Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-02-24
lCoNMusIcArn,
Soil rsraIrr .ae \. E.ra.al Capacity.

The most important add mosincglcct.
ed factor in our system o. agriculture
Is that 81 soil fertility and ~ main
tenauce,
For three centuries The Southern
Maryland farmer has drawn tho sup
port Of is people from the fertility
contained In our virgin soil, with pni-
vcrsai soil depletion as q result De.
plcied eoil fertility means Iow yields
per mere and high cost Of production
In many cases, the cost Of production
equals or exceeds the market price.
with this condition She earning espa-
city Of our sold for crop production
Is destroyed
The real value Of our farm lands
depend upon is productive power or
It's capacity 70 earn a profit upon The
investment; also upon the durability
Of is productive power oiher factors
contribrted " is value should not be-
ignored. bat from business standpoint
they are Of minor Importance These
are condition OF roads, distance from
school, church, markcis, the social
and sanitary condition, natural
scenery, etc
But The factor that pays the taxes
and other expenses is soil fertility,
which mainly controls It's earning
capacity. The bodybuilding and main
tcnance Of the soil fertility Is the
key 10 our progress. Labor and eapi-
tai are wasted IN the cultivation OF .
poor soil With the Increase and per,
manent maintenance of soil fertility
there is permanent protection for CAPT.
tai invested III land, either purchase
money Or farm loan. When one Dor.
rows money on such security as build
ings The lender often requires that a
portion Of he loan be invested 10 fire
insurance. II might well be- required
that portion of farm loans be- used
in way 10 insure the protection,
fertility and earning capacity 81 the
soil.
The greatest problem that conironts
our people Is 70 bring about the adap.
ton o. systems OF farming that viii
permanently maintain the productive
power OF our soils. The adoption Of
these systems win 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-
catisn OF these principals depend upon
the Willingness Of the people 20 CO.
operate in their application, for this
great problem Of uniform standard
production can only be solved by CO.
operation through community organi.
cations Let me suggest that II one
wants to be real benefactor TO his
community, get his neIghbors together
IA local club, take up the problem
Of increasing production per acre, de
eide upon the system best suited q
i your locality secure the adoption o.
this system upon the whole or part o.
their farms and see how soon they be-
| gin to prosper The combined wisdom
OF all exceeds that Of any individual
DR. Knapp says the question Of mark
cts can only be solved by co operative
production. This enables us 70 put
upon the market at the right time pro
ducts OF more uniform and higher
standard, commanding d higher price
al less COSY This reduces the cost d
production and increases the earning
capacity Of our soils and makes posi-
| Bile the maintenance Of soil fertility
G. F, WATHEN, Jr4
Country AGENT