Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1911-12-09
SUGGESTION 70 THE NEW
SETTLER AND IhExPERI-
ENcEp FARMER.

GN~&0 VVsNWSs
Among the many people who have
recently located In Idaho and settled
upon tracts OF new land, there are
those who are just beginning In this
new country their first experience In
farm life. However well they had
prepared themselves Tor their former
professions, and however successful
they may have been in practicing
they, will find that In order to sue
cessfully develop rraw land into fer
tile farms. knowledge OF different
sort, but Of no less specific nature
is necessary. To such, let me sug
gest that successful farm practice In
this state. ~ elsewhere, rests primari
lH upon = knowledge of the require
ments Of the soil. Hence II you
would be the owner Of farm that
ten years from now will mark you AZ
4 successful farmer, begin now to
study the nature and requirements
IA your soil.
We have learned from large mum
Der OF analyses the general character
Of the soils Of the state, both In north
and south Idaho. From these analy-
Ises there is every reason to believe
that the limiting factor in crop pro-
duciton in both sections Of the state
will prove to be soil nitrogen. Al
most without exception, our soils,
north and south, are exceptionally
rich In potash. phosphoric acid. lime
,and all other essential mineral com
pounds required by cultivated crops.
Not so. however, in the element nj
trogen, without a liberal supply OF
which, satisfactory crops are an inn
possibility. There are many localitie
where the sell must first be enrich
cd with this element before It will
produce as heavily az 1t Is capable
Of producing. Perhaps you have set
tied in locality where such is the
case.
II your crops during the past sea-
son. with sufficient rainfall and thor
pugh cultivation failed to make a
thrifty growth, you may take It for
granted that they were not provided
by your soil with sufficient amount
OF the element nitrogen In an avail
able form. The remedy OF course, is
bvious--increase the stock of nitro
gen in your soil-but it's application
calls for good Judgment. II you are
in gardening or in growing
some specialized crop that commands
a high price, you may make liberal
use OF the commercial nitrogen fertil-
izers which can be secured through
any dealer In seeds. Il you are a
grain farmer, the commercial nitro
gen fertilizers are far too expensive
Tor, you to use. You have recourse
To cheaper supply. In the air over
your fields is an inexhcustible supply
of nitrogen; as long as 1t remains
there 1t IL az no use as food to your
growing crops. In your soil are
numbers OF willing workers
(bacteria,) capable, II given proper
to work under, Of taking
from the air portion Of this inert
nitrogen and OF manufacturing from
It compounds Of the greatest value to
growing crops. They associate them
selvesI only with the group Of plants
wc call legumes. Attaching them
selves to the roots Of these plants
they work industriously II given suf-
ficient amounts Of moisture and air.
Hence. II your soil, from last sea-
sons experience. appears to be in a
low state Of fertility, first Of all open
1t up thoroughly Tor the entrance OF
air and water by blowing deep, this
fan n possible. Next spring prepare
q good seed bed and plant to field
peas or other leguminous crop as
extensively % your conditions will
permit. Over the whole field at
harvest time leave as liberal a.
a. you possibly can of straw
and stubble to be plowed under for
the benefit Of the succeeding crop.
Several years. treatment Of this kind
will effect . remarkable traansforma
tion a what may now appear to be
soil Of inferior quality.
]. s. JONES.
Chemist. Idaho Experiment Station.