Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-18


A. indicating how little progress has
been made in the study of soils. II Is
only necessary TO refer 10 the writings
for instance OF Virgil 10 see that the oeh-
cit of growing legumes on the lahu as
a means Of increasing its crOp-y1eldlng
r,-wars was not unappreciated at thal
distant date in human history; YET IL Is
only within the past twenty-five year
that scientific Investigations OF suinS-
fentIy extensive character have been car
ried on 10 finally establish the symoohc
relation existing between certain forms
of bacteria and the leguminous plans
which enable the latter TO utilize the Tree
nitrogen Of the air. Fortunately, puolle
attention has now been so focused on the
soil that more and more consideration Is
being given TO acquiring a dennite
knowledge OF its relation TO crop grow
ing. and we may look forward conndent-
" TO the rapid lessening OF the waste
and erosion which has characterized our
agriculture in the past,
While no part Of the country can es
care condemnation for the treatment
accorded its agricultural areas, the south
has been particularly negligent In TINS
respect and has in recent years PAID
dearly for it's Carelessness, since the pro
ductfon of profitable crops in many local
tiles has become difficult without the use
of very considerable quantities OF COM
-nercial plant food The reasons for the
apparent rapid deterioration OF southern
soils are not difficult to understand Even
in ante-bellum days it was quite a com
mon practice to clear up a piece OF land
and cultivate IL until il began TO de-
crease in yield and then throw IL out
and reclaim another section OF virgin or
semi-virgin character. This practice con-
tinues 10 the present day Upon the con-
cIusion of the war, the labor system and
the organization OF the plantation, what
ever it's defects may have been. were for
ever destroyed. and the cultivation Of the
soil passed to a large extent into the
hands Of the ignorant and uncontrolled
negro who has employed methods Of
practice calculated TO stimulate erosion
to reduce the yielding capacity of the
soil TO its lowest possible state.
THE people OF the south should not by
any means be censured for a part of the
destruction which has Overtaken her ag-
ricultural areas. since the conditions
were. beyond the control Of her most
sagacious and intelligent leaders. She
has had to contend until recently, with
q ''one-crop system of farming, which
rendered a more conservative practice
with regard 10 the soil difficult to main
tain until the recent change in economic
conditions witnessed throughout the
nited States. In other words. the south
vas condemned by nature. as il were, to
direct her energies chiefly to the prOduc-
ti0n of one crop and that requiring
clean culture during the past century. As
q result. erosion has been particularly
destructive in a section characterized by
= torrentiaI rainfall. and where work was
performed TO a considerable extent by
Iahorers filed with superstition. and who
persisted in the use Of shallow-surface
working implements and therefore ac-
centuated rather than retarded the wash
Ing OF the lands.
Those inclined to censure the failure
10 rotate crops and to institute deep cul-
titation OF the soil must notOverlook the
fact that when the virgin prairies Of the
middle west were first reclaimed. wheat,
beef and many other necessities of life
could be produced at a lower relative
cost than on the older cultivated lands
OF the south. and that the destruction of
live stock and the poverty resultant from
the war made il impossible for thou
sands Of planters. who realized the oh
jectiOnable nature of the type of ag
riculture practiced, TO organize their
farming operations upon a more desir-
able basis Nevertheless, the failure to
redirect her agricultural practice along
constructive lines. which are now realiz-
ed as essential. has cost the south
enormously and postponed the arrival OF
that era OF prosperity which has char
acterized this section I'm the past few
years This condition resulted from the
inefficient cultivation of the soil and
the consequent tendency to depend al
together on commercial plant food as
means Of stimulating the production of
crops Of a profitable character. and while
the fertilizer used has been essential
from many points Of view, il has not
always been applied with that degree OF
skill which would insure the farmers Sc
curing the largest return from its use.
In view OF all that has tTanspired. how
ever. the most remarkable characteristic
Of southern soils is the quickness with
which they respond TO good treatment
and the comparative ease with which
they may be reclaimed under skillful
management
What Is needed now to permit of the
organization and development OF a type
Of farm management in the south which
viii insure a permanent system of agri-