The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-10-13
AMES PROFESSOR
TELLS VALUE OF
%" SOIL SPECIAL

i've but continued neglect to keep up
I their fertility has made much
poorer and poorer until today the
yield of wheat. oats. hay and corn
| is not on the average more than half
as large as it ought to be. But OF
greater Importance is the fact that
these soils can quickly and surely be
much as they do at the present time.
Every speaker on the soils special
will make it his business to tell the
farmers in a clear, concise way just
what method of soils management
will make each kind of soil in south
ern Iowa more fertile and productive
and these men will not base their
statement on theory. but viii present
facts and data. regarding southern
Iowa soils, which have been secured
by years of careful investigation
made by the Iowa Agricultural Col
lege.
Six Years Experiments.
During the past six years. the col,
lege has maintained an experiment
field and that type of soil in south
ern Iowa which is the most widely
distributed and on which Is grown the
greater part of the corn. wheat and
oats raised in that section.
The "Soils Special speakers will
tell just how this soil should be put
under rotation of crops in order to
get an abundant supply of nitrogen
and humus. Definite rotations will
be named. and all OF the essential
details regarding them will be given
in order that the farmer may know
just how to start his soil improve
ment work.
Suggestions will be given also
about tho Importance and value Of
manure for this type of soil. Proof
will be given that manure is worth
from stwo to three dollars per ton.
and systems of farming will be ex-
planned showing how large quantities
of manure may be produced.
Again, the farmers of Southern
Iowa will be told the whole truth
about commercial fertilizers. These
materials cannot be used at a profit
in Iowa for the production of farm
crops. There Is mighty interest In
this subject just now in Iowa. and it
will pay every farmer who has the op-
portunity to learn about commercial
fertilizers and hear the discussion as
to why they are not needed and how
the fertility of Iowa soils can be
greatly increased without them
Recommend Practical Methods.
1t is worth while to remember that
the Soils Special" speakers will rec
ommend practical methods of soil i'm
provement and such methods as ev.
cry farmer, rich or poor. with large
farm or small farm, can put into
practice at once, and without the ex.
penditure of considerable sums OF
money for fertilizers. new machinery
or new farm equipment. The keynote
of this soil Improvement gospel is
better systems of soil management,
which will increase the fertility of
the soil and increase crop yields.
| There are large tracts Of soil in
Southern Iowa. known as "sumbo.'
The Experiment Station has studied
this soil for the past three years and
every farmer who has gumbo will
want to hear about the experiments
on this type of soil. There is no
richer soil in Iowa than this gumbo,
and yet it must be handled in Just the
right way or it will not produce pay.
ing crops. 1t will be good thing
for Iowa agriculture If every farmer
in the state will post himself regard.
ing tlis black. rich soil which is cas-.
lily worth two hundred dollars per
acre when put under the proper sys-
tenn Of management.
On the "Hard Pam"
The so-called "Hard-pan" of South
ern.Iowa has also been studied exten
sively. Methods for handling this
soil have been worked out and the
Soils Special speakers will be glad
to tell how this heavy, wet land may
be drained and put in almost perfect
condition for crop growing. There
are millions Of acres of upland prai
rie soil in Southern Iowa which need
drainage almost as much as the marsh
soils Of Northern Iowa. This matte,
will be carefully explained on the
Soils" train and many interesting
details will be given regarding how
to secure effective drainage for these
soils.
Questions to Consider.
Every farmer along the line of the
G. B. & @. R. R. ought to consider
carefully the following questions:
l. Does my land produce as large
crops as it is capable of growing?
2. Have I under way as good no
tation as can be worked out for m,
locality?
8. Do grow as much clover Al
ought to grow?
4. Do handle my clover in suct
way as to keep up the nitrogen sup
ply in my soil?
| S. What is commercial fertilizer
and can / use it at a profit on m,
farm?