The bee., 1914-03-31


more OF the area is kept in grass and
fewer acres cultivated The proven
ton Of erosion when hill lands are cul.
tlyated is nearly impossible, and ero-
sion means such rapid loss Of plant
food that fertility can not be proftably
Fertility Without Stock.
Animal manures always have played
an important part in maintaining pro-
and this has led TO the be-
lief held by many farmers that fertil.
ity = can not be maintained without
them. This brings up the question as
to whether this is true or not. Must
the farmer feed stock for the sake of
the manure, even il he makes no prof.
otherwise, or can he devise a system
Of farming where fertility can be main
tanned without animal manures? I;
this can be done, there are doubtless
many men who would keep little stock
even If they could not realize quite as
much profit from their farms Stock
requires more capital than
grain farming, not only because Of the
value of the stock, but because more
and fences are required. In
addition, some men find no pleasure in
raising stock and the enforced confine
ment to the farm, that the care OF
stock necssitates, is irksome and un.
Al 10 nAf
answer these questions it will be well
10 consider briefly some of the prin.
ciples OF soil fertility in order to learn
what the. chief functions OF manure
are, so We can decide as to its neces.
sity in the maintenance of fertility.
Essentials of Good Soil.
Soils originally fertile become un.
usually. because nitrogen,
calcium, potassium or or
ganic matter become deficient. The
nitrogen of the soil is practically all
contained in the organic matter, and
/ deficiency of organic matter usually
accompanies a deficiency OF nitrogen.
organic matter furnishes nitrogen, i'm.
proves the physical condition of soils,
gives them greater water-holding ca
)acity. and causes other elements OF.
plant food to become available more
'apidly. 1t is perhaps the most i'm
)ortant constituent of every fertile
ioil. The supply can be maintained
'nly by returning part of the plant
growth to the soil, either as animal
manure or in other forms.
Potassium is mineral element, and
learly all Kentucky soils contain
enough for all crop requirements
Where organic matter is defcient. DO.
assium may not become available
apidly enough for plant use. The
emedy is to increase the amount OF
rganic matter.
Phosphorus and Calcium.
Phosphorus is another mineral ele
nent In the Bluegrass section the
oils contain sufficient for present
liant requirements, and probably
nough to last for many years All the
lnds Of the state, With the exception
I this area. contain relatively small
mounts OF this element, so that few J
rops reduce the supply to a point
There plants can not secure enough |
OF their needs. TO maintain a sufi
lent supply IL Is necessary to use com.
lercial PHOSPHORUS in some form,
Or ii is evident that The manure pro
uced on any farm can not maintain
be supply on land naturally deficient
a this element.
Calcium Is also mineral element
I plant food Soils seldom lack suffi,
lent for this purpose. but in addition !
D it's function as plant food. calcium
arbonate or limestone, a calcium com.
ound. is capable OF neutralizing acids
Ihich form in the soil. When a soil
ecomes acid clover and other legumes
all 10 grow we'll II at all Legume
rops are absolutely necessary In any
81 % -,