New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02

II
wv the fs s.'i is no. . as.,. Of speech. ss,
literal statement of fact which
jv.ns 70 have been overlooked by many econ
lists IN their estimates Of the cost Of the
European war.
i Tn. earth itself-the soil over which con-
I,oding armies struggles suffering an injury
Iva;eh can be calculated in terms OF several
Isuudred million dollars. The poets who say
H., the earth sickens with bloodshed are more
Hgh, than they know.
We have been told how much the war costs
H. lives military tools, breakdown of COM
in.,ce and industry, destruction Of ships, fac
1nd.s. railroads. bridges and homes. An ap-
Ialing to:al Il makes, and it seems that no ele-
n.pt Of concrete injury has been omitted from
Ee, schedule. But an item of prime impor-
unc. has been left out. Earth outraged pre-
..nts her bill 70 mankind.
Earth speaks:
Pardon me. gentlemen, but am one OF the
FIRST creditors. What! You thought other
Wis. because did not make fuss2 1t is not
Law habit 10 be noisy. Here is my bill, and
you will find that you must pay me before you
,ay lot Of the other creditors, and cannot
oEer you any discount"
Dame Earth is sort OF highfalutin', don't
you think, for a person talking about just agri-
utrr,? Damage 20 earth! Injury TO dirt!
tHuh Why, look at all the enrichment Europe
will have from inferred patriots, and the benefit
GLAND getting rested from cultivation. don't
Sc, anything to it."
8THE WOUNDS OF EARTH ARE A LONG
TINE HEALING.
Perhaps our lay friend will see something to
B h when he hears the opinion Of such level
headed expert as o. S. Morgan, professor OF
3 Agriculture at Columbia University. A multi
tide Of other experts would corroborate Pro-
lessor Morgan, and even any one who has
8 tabbed in agriculture to the extent Of growing
backyard garden can appreciate the facts.
4 Said the professor to me the other day:
4 1T will take two TO FIVE years for the soil OF
he devastated area TO recover from its injuries
( Bone Of the i'll effects of war on European land
VII last half century"
j The area devastated may be computed in
many thousands Of square miles. There is in
! dnded the finest, most productive soil in the
verdi
The earth is neutral. 1t makes no complaint
ibout dum-dums or other violations OF the
rules Of warfare, but it presents an impartial
( bill Of damages for her injuries. If one OF the
human combatants is a loser and is assessed
By the victor all the costs of war, the item OF
I agricultural damage will be milestone around
that losers neck.
DIRT PLUS MANS TOLL AND I'M
PROVEMENT IS SOIL.
In order that the layman may understand
things, he should know that soil Is not dirt
Nature has put lot of dirt on the planet and
much Of il is not worth 10 cents an acre. Soil
Nature at her best plus mans toll and i'm
pFovement for long course of years. The
Vermans call soil boden, in the sense that 1t
ga body or organism with regular bodily pro-
Sssses OF eating, digesting and OF creating NE
There is a wonderful mechanism OF parts which
10 laboratory sharp can initiate synthehcaliy'
cough he may find various chemical constitu-
sah and discover the marvellous interachon OF
'arthwOrms and protocol and bacteria. There
IA delicate balance between the parts. Ihere
a structure and character which may not DC
disturbed without vital damage.
Drainage, enrichment and tillage must De
gwen to the soil scientifically. The peasants
Europe have given this scientific care even
1ough they did not know it was scientihc.
,nsy were taught by long experience, handed
s0wu from father TO son. When the soil mas
0sen brought to high state Of production II
must be regularly worked to '.eep it in condi-
uon Il is not exhausted but benefited oy
pang properly worked and made 10 yield crops
zach year. We hear of the benefit of rest
ns land by letting it lie fsllow. A scientihc
.'st is good for land as for human beings, but
'ahng, abuse and neglect are equally harmful
/" both. Land choked with weeds and under
s'Ush and soaked with water from neglected
s"ehes is not rested. but set back and damaged.
YET US take up a newspaper item of some
smiths ago, stating that 100000 soldiers
"0f<ed for three weeks in Galacia digging
ssnshes. Probably each soldier in day dug