Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-23
Soil Expert Tells of the
Modern Farming Methods
W. E. Taylor of Moline Discusses Subject Which Is
Greatest Interest to Many of the
Readers of The Courier

The second installment of the treat
Use on Modern farming methods,
given by w. e. Taylor is published be-
low. Mr. Taylor is well known soil
expert with the John Deere Company
of Moline, Ill.,, and delivered an ad-
dress in Ottumwa recently before the
annual meeting Of the Wapello County
Farmers institute. The treatise fol-
lows:
Microscopic Water.
Microscopic water or vapor water,
is the moisture that exists in the air.
When air enters the soil the moisture
adheres to the soil particles. This
moisture is of little value in dissolving
plant food elements, but does in a
measure, stimulate plants in dry re-
gions. ,
Moisture Is conserved or prevented
from escaping through surface CRACKS
and insect holes by maintaining SOIL
mulch blanket on the surface. Ihls
can be done in corn by running
mulch harrow between the rows or by
using a surface cultivator. The mulch
should be formed as soon as the
ground begins to dry or bake after the
rains Unless the farmer is Watchtul
one or more inches Of water will es-
cape during one hot windy day.
In grain fields the mulch man be
formed either with harrow or cor
rugated roller. The harrow gives the
best results in hard ground where the
roots are deep, but if the soil is loose
the corrugated roller forms retaining
mulch and at the same time packs the
soil about the grain roots. Either I'M
plement can be used to good proht
even when the grain is beginning to
joint.
When organic matter becomes thor
oughly rotted and combines with chem
ical elements in the soil, it Is called
humus. Indirectly it is an important
factor in fertility, in fact, soil devoid
Of humus is practically barren. HUI
mus increases the moisture absorbing
ability Of soil to very marked degree
and exerts a decided influence on the
temperature of the ground. Barnyard
manure Is the best source OF humus,
although green crops ploWed under
are excellent.
Plants require certain specific in
gradients in the right quantities II a
rapid growth and abundant production
is secured. An unbalanced plant food
ration proves as disastrous to the
growing plant as an unbalanced 1000
ration does to the animal. Hence, the
farmer should know three things per-
tanning to feeding plants, and he can
secure that information by studying
and experimenting.
az He should know the require
ments of plants.
(2) He should know the quantity OF
each element or substance necessary
to secure the best results.
81 He should know how to Till his
land and manage the operations of the
farm so as to utilize and make avail
able what nature has provided IN a
crude form.
Soil is composed Of disintegrated
rocks. Rocks are composed of SILICA,
alumina, lime, iron magnesfa, soda, pot
ash, phosphorus and sulphur. In those
substances are the basic elements of
fertility. To make them available plant
food compounds, we must have nitro
gen, oxygen, hydrogen and carbon d.
oxide Oxygen exists in the air IN
abundance. Hydrogen composes two
thirds Of the volume of water. Three.
fourths of the atmosphere is composed
of nitrogen, and carbon dioxide is the
result Of decomposition Of vegetable
and animal matter. The whole layout
is fine, and it is up to the farmer to
convert them into useful plant food.
Can it be done? Certainly 1t can,
and that too by any intelligent farmer
if he will use his good Judgment and
amply means and methods that'are at
| his disposal. Natures generosity is
of little use, however, If man neglects
his part. The factory needs steel. How
is It secured? Iron ore is buried deep
in the mountain, coal Is hidden below
! the surface, limerick forms portion
; of the crust of the globe. When
brought together in the right proper
! ton in the blast furnace, iron is reduc'
ed to an available form for another
| process. and so on until the product
is completed. Without mans 1nterven
ton the component elements that are
| finally resolved into cambria needle
would sleep on until the last day OF
I eternity. Thus it is with the story OF
the fertility Of the soil.
! Nc SLOIy vi IAS AAAhy SoAh pAS-A
changes and combinations that take
place between the elepents and sub
stances is too confusing for the busy
farmer to master. He is interested In
what to do and how to bring about the
, right results.
Most soil contains an abundance OF
! potassium, but it may be locked up in
particles of granite, feldspar, alumina
Or clay, but it is made available by the
application of powdered lime rock to
the soil.
Phosphorus may exist in abundance
but Is not in the right form to use until
/ it is transformed into phosphoric acid
by the action Of acids resulting from
the decaying( Of manures or organic
materials of some kind.
Elements may exist in abundance
but are not made into compounds to be
used by plants until the various ele
ments are brought together by stirring
and tilling the soil, thereby changing
the position of the soil particles and
| the chemicals.
| Converting and rectifying bacteria
may be absent or dormant for lack
of oxygen, or because of an acid soil