Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-05

The need OF q more complete and thor-
ough understanding OF the soil is patent
to all whom are familiar with the history
OF crop production in the United States.
IL is manifestly impossible TO use soil
amendments with intelligence and the
highest degree OF efficiency until the far
mer understands the primary defects in
his soil. and how these may be overcome
with a minimum expenditure OF effort
on his part Realizing the constructive
character OF work Of this nature, the
state College OF Agriculture has under
taken to institute q soil survey In GeOr-
gia- The funds asked for this work
were scaled considerably by the last leg
lislatune. and hence the money available
at the present time Is quite insufficient
TO make much impression on a task Of
such a stupendous character as that OF
surveying. mapping. analyzing, testing
and defining the soil needs OF a state
in which there are so many series OF
soils types represented, and which has an
area OF approximately 1900 square miles
Not discouraged. however. by the mea-
gerness OF the appropriation. work has
been instituted In a vigorous fashion
and a soil chemistry laboratory establish
ed AZ the college. and some 20 series OF
test plats laid down on y distinct soil
types. The test plats cover three acres,
each acre being divided into - smaller
plats BY this means the work Is car
ried on IN duplicate on each acre, and
some 9 questions are being asked OF the
three acres. A different crop is grown
on each acre OF land so that a rotation Of
crops may be instituted and its effect on
the soil determined. The present year
the first acre is devoted 10 cotton. the
second acre TO corn. and the third acre
TO cowpeas. The first and the eleventh
plats are check plats; the second and
twelfth plats received potash alone; the
third and thirteenth plats received phos-
phoric acid; the fourth and fourteenth
plats. nitrogen; the fifth and fifteentn
pIsus. phosphorie acid and potash; the
sixth and sixteenth plats. potash ana
nitrogen; the seventh and seventeenth
plats. phosphoric acid and nitrogen; the
eighth and eighteenth plats, phosphoric
acid. potash and nitrogen; the ninth and
nineteenth pIats. ground phosphate rock
the tenth and twentieth plats. ground
phosphate rock and potash, and on hair
OF the plats In each test the leguminous
crops are TO be cut off. and turned un-
der on the other.
Before these series Of plats were laid
down, the soils were crefully analysed
so that the marked deficiencies in plant
food might be ascertained and the fer
tilizer applied proportional somewhat
10 the apparent needs Of the soil. II
will be seen that a series OF plats Of
this character instituted on some so
acres OF land in Georgia will presently
furnish data OF the greatest possible
practical importance 10 farmers, and
will set at rest many vexing problems.
or course. work OF this character must
be continued for several years to be
OF any value. The present season, how
ever, is clearly abnormal, and the re-
turns may be small. but the average OF
q fve-year period may be depended on
with some degree OF accuracy. 1t Is
contemplated that this work will be
continued on the same area Of ground.
however. for a period OF not less than
ten years II is certainly desirable that
one OF these series OF test plats be laid
down on every type soil in Georgia.
Just how many OF these there are no
one knows. for enough work has hardly
been done 10 make even an approx
mate estimate IL is believed. however,
that there will be well on to 800 type
soils found in the state IL is mani
festIy absurd and wanton folly TO at
tempt to operate and fertilize all Of
these soil types in exactly the same
manner. This. as we all know, has
been the custom in the past, and II the
state is to make permanent progress
and develop q type OF agriculture which
win not only sustain the population. but
result in the conservation Of the soils.
a new system OF management must be
instituted. and 10 make this at all prac-
tfcable, il will be necessary 10 have an
accurate knowledge Of the type soils
which can alone be secured through
the inauguration OF some system such
as THAI now being established
The tests in progress now are located
on Conseuga silt loan. cecil sandy loan,
Norfolk sand, cecil clay loan. Durham
sandy loan. Greenville sandy loan,
Norfolk sandy loan. Norfolk fine sands
Ioam. Norfolk ine sand. Plummer hne
sand. Triton sandy loan. and Orange
burg sandy loan Tests are at present
in progress in Walker. TrOup. Brooks.
Dougherty. Sumter. DOoly. Dodge. Ware.
Builoch. Washington Hancock. Column
bia. Oconee, Walton. Clarke and Frank
lin counties. The physical examination
OF the type soils on a number OF other
counties has been completed by the
bureau OF soils. OF the United States
department OF agriculture. but test
plats could not be established on these
areas the present year owing to the
limited nature OF the appropriation
made for this particular work. The de-
urand made upon the college for work
IN this direction is very great. and the
farmers who are seeking for tho estab-
lishmenf Of test plats In their counties
are wise IN AueT Qal anu EcueE6lluAt
but II is maaifestly impossible for the
work 20 be extended without increased
support from the state.
This article has been prepared so
that those chiefly interested in this
matter might be fully informed as to
what Is being done and the reason why
the work cannot be expanded further
at the present time
II viii be interesting TO many 10 know
something about the variation IT. the
composition OF the soil types on which
tests are being conducted at the present
time. In Walker county an acre OF soil
TO the depth OF a foot. contains $50
pounds Of nitrogen. $50 pounds Of phos-
'pohric acid. and 2.640 pounds Of potash.
This soil is not a rich soil in any re-
spect. but IL Is markedly deficient in
rhoSphorfc acid and nitrogen In
FRANKLIN county the area on which the
test pIats are located contains per acre
foot $50 pounds of nitrogen, 3.9O pounds
OF phosphorfc acid and 1,l2o pounds OF
notash Notice how much richer this
soil area Is in all the essential elements
~ plant food. yet the lands In Frank
lin county respond well 70 certain kinds
~ fertilizer. These figures make II clear
that the same systems OF management
should not be followed on these TWO
soil areas