Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-12-25

the legumes in the work of gathering
nitrogen and plant food. and the en-
ployment of a grass or cover crop
to protect the fruit from the mud
during years when the trees are due
to produce a large crop Of fruit.
The physical condition of the soil
is very important, but If we consider
it alone we will gain increased crops
for a few years, but in the end will
exhaust our soil and the crops OF
fruit will become smaller and more
imperfect until we will be compelled
to use large amounts Of manure or
fertilizer. It Is always more profit
able for us to maintain the fertility
of the orchard than to skin on the
fruit and then try and bring it back
to a condition where 1t will produce
profitable crops of fruit. To success
fully maintain the physical condition
of the soil we must supply 1t with an
abundance Of humus forming material
and give 1t good tillage. The biolog-
ical condition Of the soil deals with
the soil organisms that work for US
In making the substances Of the soil
into a condition available to nourish
the growing plants. Without them
the soil would not be in a condition to
furnish the plants with nitrogen and
the growth Of the tree would be
practically arrested. These soil or
ganisms require for their best devel-
opment suitable temperature, air
movement and an abundance of mois-
ture, some base for their products to
combine with and ONE food.
When we discuss the chemical con-
ditions of the soil many orchard own
ers think we are discussing some
thing mysterious. and jump at the
conclusion that the subject is n
which they cannot understand. The
first law Of chemistry Is that we can
not make something out of nothing.
and that we are the loser every time
we try to get a crop of fruit from a
soil which is deficient in available
plant food. The trees must have
food from the soil before they can
produce fruit. Now, after discussing
these three relations, let us discuss
the methods best adapted to maintain
them separately. and also in their re
lations to each other, SO that we
may feed our trees and fruit in the
most efficient and economical man.
ner possible.
Flowing under green foliage adds
humus and improves the texture OF
the soil, assists in conserving mois-
ture and prevents soil washing. The
amount Of plant food which is made
available depends largely upon the
carbonic acid produced by the decom-
position Of the vegetable tissue, and
the roots and. organic matter. Thus
IN humus We have a substance that
assists in the liberation Of mineral as
well as of heterogeneous plant food. be-
sides improving the physical condi-
ton of the soil.
All plants will make humus, but
when we employ legumes we are en-.
abled to increase the nitrogen content
Of the soil, for these plants have the
power Of obtaining their nitrogen
from the atmosphere and depositing 1t
in the soil in a form available for
succeeding crops of fruit and wood.
Thus, when legumes are grown to in
crease the supply of humus and nj
trogen, It is not necessary to use
high-priced complete fertilizers. Nj
trogen is the most expensive element
OF fertility, and the air is a much
cheaper source than the fertilizer
works.
In many respects cultivation and
cover crops resemble each other In
their general effect upon the store
Of plant food In the soil. 1t is made
more available by tillage, while COW
er crops and tillage together will ac-
complish all that tillage possibly can.
and at the same time improve all
three of the important conditions, be-
sides adding large quantities of nj.
trogen for future use. Cover crops
will also prevent soil washing and
hold the leaves until they may be
plowed under. Have you aver noticed
how a clump Of grass will hold leaves
from blowing away? The saving Of
leaves is natures method Of maintain
ing fertility for the tree.
When the trees are making too
heavy a growth of wood 1t is often
best to use some other crop and
omit the fegume for . season or more.