The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-12-18

The permanent prosperity of this
county depends upon the fertility of
our soils and increased crop produc-
tio nunder Boil Weevil Conditions.
The Boil Weevil is here to stay, and
we must change our methods of farm
ing in order most effectively to COM
bat this insect. In doing this we shall
at the same time be practicing a sys-
TEN which will gradually build up, our
soils from year to year and increase
! their producing power while decreas-
ing the cost of production.
Most of our soils are not only def
cient in humus. but they are also low
in nitrogen, phosphoric acid and pot
ash, the three elements of plant food
supplied in ready mixed commercial
fertilizers. Nitrogen is the limiting
plant food OF the one that must be
supplied first in order to increase crop
production. 1t is also the most ex-
pensive to buy in commercial form.
There is an unlimited supply of it in
the air, and all the poo bearing plants
called legumes, such as beans, peas,
cloverS and vetches, have the power
of drawing on this infinite supply and
storing it in their own tissues. When
they are plowed under or pastured
with livestock and all the manure
saved to the land. large quantities of
this most precious food are thus
stored in the soil by every leSume
crop to be used by corn, cotton or
other crops in the rotation.
The addition of these legume crops
to the soil, wither directly by green
manuring or through licestock, not
only gets nitrogen from the air, but
also builds up the vegetable OF humus
supply which is the very foundation
of soil fertility. We can't. have
good rich live soil without large
humus supply.
Our climate and soil conditions per-
NIT US to grow a large variety Of
legumes both winter and summer for
soil improvement, money crops, hay
and pasture for livestock, and in or
der for US to farm proftably under
boil weevil conditions it is necehsary
that we take advantage of these Won
derful natural conditions which God
in his infinite wisdom has provided
for us. Soy beans cowpeas velvet
beans, Japan clover and peanuts are
good summer legumes. Rye and
vetch, oats and vetch, bur clover and
crimson clover make good crops or
combinations of crops for fall, winter
and early spring.
In order to get the best results
from these legumes and fertilizers
used in the rotation we must keep our
soils sweet. In order to do this We
must apply about two tons high grade
limestone per acre the first time and
apply from one to two tons per acre
every three or four years following
that.
Lime sweetens the soil, and makes
it more favorable to most of our
crops, especially clovers and other
legues. Lime promotes the growth
and activity of the microscopic soil
organisms that change insoluble plant
food IN the soil into available forms
for plants.
Lime also supplies calcium and
magnesium to the plants for food
purposes, and maintains chemical
condition in the soil that increases the
availability of the other plant foods.
Lime also improves the general sani-
tary conditions of the soil so that
plant diseases are more easily con- !
trolled.
Lime improves the physical Of the
soil enabling it more effectively to
hold the moisture and soluable plant
food so necessary in feeding plants.
1t also enables the roots of crops to
grow deeper and wider, giving US a
larger plant growth from the same
amount of plant food per cubic foot
ofsoil.
Lime can be applied any time Of
year that We have a field ready for
it and labor and weather conditions
will permit. To get the most profit