Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-18

about 70. 40 pounds OF potash. II thus ap-
pears that 1854 pounds of nitrogen, I'll
pounds OF phosphoric acid and s6s
pounds OF potash are contained in the
lint and seed. the greater part OF the
total amount of plant food required to
develop the crop remaining in the burrs,
leaves, roots and stems. Whether this
plant food shall be lost or the greater
part OF It saved and reincorporated with
the soil depends altogether on the sys-
TEN of practice followed by the planta-
ton owner.
That the store Of plant food contain
ed In the parts OF plants remaining on
the land is OF vital Importance to its
future productiveness all Will readily
agree, for even If the nitrogen were
bought at Is cents. the phosphorus at 4
cents and the potash at cents pound,
IL would represent an outlay Of $4.96. II
the plant is burned, therefore, at least
$40 worth OF nitrogen will be destroy
ed and lost forever. 1t should also be
borne in mind that where a larger crop
than the above is secured. il would prob
ably require the development Of more
vigorous plants, and these viii take from
the soil a larger proportionate amount
OF all the elements of plant food mem
toned On the basis OF a yield OF one
bale per acre, Il might therefore easily
happen that S. worth of nitrogen would
be destroyed II the stalks and the parts
adhering thereto were burned.
The facts presented indicate how the
store OF plant food in the soil may be
conserved and increasing crops of cot
ton produced They also indicate that the
parts of the plant which are offered for
sale remove from the soil less than half
OF the plant food required to produce the
crop. and where a little care and con-
sideration are given the matter, there
may be returned TO the soil by exchang-
ing seed for meal as much plant food as
has been removed. Cotton may therefore
be grown without reducing the fertility
of the land IL good common sense meth
DDS are instituted and systematically fol-
lowed by the plantation owner
ARTIFICIAL SOIL INOCULATIoN,
i. C. L., Louisville, Ca, writes: 1
would like some advice from you In
regard to artificial incubation 1 am
sure my land needs incubation as L
have had very poor success with the
winter growing legumes, but 1 have
little vetch growing now that Is doing
very well. / do believe my land needs
lime. Last year 1 put barrel or lime
on a tenth acre and planted peas. 1
have never seen any difference in the
growth on this plat and the rest of the
field. What is your opinion of the Gull
lures that are sold by various firms for
inoculating the different crops?
The ACCESSIBILITY of "fertilizing with
air. depends on a number Of conditions.
II is probable that some Of the smaller
seeded varieties of farm crops will be
benefited by the use OF inoculating ma
terfal This has been found more
nearly true in the case of alfalfa than
- rtn1f
the present time in America Burr clo-
yer, crimson clover. hairy vetch and 9TH
er crops not generally cultivated some
times respond to the use on inoculating
material Occasionally it benefits
crops of COW peas. soy beans and vel
vet beans. but apparently the larger
seeded crops have a sufficient number
OF bacteria to inoculate the majority OF
the soils in which they are cultivated.
It seems now quite well established
that the bacteria inoculating the several
crops are of a different species AMI
character. and that a special culture is
needed for each one. Personally, we are
disposed TO think that inoculating these
crops by securing soil from field
where they have grown especially well
is the most satisfactory method to pur-
sue. From 200 to 500 pounds Of earth
is mixed with the seed or scattered over
the SURFACE OF the ground and WOFkeQ
in with a harrow. Occasionally artifi-
cial incubation fails where soil or cul-
lures be used. This is evidenced Oft
en- by an acid condition of the soil which
is unfavorable to the development of the
nitrogen gathering bacteria. This diff
Guilty can be overcome by the use OF
lime. You can test your soil for acidity
by scraping away the surface of the
earth TO the depth Of about two inches,
and taking handful and putting it in a
tin cup which has not been used before,
moisten with rain water and insert
small piece of blue litmus paper, which
you can secure at the drug store, and
If 1t turns red, IL is an evidencello of soil
acidity. The more quickly the color
changes, the higher the percentage of
acidfty. A ton of caustic lime will gen.
orally correct soil acidity, though some
times it will take more. Probably two
tons of finely ground limestone rock is
more satisfactory application to use
than a ton of caustic lime which curns
up and destroy some of the vegetable
matter and nitrogen in the soil as well.
Your difficulty in securing a stand or
the crops mentioned, particularly vetch.
is propable due to the absence of the
necessary soil bacteria or to acidity. II
the soil is not acrid. ii is probable that
the vetch should be inoculated, either
with artificial cultures or by soil The
same method should be followed with