Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1916-03-29

! would be good idea to plant cowpeas
along with the second crop too
II was thinkin' of lettin' the oats
mature next spring. Wen be needin
en- said his father. ...
well, that's all right. Dat stubbe
turned under is Il help. and you can
get a good crop of pea vine hay and
young corn fodder off here after the
| oats. expect that would be the best
plan.''
| "l'll do that, them
| Wont try truck next springer ask
ed Tom.
"No, We'll be short handed and it
| will be all Link an me can do to keep
| the stock CROWN fast an get regular
crops and such I'll wait until Joe
gets back"
Say. I've been doing some studying
! too,' said Tom Ralston as the three
walked back toward the house from
the corn plot. Father subscribed to
a good farm paper for me- and I've
| been reading it, and l found out about
those oak leaves you've been putting
on the land. Here's what it says" He
pulled clipping from his pocket.
LES see,,'' said Joe, taking the bit
Of paper and reading it aloud
! "'When leaves are put on the land
their chief value is from the humus
they supply and not from the plant
food they contain. One ton Of oak
leaves, according to Van Slyke con-
tains fifteen pounds of nitrogen, seven
pounds of phosphoric acid and three
| pounds of potash. At current prices
| for plant foods those in a ton of oak
leaves are worth about $780,"
| "Well, I'm glad to know about it,
said Mr.. Weston.
ME- too,' said Joe. Il knew in Il
general way that leaves had some fer
tilizing value-not very much. But my
idea was mainly to get humus-decay-
| ing vegetable matter-in the land. I
knew it was no account without it, so
just went to piling leaves on
Even at three-ffty ton fertilizing
value" said Tom Ralston. ut will not
cost that to put the leaves on, and
there's the additional benefit to tho
land in humus which is more than that
sum-"
"Anybody would know his daddy was
Il manufacturer the way he tiggers.
said Mr.. Weston admiringly
Its worth knowing.' agreed Joe.
'"This winter I want pa and Link to
haul all the leaves they can and bed
the cattle in them. The dry leaves will
absorb the urine salts and ammonia
and droppings. Then put On the ground
and plowed under there is no better
manure to be had anywhere.
Il will see that that is DONE" said
Mr., Weston. Link has got to put in all
his spare time on leaves He's got a
Younger brother think I'll hire lust as
soon as the leaves are off tho trees.
I'm going to treat that patch o poor
land just beyond yours, Joe. It's so
poor it won't hardly grow bitterweed =
We'll, you know what to do"
Sure | do, and We'll do it,
"Think I'll put those two colored
boys over home to work on the leaves
too said Tom Ralston. major Dean
claimed he had to buy so much COM
mercial fertilizer until there wasn't
any more money in farming. He's
F.! Just farmcd that place so long, without
giving the soil anything back, that it's
wearing OUT
''Ihe ma jor sure was a big believer
in commercial fertilizer" said Mr..
| Weston.
"Well, I'm going to see if we can't
farm with less Of it when I have
charge, and a good way is to get a
years start now. I'll have shed
built and give orders that every speck
of manure about that lot goes under
that shed to protect it from the wealth
Ell. Then this fall it is TO be plowed
under and keep that program up
1T will win,' said Joe.
Look here, joe" said Tom. IF you
go off to that agricultural school I'm
afraid III get all mixed up here. I'm
just beginning to learn something"
"Why don't you 60 if l do?' sug-
gested Joe. "Your father is able to
stand the expense
IL never thought of it. You'll help
me get through with things that are
too deep for me yet?''
'Sure I will!' assured Joe.
III write father this very night!'
enthusiastically said Tom Ralston.
"Well, where do I come in?" inuuir-
ed Mr.. Weston.
ooh, III write you twice week of
what ]. learn I'D there and send you all