Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-18


w. E. Taylor, who for a dozen years
had successfully managed a large
farm connected with one of the IL
linois state institutions, of which he
was superintendent.
while we realize that agriculture
is the basic support of all industry,
and that every form of agriculture
is important, we also realize that all
agriculture rests upon the fertility
and productive power of the SOIL,
hence we are directing our attention,
more specifically, to this most vital
point.
ct is but natural, perhaps, that the
experienced manufacturer should
first consider the source and supply
of the materials out of which the fin
ished products are to be made, and
this led us at once, to seek definite
information as to materials out OF
which our great staple crops are
made, and the source and supply OF
those materials; and hence we must
need consider the very "A. B. c..
of the question.
Getting at the Facts.
Elm trying to get at the bottom
facts concerning the production of
farm crops, we find that practically
all scientists, both at home and
abroad are agreed that all agricul-
tural plants consist of 10 essential
elements of plant food, and that five
of these are permanently provided
by natural means, in sufficient
amounts to meet the needs of large
crops. Thus, carbon and oxygen are
taken into the plant leaves from the
air in the form of the common gas
carbon dioxid, and the supply is
constantly replenished by all forms
of combustion and decay,~as in the
burning of coal, wood and grass, and
in the decomposition of all organic
matter, and even the organic food
of animals is decomposed and largely
exhaled as carbon dioxid.' Like
wise, the sulphur carried into the
air from the combustion of coal.
wood, ETC., is brought back in rain,
in amounts which are sufficient to
meet the needs of large crops, al
though the normal soils also contain
a fair supply. Hydrogen is one of
the elements composing water, hence, !
is normally we'll supplied, and iron
is required by crops in such very
small amounts, and is contained in
all soils in such comparatively large
that we find no evidence
Of a possible deficiency.
"Of the remaining five element9 |
is found in all normal soils
in such abundance that IA bushels
of wheat per acre (Which is the av-
arage crop of the United States) |
could be sold from the farm every |
year for 10000 years before as much |
potassium would be carried away, as
IS contained in our average soil, to |
4 depth of seven inches.
'While calcium and magnesium are /
much less abundant than potassium, |
there is an inexhaustible supply in |
The great deposits of ordinary lime !
stone and of dolomite, which are
found in almost every state, and |
which can be ground and applied |
when needed, at small cost.
"All these facts are found in the
published bulletins and reports of
agricultural experiment
stations in America and Europe, and
he publications of our federal de-
,artment of agriculture and geolog
cal survey, abound in similar data.
Thus, it would seem that the problem
If maintaining and increasing the fer
ility and productive power of all nor
nal soils, narrows itself to the main
g ~ ole Gv,ff
ZEN and phosphorus, together with
he occasional application of limestone,
o supply calcium or magnesium, and
o correct or prevent soil acidity. The
,nIy potassium problem is to liberate
md utilize as much as we need of it,
md since the potassium required by
,rops remains very largely in the hay,
traw and corn stalks, the natural
supply in normal soils is essentially
for system of farming in
which only grain or livestock prod
lets are sold from the farm.
$50 far as the element nitrogen is
all scientists seem to agree
hat there is an absolutely inexhaust-
BILE supply in the air, and that under
proper conditions, it can be secured
Is needed, by leguminous plants, such
IS clover, alfalfa and COW peas, and if
hese and other crop residues are re-
urned to the land, either directly, or
n the form of manure, it is not diff
ult to plan a system of crop rotation
which will maintain both the nitrogen
nd vegetable matter in the soil.
This leaves for further consideration
he single element, phosphorus, which,