Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-22
TO IhvEsT,oATE
SOIL FERTlLiTY IN NORTH.
EASTERN PART OF STATE.
wAvERLY MEN INTEREsT
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
Sugar Beet Interests Eager For Inves.
tisation, and Expect Showing to
Stimulate Beet culturs-Profsssor
curtiss Of Amos to 30 Asked to As
sist in Survey Work.
pecial to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times-Repub1ican.
waverly, April 22.-As result Of
a recent visit to Washington Of mem-
bers of the Waverly Industrial Asso-
citation, Secretary Wilson. of the re-
partment Of agriculture, has issued au-
thority for soil survey covering such
portions of the northea stern part Of
the state as have not yet received the
benefit of such investigation. The sur
vey will be made by chemists OF the
agricultural department. but Professor
Curtiss has offered and will no doubt
be invited to give the cooperation OF
the Iowa experimental station.
Secretary Wilson's offer to inaug-
urate this Investigation followed an
interview with him by w. B. Rosevear,
of the Iowa Sugar Company, who, for
the past several years. has made con-
siderable independent investigation of
la scientific nature in determining the
lands best adapted to the growing of
sugar beets. These Investigations have
led him to the conclusion that the long
continued cultivation OF wheat, corn,
oats, and timothy has caused con-
siderable depletion of important soil
elements. notably of phosphoric acid,
and in a lesser degree of potash. and
that if nothing is done to conserve and
restore these elements, the time is not
SO far distant as some of us may
imagine when the productivity of Iowa
soil will greatly decline.
Conservation Of Iowa Soil.
Nv. iS q
the survey OF the government experts
awaken an interest in soil conservation
the state.
year said:
$50 far as can be determined from
the investigation Of Burkett. Hopkins
and Snider, originally about $500
pounds Of phosphoric acid only was
contained in an acre of Iowa virgin
soil, referring of course to that part Of
it disturbed by the plow.
LAS an average crop OF corn will re-
move from an acre ty-nine pounds
Of phosphoric acid annually. 1t follows
that fifty years Of cultivation devoted
to that crop will greatly reduce this
element. 1t is true that in recent years
the farmer. by careful methods and by
studied rotation, has retarded this soil
exhaustion, but a comparison of the
average products of the state of Iowa
for the last decade with those of ILL
nois or Ohio will be a disappointment
to those who pride themselves on the
fertility Of Iowa soils.
Farm Revenue Not Sufficient.
at is difficult to.produce a net reve-
nue. that will pay reasonable return
on the investment now required in pur-
chasing Iowa farm land. Particular at
tention has been paid to seed selection
and to other minor details of corn pro-
duction. but the more important one
Of an examination of the plant ele-
ments has been neglected.
Before the introduction of fertiliza-
ton, which can only be supplied at
considerable expense, thorough In
vestigation will be valuable. To this
end, the soil survey purposed will be
Of great assistance. Along this line,
the firsts tep. as l understand it, will
be to map the territory showing the
different kinds of soils. Next will fol-
low analyses of the soils. The reports
describing the findings will become
matter of public record and Will be
available to any farmer that seeks to
inform himself as to the condition Of
his property
Prevent Misdirsetsd Fertilization.
eve can all understand how it may
be possible to supply all necessary
plant foods by a shotgun policy. but
we must keep ourselves within the
bounds of economical processes. and
the advice that we get from the gov
eminent will no doubt prevent lavish
expenditure in misdirected fertiliza-
ton. It is Of interest to know that the
State College of Amcs is intending to
cooperate with the United States gov
eminent in this work.
1.-THE unusual proportion Of sterile
corn and the consequent discussion
which is now exciting such general in
terest in the state, particularly the dis
cussion as to the collection and care Of
seed corn, may not entirely explain the
lack Of strength in termination. Phos
phoric acid must be supplied in abund-
ance to ripen all grain, and it is barely
possible that we may afford some solu-.
ton to the present problem IL we delve
more closely into the proposition of a
we'll balanced food ration for the SOIL"