The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-02-10
SOIL ANALYSIS Of
VITAL NECESSITY
FARMERS OF STATE HAVE NOT
MADE THEMSELVES HEARD
AT STATE LEGISLATURE
SURVEY COSTS CENTS FOR 16O ACRES
Soil Map Will Not Meet Requirements
Individual Work Must be Done
to Insure Desired Results

The soils of South Dakota are fun
damentally her greatest resource and
the permanent prosperity of her peo-
pie depends upon keeping these soils
productive" is the opening statement
in a speech delivered before the corn
and grain growers association at Nit
chell Tuesday of last week by asso-
ciate agronomist j. G.. Hutton, of the
State College. Accurate knowledge
concerning the physical and chemical
nature of our soils and accurate know
ledge concerning the crops and var
ieties of crops best adapted to these
soils are necessary in order that we
may farm to the best advantage and
come to be a commonwealth of happy,
prosperous people.
People Must Demand A Soil Survey
But, my friends, if you realized how
limited the amount of reliable informa-
ton concerning the soils and crops of
this region really is, | would not need
to urge you to exert yourselves in Sc
curing more information. This is the
fifth time that l have had the honor Of
addressing this association on the sub
ject Of soils. Four times you have re-
sponded with increasing earnestness,
but you have not made yourselves
heard sufficiently distinctly at the
state legislature. Once again | appeal
to you to set aside annually an ade.
quate sum for developing and at the
same time conserving your greatest
resource-the soil on your home farm.
The kind Of investigation proposed
will benefit every farm in the state
whether it be the poorest or the best.
A Mere Soil Map Not Enough
mo mere map of the soils of the
state will meet the demands for infor-
nation, even if it is printed in a dozen
colors artistically' arranged. A soil
map must be made on the basis of the
principles of crop production and must
show the kinds of soil which will mean
something to the practical farmer. But
a map is not enough. To be of real
value it must be accompanied by the
results of the chemical analysis of the
soils showing the amount of plant food
present. Trial fields must be establish
ed on every important kind CT soil and
the best treatment and the best crops
carefully determined. The soil map,
the chemical analysis. the results of
field trials must all be published and
placed in the hands of every farmer,
and then the question of permanent
profitable farming in South Dakota will
be solved. This work must be done by
the agricultural interests of the state
for the agricultural interests of the
state.
Will Cost Only a Nickel for 100 Acres
The cost in comparison with the
benefit derived is a paltry sum-. If you
will see to it that a sun equivalent to
five cents per quarter section per year
is set aside for this work-your work
the task will be accomplished. Once
again l appeal to you in your own per-
sonal interests and in the interest of
bigger, weather., and happier S Juth
Dakota to exert yourselves.
Newspaper Big Aid to Farmer
Many farmers now living within the
state and many farmers who desire to
become citizens of South Dakota are
inQuiring for information concerning
crops and soils. The various VS.
papers and farm papers of the state
realize this and publish in their col
umns practically every fact which they
can find relating to agriculture. And
just here l want to digress for a mo-
ment and express my appreciation of
the earnest, honest effort which the
press, daily, weekly, and agricultural,
of our state and adjoining state is
putting forth in the development of
our agricultural interests. l person
ally know Of small newspaper Offices
where matter of agricultural value is
set up by hand a letter at a time. and
in some instances the press itself is
turned by hand to give to the subscrib-
ers information-the best at hand
which will be helpful to them in their
daily work. l take of my hat to the
honest city, country, or agricultural
editor who puts his money and labor
into this work. Surely when the state
of South Dakota is built. he can say
with satisfaction, In this l, too, had
a part"