The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-03-14

this, if no manure at all is available,
some humus may have to be supplied
from some other source. This is espe.
cially true If the soil is naturally poor
in humus One of the simplest ways
to supply this is by green manuring.
This means the turning under Of a
green crop, such as clover, cowpeas or
some other legume This supplies both
humus and nitrogen. The best time to
plow under such crop is in the fall
so that 1t will have time to decay be-
fore spring. A large mass Of unde-
cayed material plowed under in the
spring checks the upward movement
of moisture and is liable to make the
land sour.
Another method of adding to the hu-
mus supply is by moving crop of
clover about haying time and letting it
lie on the ground The second crop
can be cut in the same way or used for
fall feed or for seed.
"Clover Sick" Soil.
After clover has been grown for q
considerable length Of time. especially
If much has been plowed under for
green manure. the land is liable to be.
come clover sick" This is caused by
an excess Of acid in the SOIL This
acid can be neutralized by the applica-
lion Of ground limestone Caustic or
quicklime Is not so good as limestone,
since it burns up large quantities Of
humus and in general is too violent in
its action. Lime has another advan-
tage on clay soils in that it causes the
particles to adhere together in larger
masses. thus making the soil more
porous. The usual rate of application
is from twenty to forty bushels to the
acre. With the application of lime. as
well as with the adoption of any other
new method. it is best to try it on
small scale first Then If 1t proves
profitable its use can be extended
The judicious use Of clover or some
other legume will effectively solve the
humus and nitrogen problems. There
remains the question Of the potassium
and phosphorus supply Glover also
aids with these The ,humus formed
from 1t helps to dissolve the unavail-
able materials and prepare them for
the use of the plant AS stated before.
there Is enough potassium in the upper
seven inches of the average prairie
soil to last 600 years under the most
intensive culture and enough phos-
phorus for fifty years. Glover changes
this seven inches into twice as many
feet Glover roots go down ten or a
dozen feet or farther Alfalfa roots 60
down twenty feet or more These deep
roots bring up minerals from the lower
ayers of soil and leave them where
The shallower rooted grain crops can
get them.
Making Fertility Available.
Gypsum, or land plaster. has a con-
siderable effe> in making potassium
and phosphorus available. Applied at
the rate of 500 or GOO pounds per acre.
ii will often increase crop yields con-
siderably. 1t also has beneficial eff.
feet on alkali soils. Use one or two
bushels to the acre.
Probably the most effective way Of
making phosphorus. potassium or 9TH
er plant foods available Is by tillage.
Frequent and thorough cultivation.
keeping the soil fine and mellow, ia
vors the chemical processes by which
locked up plant food is made available.
1t must be remembered. however,
that the faster these materials are lib
Grated the sooner will the supply be-
come exhausted When rotation with
legumes, tilage and the application Of
lime and gypsum no longer produce
satisfactory results it is sign that
there is lack of potassium or phos-
phorus. or both. in the soil Phos-
phorus is more liable to become scanty
In amount since the supply is smaller.
Bonemeal and ground phosphate rock
are the best forms in which to apply
this material The former Is quicker
IN its action. but considerably more ex-
pensiye Potassium is usually bought
in the form of muriate or sulphate.