The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-10-23
HOME COURSE
IN SCIENTIFIC
AGRICULTURE
FOURTEENTH ARTICLE.
COMMERCIAL FER
TILIZERS.
By EDWARD B. VOORHEES,. Late Director
Of the New Jersey Agricultural
Experiment Stations.

"HERE is perhaps no question
Of greater importance to the
practical farmer than that Of
soil fertility. To produce prof
table crops and at the same time to
maintain and even to increase the pro-
ductive capacity Of the soil may rightly
be termed good farming" Many
farmers are able to do this. and the
knowledge Of how to do it has been
largely acquired through years Of ex-
perience. during which the character
Of the soil, It's adaptability for crops
and the methods Of It's management
and mannring have been made sub
jects Of careful study. without however.
any definite and accurate knowledge
concerning manures and their fllH-
lions in relation to soils and crops.
Experience Is an excellent teacher. Still
definite knowledge Of the fundameil-
tai principles may be substituted for
years Of experience In the successful
use Of manures.
The fertility OF the soil would re-
main practically unchanged n all the
ingredients removed In the vnrio,is
farm products were restored 10 the
land. This Is to II large extent accom-
plished by feeding the crops grown on
the farm to animals. carefully saving
the manure and returning It To the
soil. and where It h practicable 10 p,ir-
sue system Of stock feeding IN which,
those products Of the farm which nr,.
comparatively po0r In fertilixing con-
sdtuents are exchanged in the mnrkef
for feeding stuffs of high fertilizing
value the loss VI soil fertility may he
reduced to minimum. or there may
be an actual gain. In fertility.
A careful study Of the present condi-
ton OF farming In the United Suites In
dicates. however, that as rule the
manure produced ON the farm Is not
sufficient to maintain its fertility and
that the need for artificial supplies Is
real. though the amount required nay
be considerably reduced by careful
management
@ 'ys.en - - ."eu s'ain
large areas Of this country for long
time and is still prncttced. tho I've
stock n often limited to number suf-
fcient only to the needs of the farm
- '"Do' INV w.. ne s'''in = s'''sa,
a"u eue al1.i'ule y u'asle Wy en'euS -
Tug ."''''.i "as'ss Vt u.'s''ao'e y"
.e.'' s'H'u g INV s'A'As' eo ! -
So" .Nn'..s''. p's,.'o' ''o.'a t'.'y s.e"'s''
a ... = H..1s'sen anu H'ine1A' cs.'''
"e'.u..n's ''la'. ti's'.e W''s'ts- Hsice '''f
p1acelce cUn'i.ueu TOT 'Dng u!ne re.
'ules noe ol'y = oenc'ene - 'ne he''
eanic suOs'"i'ces coh'a.l'ne n'..o-
ssl' ooe a'so - IN eAhaus.ion % tne
'nlnefa' substances = e Original cnar
actel VI Il'e sou anu us tleatn en'
measure .ne .a'e 9. exhaustion: ine
'es's lef.i.e so.fs = tue eas. ana soutll
Hfe .apiosy dep'ete0. WINE the r'ch
p1uiries ana river oottoms malhtaif'
ens..r ief'ai.y 'or 'onser periou
1ne CONTINUOUS COTTON anu toOacco
growing y tne soutD and tne wnea'
srO"ing Of the west are even more
exhaustive since mere the demands
upon the sol. are NOT changed. ieaf
aIte' year tne same crop . sroWn.
anu .ue saIne Aiuu anu propo.tion o.
CONSTITUENTS :. are tequileu. WINE even
s'lsnter setu1ns are maue IN tne WY
III IUuuUT& IuUu IN tue system OF lAfl0-