The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-09-01
ESSAY ON SOIL FERTILITY.

all the best farmers of today use lime What
else can we do but help the soil bacteria love
| lime and vegetable matter in the soil or
humus. The more of this the more bacteria.
Manure makes land rich; that is the vital
truth that we all know, but some of lis not
used right from what the experimental
stations tell us. They say the proper way to
use manure is from the stable to the field.
Some of them use rock in their stable cutters
and mix with the manure which they claim
doubles its worth. We might as well use rock
as any high grade phosphate because it is all
rock anyway.
| What should be the object of the farmer.
the production of crops and-the present dollar
or the increasing of fertility. With most
farmers it is the raising of crop and turning
1t into money as soon as possible What is the
effect of this on the farms?-a steady decline
in fertility. Now, let the farmer handle his
land so as toincrease the fertility and let that
be the object. What then the result? Better
crops each year and more revenue Why?
because he has nourished and fed his soil. He
knows he must do this with animals if he gets
a revenue from them. never knew a farmer
who did not prosper financially who made it
an object to keep up the fertility of his soil.
but they may grow poorer each year because
their first object was one crop only. farmer
has great many msfortunes- cyclones for
instance, but he will surely hit one if he
starves his soil. Some farmers, would say,
are drifting into some wasteful practices and
these practices have resulted in the loss of
fertility.
| few years ago these was an abundance of
swine and young cattle on all farms. and
plenty of clover was also raised and as con-
| SanuancQ fhnpo woe
dairy practice was then in the main. Butter
making and the skim was a good starter for
the pig and calf. Skim milk is also a good fer
tilizer. Did you ever try it? hayel Milk
strippings will sooner or later ruin any coun-
try. The American farmer will do almost
anything to his land except keep up the fer.
tility. There is no escape from that verdict
Ii the farmer sends away his skim milk and no
longer raises young cattle and hogs and clover
he must buy fertilizer to make up this loss or
down will go his farm in production power
Spend little money for your land. Lend
money two your farm rather than your
Ineighbor.
Mr.. Scarborough in commenting
on the essay said, it awakened some
new thoughts to him.
Mr.. Rawlings thinks if we could
keep to the teachings of nature we
could keep up the fertility of the
soil.
Dinner being announced further
discussion of the essay was post
poned and the following committee
of inspection was appointed: r.
K. Rawlings, W. r. Cameron and
j. 81. Maxwell.
The Club adjourned to the dining
room, where all partook of a sub
stantial meal followed by ice cream
and cakes, with tropical and native
fruits, served by our hostess, as.
sisted by number of her lady
friends.
On Resembling the committee
reported that the stork had visited
the family of our host and hostess
since the club last met with them
leaving sweet little Bessie Louise.
who was with proper cermony in
troduced to the club.
The orchard consisting of a
variety of apples in thrifty condi
ton. The fire blight had attacked
the pear orchard. The host was
advised to cut out the blighted
part at once. The stock consisted
of about 40, shoats four we'll bred
brood sows one with II thrifty pigs
Seven head of good farm horses.
Six Grade Gurnsey heifers, IL milk
cows and 6 smaller heifers. The
usual poultry kept by a well stock
ed farm. 200 bu. threshed wheat,
with about 80 bu. unfhreshed.
Corn promises a good crop; but
badly beaten by wind. The water
is pumped by a gasoline engine.
The buildings practically new and
well painted with premises in good
order.
Returning to remarks on the
essay an interesting discussion fol.
lowed about the use of lime in it's
different forms, barn yard manure
and eltilizer.
/ The President told of how cor.
daily 10 members of the Club had
been treated at the Farmers Picnic
at Thompsons shore, Elk Neck, all
having had profitable, as well as
a pleasant day.
After the regular routine of bus
mess the club adjourned to meet at
the call of the president.
ALFRED B. MCVEY
| Sec'v nrO fem