The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-07-14

~ "'N" ""O"' 200 pcr tOl, ana
Is not available in any large excess
over existing demands, even at that
price. in the refined form in which
1t Is commonly sold in the market.
but there are other resources than
those that supply the SO per cent.
birthstone of commerce. 1t would be
possible to drill new wells and to in
stall more boilers to melt and pump
the sulphur from the great deposits
In Louisiana and Southeastern Texas,
and at s35 per ton 1t would still be the
cheapest fertilizer that farmer
could use. One ton would serve to en-
rich five acres, and mere doubling
of the yield of beans would mean an
Increased output from that area of
1850 pounds, which would represen.
cost for this item of $O.OO2S per
pound. Adding costs of freight,
teaming and application to the soil,
1t Is clear that the estimate of a yield
OF two pounds of beans where one was
grown before at an extra cost Of one
cent was not beside the mark.
Before considering certain other
sources of sulphur supply that can
be drawn upon before the Union Sui
phur Co., or the Frceport Sulphur
Co. could drill new wells and install
more boilers. II is desirable to point
out other remarkable facts that have
developed in connection with the use
of sulphur on land. 1t proves to be
a means for solving in large degree
the nitrate problem and the potash
problem that have been cause OF
such deep concern. In the case of
wheat. as has been stated, the appli-
cation of sulphur more than doubles
the yield. Wheat takes up from the
soil relatively small quantity of sui
phur. The stimulating effect which
the sulphur produced on cereals Is
due to its function of promoting the
nitrification of soil. and to it's action
In decomposing the inert potash bear
ing mineral particles in the soil and
setting the potash free in the form of
soluble potassium sulphate ready to be
absorbed by the plant.
The oxidation of the sulphur I'm tho
soil is called sulphofication, and this
process is necessary to cause the for
nation of the mineral sulphates need
cd by the plant. Oxidation of brim-
stone does not go on spontaneously in
the soil to any extent. but Is brought
through the agency of certain soil
bacteria in the same way that certain
bacteria are the means by which at
mospheric nitrogen is secreted i'm
soils and rendered available for tho
manufacture Of protein by the plant.
The bacteria that seize upon the sui
phur and convert 1t into sulphuric aclI
In soils are known as Rhodobacteria-
ceae and Thiobacteriaceae, and these
ant organic matter. Soils in which
organic matter is scanty will not re-
spond to treatment with sulphur.
Likewise. I'm soils that have been burnt
there is no response, because i'm that
case the bacteria have. been destroyed
by the heat. On all soils containing
u normal amount Of loam the gain in
yield from the use of sulphur is ln:-
mediate. and the healthy dark green
color of the plants is most striking.
The presence of the alkalies and oc
lime In the soil. however, Is import
ant If the full benefit Is to be realiz.
ed. Accordingly. sulphur should not
be used on sour soil. To test for
sourness make ball of the dampc,.-
ened soil, break 1t open and pla 20
upon the broken surface strips Of blu,
and of red litmus paper. Press the
two parts of the boil together again
enclosing the litmus paper. and leave
- hi0ie' IL tic SOll ttClU lSOuI J
all the paper will be red; If family
acid, the blue strips will be slightly
pinkish in color; if the soil is alka-
line, the red paper will have turned
blush, and IL neutral. the papers will
nave retained their original colors. In
the case of acid or neutral soils it i,
we'll to add lime with the sulpl.u:
gypsum has no effect on the acidty
OF soils. and it must be further note
that sour soil should always be rcn-
dered alkaline with lime.
On the other hand. gypsum IS
stimuiant to the nitrifcation of soils
Lime must be present to neutrai:Ic
the acid formed by the nitrifying bac.