The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1911-03-16

ACourse of Folly.

In an article in the Raleigh Pro-
| gressive Farmer Prof II. A. Morgan
OF the University of Tennessee sounds
a solemn warning to the people OF
the South. He declares there is no
greater obligation demanded OF the
educational institutions than that OF
urging the people to supply the ele.
ment of phosphorus at once to all
the lands of the South, Tin those
amounts that will guarantee the fu-
ture owners at least a moderately
productive soil" The lesson OF phos-
phorus, he says, should be taught
from every school until we realize it's
Importance.
The course that is being pursued
in the South in this respect is one OF
utter folly-folly that reaches the
depth of the pathetic.
AS Prof. Morgan points out, OF the
essential plant foods, nitrogen is
abundant, a perpetual supply. Soils
are generally supplied with potash in
fair amounts, and an intelligent sys-
TEN OF agriculture tends to conserve
the potash supply. But the soils OF
the South generally are deficient IN
phosphorus; millions OF acres are
low in phosphorus, and it is not
naturally conserved as potash is. 1t
is high essential OF plant life and
animal life; the cereals are especially
dependent upon it.
Phosphorus is obtained from
bones, but the largest sources OF it
are deposits OF phosphate rock,
mainly apatite and phosphorite,
which are found in Belgium, Germany,
France, Spain, Algiers, Canada,
South Carolina, Florida and the
West Indies. The most important
known are the land rock and river
rock deposits OF our Southern section.
1t is constantly being mined and, in
stead of being applied to the farm
lands OF the South, it is being shipped
elsewhere. The highest grade phos-
phate rock is being sent constantly
to Europe, to establish permanency
in soils there. Here is an economic
sin, due to the fact that our people
do not realize the necessity OF con-
serving this natural wealth, do not
realize that it is wealth, except that
it indirectly benefits by putting
money into the pockets OF owners OF
the rock deposits. The farmers and
all classes OF people should be aroused
to the true situation. Says Prof
Morgan:
Il trust that every reader will feel
the weight of this obligation. If you
are fortunate enough to possess a
farm we'll supplied with phosphorus,
remember that you are a citizen OF
the South, and that the future pros
perity of the South demands that all
it's farms shall have a liberal supply
of phosphorus.
Carbonate OF lime, which is being
given much emphasis OF late, is fun
damental in soil development. There
is no danger, however, OF shortage
of lime. A thousand years from now
there will be ample for the needs of
the millions who populate the South.
How different with phosphorus! The
present generation may witness the
South's supply of phosphate practi-
cally exhausted The message of
lime is, Now; that of phosphorus,
The Future
ct is possible that with an intelli-
gent use of lime now, future genera
tions may be better able to scrap for
the phosphorus, but in the light of
present investigation, no such risk
should be run"
This is a profitable subject for
newspaper sermOniZing and for smOk-
ing car and hotel lobby talk, wher-
ever casual conversation results
from the chance congregation OF
people; subject for the lecturer on
agricultural topics and for the con-
servationist; as Prof. Morgan says,
| Ii ShaIld ho tanxht in ouoru Schnnl