The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-03

, the rocks IN such a way as to make
more of the plant food available. Car
bt mic acid gas enc of the products OF
decay or fermentation, when dis.
solved in sell water. is an important
help in disintegrating the rocks.
Roots Of growing plants also secrete
an acid substance that has a solvent
effect on the rocks and on the min.
eial matter of the soil. and roots also
assist mechanically in breaking
down the rocks. An example OF this
in the shape of grooves or burrows
upon solid rock may be frequently
seen when removing the roots Of
growing trees which extend across the
rocks The roots of the plants penc-
trate the roil sometimes TO great
depths. and as they decay after death
of the plants. they leave in the soil
little channels which serve To carry
down water laden with carbonic acid
as we'll as TO introduce the oxygen
Of the air which in its turn is fac
tor in bringing about chemical
changes in the sell which assist in
making plant food available. This
formation of humus with its attend
ing chemical changes increases at the
same time the bacterial life within the
soil and prepares it for the growth OF
le2uminous plants The peculiar prop.
orty Of these plants consists in their
ability to draw part of their food from
the free nitrogen Of the atmosphere
ard as these plants die and decay.
the nitrogen compounds accumulated
Nv them eventually become a part Of
the Sc thus adding to it's original
fertility. Humus increases the power
OF the soil to absorb and retain wa
ter. The amount of water held in a
c, bic foot Of different soils is as fol-
lows:
Sand ................... 2I.3 Lbs.
Sandy Clay .................3 S.S Ids.
Lean ............. ...9l.4 bus'
ilulnuS ......... ......... .oV.l lLDs'
llumus improves the physical con
dtion of the soil. Sandy soils are
rlade more compact and are thus bet.
ter able to supply the growing plants
with moisture. Clay soils which are
likely to become too compact are
made more mellow by the addition OF
transforming material. In other
words humus forms loan, for sandy
loan is simply sandy soil well sup
FLIED with organic matter. and clay
loan is clay which has been made
light and mellow by the same mater
ial, Humus regulates the temperature
of the soil. A soil containing suf-
hcient supply of organic matter
warns up more slowly and retains its
heat for longer period. IL has been
frequently observed that orchards well
supplied with organic matter are
least damaged during periods of I'M
seasOnable cold weather. Humus Is
a storehouse for plant food, especially
for nitrogen, for most Of this fertiliz-
ing material is formed in the more o'
less decomposed organic matter, whila
humus also either contains phosphoric
acid and potash in highly available
foi ms or assists in rendering them
available. Humus becomes lost
through the action of heat; either
Immediately through the intense heat
Of burning. or slowly through the
moderate heat which Is generated
during the process of decomposition
Summing up the foregoing state
ments II is evident that humus Is the
life blood of the soh. the corner
stone of successful agriculture. Ma
lures priceless gift to mankind.
Stored up as it is in the forests lad
oratory, shall we allow the wanton
obstruction of treasure accumulated
curing the centuries Of ceaseless toll?
To you the loss may seem to be-'h
fact is-of far less consequence than
to him who comes after you striving
both to wrest from the soil hven'
hood for himself and to assist in reed
ing our ever growing population.
Whatever you may devise for the pro-
lection of the forest. whatever legis'