The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-08-16
The Work viii Be Published
By The Government
And viii Be Distributed Free
Next Year
Howard c. Smith 10 Charge
Of Work II Knox Co.

Acting in cooperation with the
Ohio State Experiment station the
U, s. 6ureau of Soils of the National
Department Of Agriculture is making
soil survey of the state of Ohio. The
magnitude of this work may be judg-
ed from the fact that when complet-
ed Ohio will be the first state to have
its soils completely surveyed. map
ped and classified. Soil surveys have
been made In several counties of this
state and In all states of the Union.
but the completion of so comprehen-
sive a survey as to cover an entire
state has never before been attempt
sed.
To accomplish this work the state
is divided into number OF sections.
the work being divided between I
men employed by the state and 4 9th.
ers sent here by the Bureau Of soils.
the Work OF the various men is In.
spected by Prof. G.. N. Coffey of the
station and Mr.. T. ID. Rice Of the bu.
reau OF soils. the purpose Of the in
fspection being to keep the work OF
tthe various men along the same uni
form lines.
That this great work Is necessary
is evident when we consider that the
yields are not In many cases what
they should be II the nature of the
soil were understood. Again many
farmers are raising crops and varie-
tiles OF crops on soils to which they
are not adapted, hence yields are not
as large as would be the case II more
were known concerning the nature
tof the soils In the state. Further
more, the days OF virgin land In the
west are nearly past and the govern.
ment has but little more unoccupied
land to give to the settler Therefore
we cannot increase our area of till
able soil to any great extent and as
population increases and the neces-
sity for more food products arise we
as u nation will have to either raise
more per acre or buy II abroad which
is poor policy From this time on
II will be necessary for the govern.
ment to study the subject of food pro-
duction from every side so that when
the time comes that our population
has doubled we viii be raising the
proverbial two spears of grass where
but one grew before.
A proper study OF the soil Ii there
Tore most important to the farmer
and to the nation as well for we must
not only know what we have and
where II is, but how to use II to the
best advantage and "a soil Is the
foundation of all wealth and life Its
study s Of the greatest Importance.
The survey OF the soils must not
he considered an end In itself but n
means to an end Before the prob
'lemsScan all be solved more must be
known concerning the nature OF the
soil In which the plants grow how II
must be treated. the fertilizers to be
used, the drainage to be applied. til,
age to be given, rotations to he prac-
tlced, varieties to be grown and crops
TO be produced. The survey IN des.
tined TO be means OF studying out
the above much needed information
and much more of benefit to the farm,
er.
u is the purpose OF the survey 10
classify all the soils OF the state and
TO make large map OF Ohio show
Ing the acreage and extent of all soils
The results OF the field studies OF
the various scientists will be given
and the map so arranged that the
reader may readily get an Idea Of
the lands Of his farm or OF the coun
~ or state. Another object will b,
to give this knowledge not only /,
the resident farmer but TO those Wish
ing, 10 reside here and take adyaIl
'tage OF Ohio's manifold resources al
place OF residence. Considerable,
3 space will be given 10 statistics AM
10 a discussion OF the climate In dli
ferent parts Of the state and It's In
tnuences on crops Such importan