
form.
BY way of illustration, he said that
the best S-4-4 goods contain only 800
pounds Of plant food, and told how
this plant food could be gotten out Of
a mixture Of 900 pounds Of acid phos-
phate, 1876 pounds Of muriate Of pot
ash and 720 pounds Of fish scrap. max
ing a total Of say, 1900 pounds, costing
about $21. 1t can be mixed in a wagon
for almost nothing, and after 1t is
mixed, 1t Is exactly the same thing
that the fertilizer companies sell for
$29 and $50 a ton. The farmer can
save So to 50 ton by mixing 1t him
self, and with knowledge Of what his
land needs, can save several dollars a
ton additional by leaving out the ele-
ments that are no good.
In conclusion, Prof. Barrow told his
audience again that his services are
at their command at all times, and he
would be pleased to answer any ques-
ton that they might ask by mall or
otherwise. Where 1t seemed as II 1t
were worth while for him to come. he
would come, and would be. glad to do
So From Yorkville he went to Rock
Hill.