The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-08-18
ROTATION OF CROPS
- as.
.. FOR KEEPING SOIL
~
! IN GOOD CONDITION
LAND NOT AS POOR AS 1T LOOKS
BUT REQUIRES HAND
LING.
Deep FLOWING Is IMPORTANT
Sub soiing Is Necessary to Revive
Wet Lands Sufficiently for Vegeta-
BILE uItivation-Nitroge Can Be
Built Up.
(By Capt. T. F. Peck, Commissioner
of Agricultural

should cultivate it in a way to keep
1t so. This can be done by proper TO-
tation of crops, deep cultivation and
returning to the soil as much of the
elements of plant food as has been
taken off in crops; and keeping up
the supply of humus in the soil.
We have shown that only about
three pounds out of every one bun
dred pounds of dry matter came from
the soil. In clearing virgin soil moth
ing should be burned. The waste
matter should be allowed to rot and
return to the soil the plant food and
the humus to keep the soil in propjer
condition. Guard always against
washing; deep blowing and thorough
pulverizing in preparing ground for
seeding is the important thing to do
to prevent washing,
All the manure and waste should
be saved and returned to the soil.
Because you can grow good crops
now is no reason for neglecting to
save the manure. You may have
good bank account and your checks
will be honored so long as you keep
up your deposit, but whenever you
check more than you deposit You will
hear from your banker. If you take
from your soil without returning any
thing, the time will come when its
cultivation ceases to be profitable.
But the subject that interests most
farmers is to learn how to restore a
soil that has been cropped until the
plant food is exhausted, or certain
elements Of it, until it does not pay to
cultivate; where the ground has
through carelessness and improper
cultivation commenced to wash.
In the majority of cases the land
is not really as poor as it looks, but
intelligent handling is necessary to
get results. In the majority of cases
the blowing has been shallow, the lit
tie soil is badly washed, there has
not been the right kind of rotation
of crops, the humus has been exhaust
ed, the ground has been ploWed too
wet, stock allowed to run on it when
too wet, the plant food has been lock-
i ;11l1 ,o1r
1t So the ground should be SUBSIDIZED
deep during the fall and winter sea
son, as much vegetable matter turn
ed under as possible, all the ayaila-
BILE manure possible spread and work !
ed into the soil; before planting any
crop thoroughly pulverize the soil 4,
After the crop has been planted the
surface should be kept pulverized and |
stirred at least once a week during |
the cultivating season. The stirring |
OF the soil breaks up the capillary |
action of the water and conserves it |
for the growth of plants.
We have learned that work is one
OF the principal requirements for
plant growth; this is shown by the
fact that when we have rain at the
right time we get better crops on land |
than when we have drOuth. So we
can get better crops every year If
we take the necessary steps to store
I'D the water ir the soil for use when
required To do this a deep soil is
necessary; it takes a soil ten inches
deep to absorb one one inch of rain
fall in twenty-four hours, and we
must remember the greater amount
of humus, or decayed vegetable mat
ter, in soil, the greater its capacity
for holding water. SO it is always
necessary to pillow under vegetable
matter to keep the mechanical condi-
ton of the soil right
We have shown that only three ell
ements of plant food are liable to be-
come deficient in the soil; lime, pot
ash. and phosphoric acid. An applica-
ton of two tons of pulverized lime
stone rock or one ton of burnt lime
will sweeten the soil. The phospho-
ric acid and potash should be sup
Piled in proportion to the require
ments of the soil.
The nitrogen can be built up by
the application of barnyard manure,
by growing leguminous crops, or by
high grade commercial fertilizers.
Let us emphasize the importance
OF deep blowing, turning under Vege-
table matter, growing leguminous |
crops, saving and spreading barnyard
manures, liberal application of lime,
and in the growing season thorough /
puIverlzing of the surface Of the soil.
Next week we viii have an article
IN "CIoypr" hy Prof Morgan, Dfrec. /