The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-02-18
Soil Fertility and Farm Manage
ment Problems.

Two things which probably hinder
the success of farmers more than any
others are the economical maintenance
of soil fertility, and right farm man.
agement. Only bv building up and by
keeping I'D the fertility of the soil can
large yields be continuously pro uced,
but after this has been accomplished
good farm management must be prac-
ticed in order to realize good net
profit upon ones investment.
Every farmer should know, to begin
with. what amounts of the plant food
elements. nitrogen. phosphorus land
potassium. are in his soil. All the
other essential plant food elements are
present in Kentucky soils in sufficient
quantities for maximum yields of
crops. These data can be furnished by
the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment
Station. The analyses OF the typical
soil. areas of Kentucky are now on file
at the Experiment Station. and if rel
atively accurate data cannot be fur
nished for any particular farm of this
state, instructions for the collection OF
soil for analvsis..wiIl be furnished upon
application to DR.. A. M. Peter, head
of the Division of Soil Chemistry of
the Experiment Station. and free re-
port will follow. Samples of soil to
be analysed should always be taken
according to instructions. Whether or
not lime is needed to correct soil acidi.
ty can be very readily determined by
experiment upon small lot in connec-
tion with the sowing of>>red clover.
The ploWed surface of soil should
contain not less than eight thousand
pounds of nitrogen, two thousand five
hundred pounds of phosphorus and six
teen thousand pounds of potassium in
order that, IN favorable season and
under good ti)lage. it may be made to
produce maximum crop of corn,
wheat or oats. The soils of Kentucky,
except in river bottoms and peat
swamps, contains an abundance of pot
assium: steps should be taken to add.
economically. these elements to con-
tent necessary for large product on,
and raw ground limestone should b.
applied if experiment with red clover
shows that the soil needs limestone.
After normal fertility has been Sc
cured. it should be maintained, and
one good factor in the maintenance is
good crop rotation. Crop rotations
may vary in grain farming from those
used in live stock farming, but in eth
er 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 farm
ing about every third crop shou!d be
legume crop, and in grain farming
about every second crop. By establish
ing crop rotations as above indicated
and by turning under sufficient manure
and green crops to keep up the nitro
gen content, the fertility of the soil
can be kept up, if in addition phospho-
rus in some form be added from time
to time in Quantities corresponding to
those removed from the soil in cereal
and forage crops and live stock. The
basis for such computation will be fur
nished upon application to the Expert
ment Station.
The location of farm buildings with
reference to various parts of the farm
ano to each other, the laying out of
fields and fences. the establishing of
draining systems, the working out of
crop rotations, forms for farm account
ing, etc., are among the problems or
farm management which bear strong
relation to the success or failure of the
owner of a farm.
The Division of Extension of the
Kentucky agricultural Experiment
Station. at Lexington. has decided to
offer assistance, as far as may be pos
sible. to farmers Of tine State in solv-
ing problems of soil fertility, in estab-
fishing cropping systems upon the
whole or part of farms. in the :pIo-
duction of leeume crops, and in work
ing out farm management problem S.
This assistance will be Offered through
correspondence. or when possible by
visitation, without expense to owners.
Tombstone Inscriptions.