Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-01-25

both air and water, the liberatine
agents. The comparative impermea-
bility OF such soils makes natural
drainage almost impossible, and acid
ity is quite likely to result Plants
cannot grow in such soils because
there is too little food in solution to
properly nourish them, because AGRA
ton OF the root system is impossible.
and because the soil is too hard and
close to allow the roots to penetrate
sufficiently to be able to support life
Potential fertility must be made
serWceable; and after the soil has
been Dlowed and laid open to the air.
lime IN some one OF the forms, for this
use preferably the burnt lime stone
should be literally applied This will
leach through the soil TO some extent.
and ii tends to flocculate the soil, that
IS. to make the soil particles separate.
At the same time their tendency
towards adherence makes them cling
together i'll small numbers. The result
IS that number OF the small parti-
Giles become a single unit and these
units III separating from each other
through the action OF the lime upon
them. make the soil softer, looser and
more open. The air and water can
c rculate among the particles, and the
roots OF the young plants are able to
ind their way down into the soil
Flowing under cut straw, barnyard
manure or other litter, places in the
soil supply of humus which also aids
its texture The introduction of fiber
helps to promote the porosity and the
flexibility OF the soil The decay of
getable matter forms humc acid
which helps to liberate the natural fer
tility OF the soil itself.
As soon as the texture of the soil
has been made such that systematic
cropping can be begun. the matter OF
further fertilization becomes that used
in general reclamation work. The OBJ
Icct Is OF course. to bring the life sup
porting elements out OF the soil: and
until such time as the texture will per
NIT the ready support OF vegetation
fertilization is LARGELY confined to the
use OF lime and of composted ma
tcriaIs.
Now As soon as this stage has been
reached, theory again steps in to help
the farmer with his work Knowing
through chemical ANALYSIS that his
soil contains enough OF certain ele
ments To support life. but Is perhaps
deficient in others. he can proceed with
some measure OF certainty The ap
plication o. small quantities OF even
those materials which are abundantly
present Is frequently followed by re
turns far exceeding the cost involved
Theoretically. Of course. this should
not be so. but practically. it IS The
DRY, however. cautions him to use
such things as will release more and
more fully the contents OF the soil If
any one element is actually deficient
he knows from analysis what that ele-
mcnt is, and must figure out for him
self the most judicious method OF sc
curing it, He is able to know the rel
atlve need OF the several elements and
in whatever treatment he gives. to
preserve a ratio that will leave in the
soil a better adjustment of resources
Chemical analysis OF soils, conSid-
ering that it tells only the exact ma
terials we have. and not those with
which we can work is theory 1t is
practice when we make it serve con
stantlv as a general Indicator of the
work to be done
The real determining factor in the
work of practical fertilization must be
found as yet, in actual experience
Time and trial show more certainly and
more conclusivelv the commendable
practices adapted to individual soils
than does any amount OF chemical
theory AnalvSis is merely the start
ing point 1t is the farmers judgment
his continued study. and the close oh
Servation of results that must form
the real basis of his working knowl
edge He must learn to judge of the
matter OF texture. and TO know from his
examinations what must be done for
bcttermcnt Local conditions vary so
markedly that each person must be
his own final authority in matters of
practical fertlization-Ruth NJ Philo, |
;n p,u1ty - av;ov