Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-04
Ms.2Ell.M.

ed be worth the s0SSS@f.sS-sess'SS S$S
labor and the cost involved? These
are some Of the QueS tons frequently
prOpounGed by those interested in
the cultivation OF the land, and they
bring TO mind conditions and situa-
lions of such great import to the
future of our agriculture that 1t
seems wise and proper to undertake
an explanation of just what is beant
by SOIL analysis, and the advantages
and benefits which an Intelligent
| knowledge of the composition OF the
soil is likely to conner on our ag-
iiculture.
First OF all, let us stop for min
ute and think just what the SOIL Is.
1t represents either the decayed rock
or the detritus gathered and depoS-
tied at the foot of hills or in the
flood plains of rivers from the sur
rounding country. Soils representing
the decay OF the parent rock VIII
! naturally contain the same elements
as the rock from which they are
| derived. Flood plain soils may vary
greatly in composition, because as
a rule the particles OF which they
are composed are finer than those
Of other soils, and, moreover, there
is a considerable admiXture of Vege-
table matter associated with them
which adds. as rule, to their con-
tent of nitrogen. 1t is apparent
from this description that the SOIL
mixture of decayed rock and vege-
table material. From the above it
is also plain why soils vary so Won
derfully in composition and Charac-
ter.
There are numerous kinds of rock
which, when broken up into parti-
cieS fine enough to constitute, soil,
vary in color, in chemical elements,
in physical characteristics, and in
the amenability to cultivation When
we take soils derived from numer-
Gus types of rock, move them from
place to place through the agency
of water, incorporate in one instance
with a large amount of sand and
in another with a small amount of
sand, other wide variations in char
acter. color and structure naturally
result, and then just in proportion as
we increase or decrease the supply
of vegetable matter gathered into
the soil as a result of the growth
and decay of plants, we change it's
color, agricultural aspects and adapt
ability to crop production.
1t is manifestly impossible to look
at a Soil and determine with any de-
gree of accuracy it's content of plant
food. or N other words it's adapta-
5ility to agricultural production.
For instance, we have soils in Geor-
gia of a red color known as the Ce-
ell clay. Theoretically and by chem
zeal analysis they are shown to con-
tain large amounts of potash, but a
careful examinations reveals the fact
that this potash is not in a readily
available form. Hence so far as the
farmer. is concerned land. of this
character may often be deficient in
potash. Our trouble in the past has
been that we have enGeavored to de-
termine the merits of a soil for
crop prod1ctlon from theoretical de-
AUCTION. This cannot be done either
successfully or accurately for the
reasons asst gned above.
To Study Soil
In studying soil it is next neces-
sary for us to consider what makes
plants grow. First of all, there must
be a medium in which they can eS-,
tablish themselves. This is the soil
This medium must furnish the plant
with the power to secure an ade-
quate supply Of water. The soil,
being constructed on the order of a
sponge; does this in an accepta bic
manner Next, the plant must have
food. In a bed of sand devoid of
water plants will not grow. When
water is added there is a feeble
growth. When other elements OF
food necessary to the growth of
plants are incorporated with the sol
they develop rapidly. What are the
elements necessary to make a plant
grow? Probably some fourteen or
fifteen are concerned, but of these
the farmer generally has only to APP
ply about four to almost any soil he
may undertake to cultivate. In the
First, nitrogen, that element which
makes plants grow vigorously and
gives them the beautiful green color
Characteristic Of crops in early
spring.
Next is phosphoric acid, that ele-
ment concerned primarily in the pro-
duction of seed and in the fastening
of the maturity of plants.
Third, potash, van element concern
ed in giving the plants a big strong
framework and in the elaborate