Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-25
THE FEEDING OF PLANTS

p The proposition of feeding all living
things is one Of the greatest which con-
fronts the human mind. Not only must
plants be fed in order that they may
grow and produce abundant crops but
they must be depended on to supply the
needs Of all the animals used for labor,
meat or milk production Therefore.
upon the successful growth OF plants
depends the proper nutrition Of the hu-
man race, and hence every interest
known to our civilization is bound up
In the successful growth OF plants. This
being true ii is appropriate that We
should inquire into how plants grow
that we may have better general I'M
Outstanding OF this problem, and be able
therefore TO produce profitable crops
with the least effort and in a manner
whieh Will best preserve the soil for the
use Of future generations
No one will attempt 10 controvert the
important relation which the nutrition
of plants bears TO the human race, yet
It Is surprising that only a very few
OF the millions OF boys and girls who
are In our public schools receive any
information concerning this very essen =
tiaf question. Nature has been so
kind throughout the history Of the world
that only in those congested areas where
popiiafion has increased at very rapid
rate and national boundaries have been
circunscrihed by political considerations
has much attention been given to the
study OF plant life and the maintenance
or soil fertility. II IL were possible
60 estimate and point out the frightful
losses which have resulted because Of
our neglect TO study the few essential
principles involved. probably this sub
jet would receive more attention than
has been accorded IL in past genera
tions Possibly II mankind were not
able through the kindness OF wise
providence 70 secure large quantities OF
plant food from various pockets in this
earthss crust, he would be forced to give
greater attention TO this matter. AS II
is. the depletion Of the available stores
of plant food in our soils and the conse-
uuent rapid increase in the amount OF
commercial fertilizers used have created
much alarm in some quarters. and II
Is TO be hoped that the agitation will
assmue sufficient proportions TO insure
our providing our boys and girls with
fundamental knowledge relating TO the
correct and economic nutrition Of plants
which every child should understand and
can be easily made to appreciate at its
The earth is the medium in which
plants grow. Therefore. in a study Of
this question we must first consider the
surface Of the ground and learn through
the aid OF the biologists the character
OF rock from which IL is derived and the
method which nature has pursued in its
formation. Rocks which have disin-
.tegrated and remain in place will pro-
duce a soil very similar in Its plant food
content TO that Of the material out OF
which they were formed. Where soils
are the result OF erosion, transportation
and deposition by water. their character
may be varied according to the To-
cation and the agencies which were
concerned in their transportation.
Transported soils. OF course. may
be OF various types. and as rule.
they are found chiefly in bottom
lands. and are on that account ordinarily
richer than uplands because they rep
resent the more finely divided product
of eroded rocks and soils back in the