Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-02-24
lcomiUNicATm.
Sail Fertility and its Esralne cspscity.

The most important aud most neglect.
Cd factor ID orr system ~ agriculture
Is that Of soil fertility and lM main.
lcnance.
For three centuries the Southern
Maryland farmer has drsSn the sup.
port Of rs people from the fertility
contained in our virgin soil, with uni.
yersal soil depletion as 8 result Do
pIeied soil fertility ms1ns los yields
por acre and high cost o. production
Ia many cases, the cost OF production
equals OF exceeds the markc, price,
With this condition he earning capa-
city 81 our soil for crop production
Is DESTROYED
The real value ~ our farm lands
depend upon rs productive power or
rs capacity 70 earn a profit upon the
investment: also upon the durability
Of It's productive power. Other factors
contributed to It's value should not be
ignored, bpt from a business standpoint
they are Of minor Importance. These
are condition Of roads, distance from
school, church, markets, the social
and sanitary condition, natural
scenery etc.
But the factor that pays tne taxes
and other expenses u soil fertility,
which mainly controls its earning
capacity The up.bnilding and main
tsnance Of the soil fertility is the
key 10 our progress. Labor and CAPT.
tai are wasted in the cultivation Of
poor soil. With the increase and per.
maneni maintenance Of soil fertility
there is permanent protection for CAPT
tai invested In land, either purchase
money or farm loan. When one bor-
rows money on such security as build.
ings the lender ofion requires that .
portion 81 the loan be invested In fire
insurance. Il might well be required
that portion Of farm loans be used
in a way 70 insure the protection.
fertility aud earning capacity Of The
soil.
The greatest problem that confronts
our people Is to bring about The adap-
ton OF systems OF farming that will
permanently maintain the productive
power OF our soils. The adoption Of
tJese systems viii require the earnest
support Of the educated and influential
people In every vocation in life In our
county
Our farmers need accurate infor-
nation OF which there are abundant
sources, not theories. or ideas Of any
individual.
The universal and successful appli-
catfish OF these principals depend upon
the Willingness Of the people to CO.
operate IN their application, for the
great problem OF uniform standard
production can only be solved by co.
operation through community organi-
zafions Lot me suggest that II one
wants TO DO a real benefactor 10 his
community, get his neIghbors together
Ia a local club, take up the problem
Of increasing production per acre, de-
eide upon the system best suited 70
your locality, secure the adoption of
this system upou the whole or part Of
their farms and see how soon they be-
gin % prosper. The combined wisdom
Of all exceeds that Of any Individual.
DR.. Knapp says the question Of mark
cts can only be solved by cooperative
production. This enables Us to put
upon the market at the right time pro-
ducts Of more uniform and higher
standard, commanding higher price
ut less cost. This reduces the cost Of
production and increases the earning
capacity 81 our soils and makes posi-
bic the maintenance Of soil fertility.
E r. WATHEN, Jr.
COUNTY AGENT.