The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-02-19
Soil Fertility contlnuedf from Feb. is.

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Soil Fertility Continued from Feb. is.
There are other very valuable thoughts
to be considered in connection with the
subject of Soil Fertility. In my former ar
ticle on this subject in the Star | outlined
some of the underlying principals of the
subject.
Those would like to notice at this time
are tillage. plant growth and green manur-
ing.
The proper tillage of the soil at the right
time has and important office to fill in con-
dection with maintaining the fertility Of the
soil. Fall blowing is one of the best ways
TO make the plant food in the soil available
to the use of the plants as it allows the act
ion OF the frost during the winter to help
pulverize the soil, thus making the work
much easier in the Spring. This will make
suitable seed bed for the crop to be plant
ed in the Spring. In order for the plant to
do their best it is necessary that the soil be
fine and compact to a certain degree, not
that it should be hard, but fine and firm.
This adds in covering the moisture which is
so important to successful plant growth, as
the plant food in tine soil must be dissolved
in water, that is, the plant food must be
DISSOLVED SO the plant roots can absorb it
from the soil, and in order for the roots to
do this the soil must be very fine to hold the
moisture in it and make the plant food avail
able.
A mistake commonly made is to defer
the blowing of the land until late Spring,
the soil usually turns up cloddy and hard
and is almost impossible to get it fine and
hrp and the moisture is allowed to escape
| very rapidly thus you can see that the plants
can NOT get sufficient food from the dry hard
clods. You can no doubt see how import
ant it is that your soil should be in as good
mechanical condition as it is possible to have
4 it.
| The different kinds of manure to be nsed
in connection with maintaining the fertility
of the soil is the green manures This con-
sists of blowing under snch crops as clover,
alfalfa and field peas. These crops have the
power Of supplying nitrogen, also humus.
AS well known fact these crops when
plowed under supply great quantities Of nit
rogen to the soil because they have the
power of taking from the air and storing
this nitrogen within themselves 50 when
plowed under and allowed to decay the nit
rogen that was once free in the air is de-
posted in the soil for other crops to live on.
! If you will examine the roots of clover.
\ alfalfa or field peas, you will notice small
tubercels or noduleS on the roots of these
| plants. Within these tuberces or nodules
are what is called bacteria or very small one
| cell plants, so small that they can not be
seen with the necked eye. These bacteria
have the power of transforming the ntegron
in the air that circulates through the soil
into farm that the plants can use it, as no
plant can use nitrogen that is in the ?ir ex-
cept the plants called Iegumcs. In these
plants we have one of the best means of SUP
plying the soil fertility so far as nitrogen is
concerned.
believe we would see marked change
for good if the farmers of this reservation
would SOW clovers or alfalfa. each Spr-
ing so in few years there would be clover
or alfalfa field to pillow under each year and
thereby increasing the richness of the soil
each year.
A FEW QUESTIONS
Q. Why is fall blowing be. ter than Spring
blowing.
A. Because the action Of the frost dur
ing the winter pulyerizes and meilows the
soil and aids in preparation of of the soil in
the spring. .f
Q. Why is it necessary to have the soil
mellow and fine before seeding.
A. 1t covers the moisture in the soil and
gives the plants roots a better chance to get
the food that is stored in the soil.
Q. Why should we not do any p.owing
in late spring.
A. For two reasons, first that it nair.
.he crop. too late to make good yield and
second that it is hard TO get the soil in the
proper condition to plant the crop.
@. What kind of manureS arc there be-
sides barn ytrd or stable nlanufes.
4 A. Green manures such as Clover, Ala
ia and field peas plonep lei and allowed
to decay.
---=--s>S-s-S-s-- s.S-.
New Is the Time to Plaa Yoar rip TO Sec
the Wonderful California Exsoai:.ons ard
Enjoy the Wonderful Climate 9. cail:or-
ia Isthirn 4ho Mintor