Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-08-02

These are muck soils. Other soils are
Of different origin-from rock rather
than vegetable matter-and respond
quickly to a greater supply Of organic
matter Every farmer has before him
ample opportunity TO put these princi-
Piles Of soil building into operation.
Lime is necessary to promote decay.
Organic matter is Of value in direct
proportion to the ease and nature of
decomposition which is promoted or
caused by bacteria. There are vari-
GUS kinds of, bacteria. some are bene-
fetal and Others are detrimental The
beneficial ones bring about the decom-
position of organic matter with the ul-
innate production Of nitrates. They
are called nitrifying bacteria, and like
all forms Of life, require certain condi-
tons in order to exist and do their
work. The soil must be open and por-
Gus to permit free movement of water
and circulation of air and increase
heat, thus supplying oxygen, moisture,
and warmth. Nor can these bacteria
thrive in a soil that is acid; so the
presence of lime is essential to nitrifi-
cation. In this case lime may serve
several functions, as for example, aside
from supplying the necessary base to
correct acidity, it affects the physical
composition of the soil, mellowing it
and making it more crumbly and fria-
Bile, permitting a freer circulation of
air and a more uniform movement of
moisture. Such condition brought
about by the interacting, forces of or
ganic matter and lime increase the ease
of decay and create soil conditions
favorable for crop production.
Let the farmer go about it, if he
wishes, by increasing the number of
animals maintained on the farm, but
make certain first that the farm will
support a greater number of animals.
Such a procedure is logical means
of increasing the manure supply. No
better or quicker way exists to build
up the fertility of farm. Purchased
manure is not as good as homemade
manure because. generally speaking,
it is not as well cared for, but it does
serve the same purpose in lesser de-
gree,
Top dressing crops not of the le-
guminous group, with fertilizer high
in available nitrogen, afford a prac-
teal means of returning to the soil
large quantities of transforming ma
terial by thickening the sod to be
plowed under and incorporated with
the soiK This method is little appre-
ciated in comparison with its value
There is little additional labor. nc
change Of cropping. and but little cost
Fertilizers of the right composition ap.
piled to timothy, wheat, or rye, II
early spring just as the soil is warming
up and the crops begin to grow, pay
for their cost. the cost of spreading
and return money profit in increased
production of the crop. Plot test
conducted by the Cornell Experiment
Station are most interesting and show
very clearly how the accumulation o.
organic matter in the soil from great
er stubble helps to maintain crop yield
through the entire rotation.
Growing Cover Crops and Green
ManureS.
More important are cover crops anC
green manure crops which have tn,
additional asset of preventing soil
washing. A cover crop is used to tax,
up the residual plant food from a pre-
ceeding crop and prevent its leachinI
into the drainage water. It may o
may not be used to plow under.
green manure crop is one grown for tn
distinct purpose of blowing under ant
: mixing with the soil. There are tw,
groups of these crops. known as nj
trogen gatherers, and nitrogen, com
: sumers, or leguminous crops on til
. one hand, and non-leguminous crop
on the other. It is not to be under
stood that crops of the first group d
not consume nitrogen and act as cove
crops, because such is not the case
1t is composed of the legume famil
: which have the ability with the aid Q
. bacteria to take nitrogen from the al