Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-08-14

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THU
CHEMICAL. ANALYSIS or THE SOILS
or A TYPICAL NORTH GEORGIA
COUNTY
The soil survey OF Georgia. undertake
en- several years ago by the College Of
Agriculture and the bureau OF soils OI
the United States department OF agri
culture. Is making PROCESS in spite OF
the limited funds available for the
promotion of this work
As previously pointed out. TWO line:
of study are being conducted The tlrs'
deals with the physical properties Of
the soil and is carried on comparatively
BY the two organizations mentioned
above The second deals with a chemica
study OF the various types OF soil founC
and mapped as a result OF the physica
survey and is carried on solely by the
college Of agriculture
Everyone who has stopped TO thinl
realizes that a knowledge OF our soils /:
fundamental 10 the welfare OF our farm
ers and the various specialized indus
tries we are attempting TO promote il
Georgia The question OF feeding plant:
is now seen to be OF as definite and
essential a nature as that OF feeding
people. In the case OF the human being
however. one can discuss intelligentlS
with the individual and see from person
al observation the effect of a ration
In studying soils and the relation tC
crops all the information obtained is Sc
cured in an indirect and laborious man
uer hence the problem of feeding plant:
is a much more complicated one thar
that Of feeding human beings and Sc
We must exercise patience with the SLOW
processes which must of necessity bC
employed in soil survey work and the
obtainment from the data thus secured
of the fundamental facts on which tC
predicate a progressive and truly eco
nOmic type of agricultural practice.
The chemical survey OF Habersham
county was undertaken in response "a
the urgent appeals received from citi-
zens of that section and because of the
extensive fruit plantations established
there during recent years. IL was be-
lieted that the data obtained from the
chemical survey of this county would
he of value in aiding the college and fits
experts 10 correctly advise the best
methods Of procedure to be followed In
adjoining counties. until such time as
propriRtion for soil survey work to the
extent necessary to enable the examina-
tion of several counties a year
TIE analyses Of the various soils OF
Habersham county indicate that on the
average they contain. to the depth OF
I'll inches. approximately 2.550 pounds
Of nitrogen ASS pounds of phosphoTiC
acid and so,7ss pounds of potash per
acre These figures indicate that the
nitrogen and the phosphoric acid supply
of the average soils in this county and
quite likely In all those contiguous
thereto. Is relatively low Nitrogen Is
the lowest or all the elements which
would he regarded as essential to crop
production and no doubt thereby he
comes the limiting factor in the Yields
obtained from the soils in question. Ev-
eTy crop requires a liberal supply of ni-
troGen- II is also the element most
by fermentation and erosion
From what we know Of the available
ity Of the food content Of north Georgia
soils IL would appear that the average
land in HabeTsham county would hard
~ produce more than one-third OF A
bale OF cotton or Is bushels Of corn per
acre on the other hand, the soils
should furnish enough phosphoric acid
TO produce one-hslf a hale of cotton or
80 bushels of corn. and enough potash
20 make bale Of cotton or over IS
bushels OF corn As all of these ele-
ments are necessary to crop production
and must he supplied in a given definite
ratio to meet the needs OF growdny
crops. il is easily seen that nitrogen
becomes the limiting factor in crops
growing in the northeastern section OF
Georgia The first matter. therefore. to
receive consideration in enlarging the
yields obtained from the soils of Hab-
ersham county is that of increasing
their nitrogen content through the use
Of commercial plant food and the liber-
al return 10 the soil OF materials which
will supply organic matter. Hence. all
crop restdues such as corn and cotton
stalks. weeds. stubble and trash of ev-
cry character. should be returned "a
the soil Under no circumstances should
materials Of this character be burned
All the waste accommodating on the
farm should be made into compost and
applied to the land. Moreover. green
crops shOuld he literally planted and
turned under at least once in three
years Leguminous crops should be Sc
lected for this purpose BY reason OF
their ability to assimilate atmospheric
nitrogen and thus enrich the soil in
this most important element All ward
manure should be carefully saved and
applied TO the land. A portion Of ii
A should be put down in grass since this
will prevent erosion and the nitrogen
content OF land under grass tends to in
crease.
4 great variety of acceptable crops
can he grown for purposes OF soil i'm
provement. and no permanent progress
will be made In enriching the lands OF
Habersham and adjoining counties and
in creating a more profitable and sub
stsntial type OF agriculture. until the
Fundamental principles of increa sing
the organize supply OF the land Is fully
and completely recogn.zed and consis-
tently practiced. More livestock should
be kept. therefore There Is plenty Of
land available which is capable OF main.
tanning good pastures and on which
livestock can be raised 10 advantage 4,
r. not necessary to cut down the extent
of the land a; present under cultIva.
ton There Is annie room for the ex-
pansion or orchsrding WITHOUT Interfer-
s---.~-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-