The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-24

we'd. Ihat Is Twink tAahAP'S
SoGlcfency. I was through fac
some time ago. where several
asAnd men were turning out re-
Srkable volume of work In short
nee Of time The whole plant was
refully planned to keep all divisions
hov.nr at a maximum comfortable
nce. The machines we're almost
.&nm.,n in action. Raw material was
~ al ttmes within reach Of the work
ncn, and none OF the accessories was
kort or sufficiently overstocked so
E13hat thew tntcrfered with the work
*fSen. There seemed to DC absolutely
- lost motion The men m loved
Sout quietly and carried on their
Hnr,, In perfect harmony. The fac
NV itself WIS a model Of hyEien'c
fnrfection. Workroons were conven-
: 1sfls warm ard were we'll supplied
ExA*S5a,n "a current Of fresh air. For the
zen. during the noon hour and In
4Ae evening. furnished and com
aodious clubroorns were provided. In
[St1oEt. everything possible had been
Lone to make the place where me
6ofkmen were carrying on their IA
kors. A. comfortable and convenient
possible. could not help thinking
"a how this factory was a living ex-
fnple OF the IDEAL condition OF farm
Slls
In these days when we are giving
much attention TO the breeding Of
ops and live stock, marketing Of
Ekrm products development Of power
drive our large farm machinery
nd 10 other phases OF farm work. !
Eametsnes wonder u we are giving
k2uite enough attention to TIRE proper
OF the soil SO that the
satving room OF the plant ana the soil
oe4er!a ts IN the best condition In
~ hrst place, the type OF the soil
koeH may determine IT'S physical pre-
arsdness to near profitable crops
II IL we'll 60 keep n MIND that for
- tiny seed 10 sprout IL requires
1T air and DISTURB For tho
ofOuted seed to develop into crop
oaring plant, II must have sunlight
md plant food.
eoils Differ In many characteristics
most important one OF which "a IN
~ Aze OF kernel or crUmb. Speak
NJ generally. clay soils have a very
No almost inpalpable, grain. Sandy
S0ils, at the opposite extreme. may he
Extremely coarse A very fine soil
Eerne exposes a much greater total
nrface space 70 attract water in tho
MI than does tho kernels IN an equal
volume OF coarser soil The late Pro-
1ooor King. OF Wisconsin, Ia authori-
u for the statement that tho soil sur
zee exposed by the kernels of one
ound of fine clay amounts TO a total
"a over three acres. while that ex-
&oaed by the same weight OF coarse
md amounts TO only eleven square
y&et- II is obvious. then. that the
[one soil has a greater attraction for
lS&nds TO hold it's capillary water much
3pnRer than does the coarse soil. This
- . distinct advantage In many cases.
1tDce sandy soils dry out rapidly.
zEuwever. 1t may be that tins clay soil
- fine and closely compacted that
holds Its water in great volume
It'll late IN the spring. Now. II the
I'll h poorly drained. 1t Is often found
hnt the soil remains cold and back
ard on account of the continual
OF water. robbing II OF
aeAt. The very fine soil, moreover.
nay be so nne that air cannot circn-
ne freely through It's interspaces
Tow. afr liz just as essential to the
~ of the beneficial soil bacteria as
~ 70 the growth OF the larger crops.
AAse microscopic forms of plant life
Dquire air to assist in the chemical
factions which they are carrying on
the breaking down OF the inert soil
Material so that II can be dissolved
~ the plant, On the other hand,
Nery coarse. sandy son may be so
|coArse that too much air passes
!4hrough It and dries out the capillary
water. Such a surplus OF air proves
Nery injurious, There Is happy me-
Mum OF fneness OF soil that admits
~ = sufficient amount OF both air and
|1oii moisture TO be present
But how Is man to change the
'4exture Of his soil? you ask, We have
Tour means TO accomplish this change
k-plowing disking, narrowing and
5eoIiing. These operations puiverize
&he soil Much can be done ny plow-
4nE In green manure or by adding or
)Eanfc matter in strawy manure. This
<organic matter forms home and food
3spr the bacteria They. in turn. I'M
|14ar perfect conditions break it down
md the rotting organic matter binds
s&0gether the loose soils and opens up
Ieayy clay soils, allowing the desir-
1hie circulation of air, While organic
natter is such great benefactor, it,
no. can be wrongfully used and can
aktnE about great injury For in
Ance. IL a man plows under a heavy
roWth OF rye or Of clover late in
l&he spring and II he neglects 10 work
MS plant ma terial into the soil by
Arefui and numerous diskings and
kArrowings. the chances are that he
I'LL break up the moisture conneC-
1Dn which brings up the water and
E&Ant food TO the crop. BY creating
n air space at depth OF SIX or eight
inches In the soil too he prevents the
onducing OF heat from the surface
into the depths Of the soil and there
M keeps the field cold and backward
u have seen crops utterly ruined by
e@jowing under a heavy crop of green
manure and by failing TO work il INTO
E4ho soil thoroughly. This danger is
ESPECIALLY marked at time when
Ehere - scarcity OF rainfall. The
E1Nxt method OF changing the crurnb
Rf the soil is by adding lime in the
Nrnt or air-siakcd form. Carbonate
~ lime reacts upon the clay particles,
ExAthering them together IN little
likes. and by 80 doing makes the
nay soal coarser in texture This ls
material benefit, Lime applied TO
- soil also corrects the sourness Of
- same. The last method Of in
asncing the texture O. the soil Ia
4hrough the action OF low teInpera-
3nrss which usually prevail in the
knOrthern half OF this continent
kAroughout the winter months II
- SOL is thrown up in burrows in
he tall, the frosts of winter react on
~ and break down the heavy i'm