The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1914-04-18

| lands of the state, with the exception,
Of this area, contain relatively small
amounts of this element, so that few
crops reduce the supply to a point
where plants can not secure enough
for their needs. To maintain suffi-
cient supply 1t is necessary to use COM
mercial PHOSPHORUS in some form,
for it Is evident that the manure pro-
duced on any farm can not maintain
the supply on land naturally deficient
in this element.
Calcium is also mineral element
OF plant food Soils seldom lack sufi-
cient for this purpose, but in addition
to its function as plant food, calcium
| carbonate or limestone, a calcium com.
pound, is capable OF neutralizing acids
which form in the soil. When a soil
becomes acid clover and other legumes
fail to grow well, il at adj Legume
crops are absolutely necessary in any
system Of farming to maintain the
nitrogen supply. There are not many
soils in the state where the addition
Of limestone would not prove bene
fetal Either ground limestone or lime
may be used. The need for limestone
can not be supplied by manure.
We may conclude from the above
statements that most of the benefit
from animal manures is due to the fact
that they supply humus and nitrogen,
and that IL an efficient method of sup
plying these in some other way could
be found, we could maintain fertility
without manure.
II in grain farming all crop residues.
such as straw, cornstalks, ETC., are re.
turned to the land, We will add nearly
as much organic matter as IL all crops
were fed and the manure returned
This is due to the fact that over one.
half the organic matter of feeds is de.
stroyed by the animal body.
The nitrogen supply is with more
difficulty maintained, but by growing
the legume crops OF the rotation pri.
marily for their seeds, and by growing
legume catch-crops as often as pos.
sible, we can be independent of ma.
nure even to supply nitrogen. DR.. Hop.
kins, Of the University OF Illinois, who
was the first to point out the possibil.
tiles Of grain farming, says that fertil.
ity is more easily maintained in grain
farming than where stock is kept.
Systems Of Rotation.
The following systems Of rotation
are few Of many which can be adapt.
ed to the use OF the grain farmer.
First year wheat with clover sown in
wheat Second year, corn or tobacco,
with cowpeas sown between rows at
last cultivation. Third year, wheat or
oats with clover. Fourth year. clover.
The first crop OF clover is to be cut
and left on the ground, and the second
crop cut for seed
First year, corn or tobacco; second
year, soy beans or cowpeas; third
year wheat fourth year, clover. Only
the seeds of the clover, peas, or beans
are to be sold. A two.year rotation OF
first-year wheat and second-year clover
can be followed and the clover crop
made into hay. Continuous growing
OF alfalfa may be practiced and the
soil will increase in humus and nitro.
gen content. Or If desired, clover may
be grown continuously by reseeding
after the first crop is removed.
The farmer following grain farming
should remember that rotation with
legumes will not maintain the nitrogen
supply if the legume crops are all sold
At least part Of the growth must be
plowed under, as provided for in the
above rotation systems. Also that
crop residues must be promptly return.
cd to the lard and carefully dis
tributed BY keeping in mind these
most important facts he should have
no difficulty in maintaining fertility, II
no stock except the work animals is
kept.