Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-10-10


practical men couldn't give any real
sons that would logically contradict the
scientific conclusions, so he rejected
the science, clinging to his tradition,
and continued to practice certain
methods without being able to explain
why. 1t took ten years for the scien-
tist to reach the conclusion based on
experiment, observation and collected
facts, that physical condition was quite
as important factor as chemical
composition.
Then came the bacteriologist who dis
covered that live soil was productive
and dead soil non-productive, regard
less of the composition. That live soil
contained innumerable quantities Of
microscopic organisms that through
their life and death made available for
the use Of the plants the various ele-
ments which the plants used. Still fur
ther investigation demonstrated tho
fact that a proper proportion of air,
water, heat and light were just as
necessary for perfect plant growth aa
any other element.
Bacteria In Soil.
Next, the scientist explained fact
long well known, but apparently lost
sight Of, that bacteria were found only
in organic matter. They vindicatod by
their collection Of facts tho theory of
the fact that nothing could live but
something else must die So after 20
years | could answer the Professor and
tell him that the value Of stable
manure was in its physical effect upon
tho soil composition rather than its
chemical compounds. That 1t furnished
homo for those minute bacteria that
mado available those inorganic elo-
ments; that II regulated to a marked
degree tho soil temperature, increased
Its capacity to absorb and hold mois'
trre and could therefore carry much
larger amount OF oxygen without which
tho little bacteria would have 10 quit
business,
And then remembered what 40
years ago a practical German gnrden-
er, whom showing mo row Of rutae
bagas, said. At ono end they would
average about ten pounds apiece and
at the opposite end Of the row about
two ounces apiece I asked him why,
and he saidi "oh, this ground up here
whore the big ones arc Is aliv0 That
over thoro whore the little onos are 10
dead" / asked him what would put
new life into tho soil and ho an
sweredi "Plenty Of stable maiurN"
Impractical scienco.
Down in Georgia, ono Of tho old
school scientists applied ten doIlars'
worth per aero Of nitrogen, potash and
phosphorous and doubled his yiold Of
cotton on a piocS Of worn-out land;
but the next year II took twelve dol
lars worth 10 accomplish tho gamo rO-
suits. He kept increasing the doScu
Of medicine until the medicine cost
Oh much as the ms'ket value Of tho
crop,
Tho old darlSy who drove Clio mules
10 cultivate tho cotton had seven aercO
Of tho same kind Of land, but No
money TO buy medicine, no ho tuBi
grow woods until they were a fool
high, and them plowed thSrh under
Thon no Bowed some oeiS cut off The
heads and plowed dndor tho straw
Then no sow0i5> no cowpeas and har
vested for ~ sold tho hay TO thu
bcsg Ia ,er ton 10 feed tho null
.ttE -. .-.ivato tho cotton that wu
talN hncdicino.
For convenience tho mule wal
stabbed on his seven acres, and HI
kept tho manure
Harmonixing
The fourth year his three acreB o.
: upland cotton that hadn't had an
medicine, produced more than any thre,
acres Of tho sciontigt's that had hai
forty.five dollars worth Of medicine
] While HIS other four acros producot
/ oats, corn, sweet potatoes and pea ha!
a equal in value to any -four acrcs Of th
I doctored cotton. Then Sam, tho prac
tical, and Professor Jonos, the scientist
y got together In tho cotton field, sub
0 mitted their facts and formulated