El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-12

that perhaps the grape is best suited
to our soil. as il has q high content OF
potash, which is plentiful and easily
supplied, and a low content of phOs-
plate, which Is not over supplied and
is expensive. In nitrogen we have no
excess, but this is easily supplied; lime
is abOundant The pear is perhaps the
next best provided for, and the apple
the next
Helping the Soils.
Probably phOSphates and nitrogen
VIII be the constituents first necessary
70 supply in crops other than the grape,
Nitrogen can be had from the animal
manure Another source of nitrogen
IS cover crops, or green manures. OF
the -legume family OF these, alfalfa
and sour clover are perhaps the best
suited 10 this section. I believe, as
stated IN a former paper, that sowing
alfalfa between the rows Of trees or
vines and containing it in this position
until shaded out by the trees (where
plenty Of water is available) is a prOsi-
tive benefit and is also profitable while
the trees are small.
1t shades the ground~during our hot
test weather, keeps down weeds, and
stores nitrogen. while its roots reach
deep in the ground and furnish means
Tor proper aeration- But there must
be plenty OF water. otherwise the al
falfa viii rob the tree or vine Of its
proper supply of moisture. The decay
mus.
Soil Bacteria Explained.
A very intimate relation exists be-
tween the fertility of a soil and its BAG
terial life. It is. therefore, important
to know the conditions of the soil
which are most favorable to the rapid
Development of soil bacteria, for upon
this will depend plant growth.
Acid soils are infertie because the
soil bacteria cannot grow in them. Lime
IN some Of its forms when applied to
land assists in the decomposition Of or
ganic matter in the soil. but indirectly.
NJ rHrsgN fna Of nn ezrHH
and renders il more favorable to the
development of the soil bacteria. which
are the true agents for the decOmposi-
ton OF organic matter
A very fertile soil may be so water
logged as TO be almost entirely IN
productive The excessive amount Of
water cuts off to a large extent the
supply Of air which is required by the
bacteria
Muck beds are rich fin nitrogen and
often contain considerable phosphorus
and potassium, but they viii not pro-
duce good crops; drain them and cor
rect the acid condition, and they be-
come heavy producers
Acids in soils may also bring into
solution minerals that have a poisonous
effect The whole difficulty must be
met by overcoming the injurious ef-
fccts of soil acids Lime in some Of its
forms Is the most economical It may
be applied in amounts OF 500 to 1000
pounds to the acre. Our soils usually
contain enough lime, but in our heavy
clays or adObes. lime viii be cSpeci-
ally beneficial
Great Value of "Csyp.7
Fortunately. We have a material in
large quantities, in Just the right form
for this purpose. close at hand. This
Is our large deposit Of white sands or
gypsum between II PaSO and Alamo
gordO. Our common cahche adjacent
to FL PasO is almost as valuable, but
not as pure as the white sands deposit.
Lime should be applied TO all our soils
after several years of using animal
manure as it helps thorough decOmpo-
sition and may destroy insect and
fungi
Gypsum. or land plaster, as tits often
called (sulphatc of limeI, acts directly
in correcting soils made alkaline by the
presence OF carbonate OF soda tblack
alkaID. which is allIai in its most
harmful form. and may be present in
many soils not suspected of containing
it at all until analysis shows its pres