The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1913-03-21
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION.
SOU Fertility and Farm Manage.
ment Problems.

Two things which probably hinder
the success of farmers more thar
any others are the economical main.
tenance of soil fertility, and right
farm management. Only by building
up and by keeping up the fertility
of the soil can large yields be con-
tinuously produced, but after this
has been accomplished good farm
! management must be practiced ID
order to realize good net profit
/ upon ones investment.
Every farmer should know, to be-
gin with, what amounts OF the plant
food elements nitrogen, PHOSPHORUS
and potassium are In his soil. Ali
the other essential plant food ele-
ments are present in Kentucky soils
In sufficient quantities for maximum
yields of crops. These data can be
furnished by the Kentucky Agricul-
tural Experiment Station The analy-
SEES of the typical soil areas OF Ken
lucky are now on file at the Ex-
pertinent Station, and II relatively
accurate data cannot be furnished
for any particular farm of this
State. instructions for the collection
OF soil fol analysis will be furnish
ed upon application to DR.. A. M.
Peter. Head of the Division of Soil
Chemistry of the Experiment Sta
ton. and free report will follow.
Samples of soil to be analysed
should always be taken according TO
Instructions. Whether or not lime
Is needed to correct soil acidity can
be very readily determined by ex-
pertinent upon small plot In con-
nection with the sowing of red cloy-
er. The plowed surface OF a soil
should contain not less than 5000
poun Is of nitrogen. $500 pounds OF
and 10000 pounds OF
potassium In order that, In a favor
able season and under good tillage,
It may be made TO produce maxi
mum crop OF corn. wheat or oats.
The soils of Kentucky, except in riy-
or bottoms and peat swamps, con-
tain an abundance of potassium. II
soil does not show an analysts at
least up to the above In nitrogen.
phosphorus and potassium. steps
should be taken to add, economical
V, these elements to content nee
essary for large production. and raw
ground limestone should be applied
II experiment with red clover shows
that the soil needs limestone.
After normal fertility has been
secured, IL should be maintained.
and one great factor in this main
tenance ID good crop rotation. Crop
rotations may vary In grain farming
from those used In live stock farm
ing. but In either case legume crops
such as clover, alfalfa, COW peas.
soy beans, and sweet clover must
be used to maintain the supply OF
nitrogen. In stock farming about
every third crop should be le-
sume crop. and In grain farming,
about every second crop. By es-
tablishing crop rotations az above
indicated and by turning under suf- |
ficient manure and green crops to |
keep up the nitrogen content. the |
fert'".y of the soil can be kept up, |
Il in addition phosphorus in some |
iorm BIO added from time to time In |
quantities corresponding to those re-
moved from the soil In creal and |
'orage crops and live stock. The |
basis for such computation will be |
upon application to the
Experiment Station.
The location of farm buildings
With reference to various parts OF |
he farm and to each other, the
aging out OF fields and fences, the
of drainage systems, the
out Of crop rotations, forms
or farm accounting. ETC.. are among
he problems of farm management
which bear a strong relation to the
success or the failure of the own
,r OF a farm.
The Division of Extension of the
Agricultural Experiment
Station has decided to offer assis-
.ance. as far as may be possible, to
farmers of the State In solving prob
ems OF soil fertility. in establishing
cropping systems upon the whole or
, part OF farms, in the production
IF legume crops. and in working out
arm management problems. The as
distance win be offered through cor
or when possible by Wis
tation. without expense to owners.
for such assistance may
De made to T. r.. Bryant, Snpt. OF
he Division OF Extension.
II. B. HENDRICK,