The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-05
animals and human life depends
upon plants containing this work
upon plants continuing this work.

animals and human life depends
upon plants containing this work
upon plants continuing this work,
and thus supplying us with food.
This work is not done by the visible,
celleular structure of the plant, but
by the living protOplasm that dwelIs
within the cells. Nitrogen, which
is one of the composing elements of
the air, is one of the absolutely es-
sential elements that the plant
must supply to its protoplasm. But
not even the living plant cell can
take the Nitrogen directly from the
air. Rain must absorb it and carry
it down into the soil, where it COM
bines with other things into nitrates
These nitrates then are an abso-
lutely necessary part of the food of
plants.
Now the soils Of southeastern
Idaho are so very rich in nitrates
that they could profitably be used
for fertilizer upon some of the worn
out soil back east. But these nit
rates are not in such form that
they can be directly absorbed. They
must be acted upon and broken up
by the bacteria that are found in all
decompOsing animal and vegetable
matter. When we plough under
manure or any vegetable crop we
supply these bacteria in great
numbers. They Immediately begin
to work upon the nitrates and set
them free, soil water absorbs them
and grain and food crops flourish
upon soils thus treated.
Trees, because of their great spead
OF leaf surface, require a great
amount of nitrogen. The rootlets
absorb it with the water from the
ground and it is carried up to the
leaves where in the sunlight the
cells work all summer long making
living matter out of the lifeless ele-
ments of the earth and the air. AS
autumn approaches this delicate liv-
ing material along with most of the
green coloring matter is withdrawn
from the leaves into the root sys-
TEN, where it will be safe from freez-
ing. There are left behind in the
leaf most OF the soluble nitrates and
other mineral salts that the roots
have been gathering during the grow
Ing season. These ripe leaves are
extremely fragile. The weight Of the
snow will crush them and the water
from its melting will carry down
into the ground the conbinable nit
rates that all vegetation must have
or we shall perish. When we burn
heap of leaves we scatter to the
air and concentrate in the ashes. to
be blown about and wasted by the
winds, the nourishment that we
ought to allow to be returned to the
soil. We are doing exactly the same
thing that starving man would do
II ne threw away a slice Of bread to
avoid sweeping up the crumbs.
These ripe leaves too are the best
possible protective covering for the
winter. Left alone the wind will
pack them around the roots of shrubs
and perennial plants and along the
walks and flower beds. These
places are exactly where we need
both protection and fertilization.
What then Is the sense of in
terfering with nature? Rather
let us help her and SUD-
plement her work. Sweep the
lOoFOo 1AoA IOOlS anu Wherever Lnoy
constitute a fire menace, gather
them from walks and roadsides and
heap them over beds of perennials
and around tender shrubs but let
them lie upon the lawns. Lay down
boards. to keep them from blowing
away from where you want them to
lie. In the spring rake all that is
left of them onto your garden plot
and plow them under. Thus we
shall be using instead of annually
destroying the most precious thing
that nature has given us, the link |
between the lifeless mineral and the |
living, growing plant that nourishes
humanity.
Paul. Kreft has accepted a posi- |
10,