The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1911-03-03
MAKE FARMING PAY
Lands Must Contain Available
Root Fertility.
Physical Nature of Soil Must Be Such
That Roots of Growing Crop
viii Find Comfortable
Home In Il.

Much of the land now under cultiva-
ten in this country does not pay ade
quately for the labor and money ex-
pended upon it, The fault is both
with the character of the land itself
and the manner in which 1t Is cult
waited
Land to produce profitable crops
must not only contain fertility, but
the fertility must be in an available
form for the roots of the plants to alb
sorb and use. Also the physical nature
of the soil must be such that the roots
of the growing crop will find com
Portable home in 1t and be able to full
FL their normal function of absorbing
plant foods the best advantage.
The soil of a field may be full OF
rich plant foods, both mineral and or
ganic, and yet the ground be SO wet
and sour that no farm crop will grow
upon 1t. Such lands need draining
and by tile draining low wet lands
often the extra yield of the first crop
Will pay the entire cost Of all the
work, leaving the gains of all the COM
ing years as profit. Draining low, fiat
lands not only leads away surplus wa
ter that often browns out the crops,
but the drains in leading off surplus
water carry away the soil acids with
the water, making the soil sweeter
year by year. which allows clover and
other crops to thrive that will not
thrive in sour soils. Low lands as a
rule are rich in organic matter, but
that matter is In a semi-state Of pres
ervation by the soil acids and hence
does not decay and become available
for plant foods. The underdrains re-
lieve the acid conditions and at the
same time allow air to enter the soil
both from above and below, making
decomposition rapid, liberating large
amounts of plant foods. increasing the
action of soil bacteria, improving the
physical condition Of the soil and ma
king the soil more easy to work and
more retentive of moisture in dry,
times.
Much land does not pay for cult
walton because 1t does not contain
enough humus, organic matter Such
land is usually fairly well supplied
with mineral elements, but there is
so little humus content that the soil
is sad" and impervious. The seeds
Will sprout and start growth, but the
roots of the plants find conditions un-
favorable for growing either down
ward or near the surface II the soil
be sandy, there is no food for the
roots to go after, and II 1t is clay 1t is
so compact and cemented together
that the roots are deprived of air
and find the work of growing in the
soil very difficult Where the soil is
sweet and full of decaying organic
matter the roots of the growing
plants can secure an abundance of
food as soon as they begin to grow
and as they grow out and down they
find the soil loose and easy to pene-
trate and are able to grow and secure
foods at great depths in the soil.
1t Is easily possible for any farmer
to make all of his soil rich and pay
profit when under cultivation. II
the land is sour or wet, tile draining
Will bring it quickly to a state of high
fertility. If It is deficient in humus
and organic matter, that may be sup
piled by the application Of stable
manure and the blowing under of
vegetable refuse. If the soil lacks in
mineral matter. that may be supplied
In the form of commercial mineral
fertilizers, such as rock phosphate
lime. potash and nitrate Of soda.
Some farmers may not be In a flnan-
cial position to purchase commercial
fertilizers. but all may make and ap-
ply stable manure. and all can rake up
trash around the farm grounds and
apply II to the land. Cutting stubble
high. using all cornstalks and blowing
under all fence row mowings will help
the soil