Arizona republican., 1920-12-02

accept the statement, that alfalfa
gives more than any one crop we
plant Now give this a moments
thought: What have we ever done for
alfalfa, what have we given our best
yielder to help it produce for us it's
fullest amounts? Are we going to
stand around year after year and see
this crops yield grow less and less
without making some effort TO make
the best crop in the valley the most
profitable? This can be answered in
the negative safely enough now, for
there are a growing number who are
starting to remedy their decreasing
alfalfa yields this fall. These ranch
ers are those who are intercropping,
or companion cropping, some one Of
the above mentioned leGume crops
right now. with their grain crops, or
planting the white sweet clover, which
not only will allow of larger grain
yields pei acre, but leave in the sub
soil, humus, the most necessary of all
fertilizers.
Humus is called a fertilizer in this
case because it serves a most import
/ ant part as a fertilizer. and this is the
/ reason: We have a reasonably warm
/ climate eight months of the year, that
/ is part of our stock in trade down
! here. During this period the sun heats
/ the top soil for several inches. and not
only causes evaporation Of water but
also humus (decayed vegetation)
/ which humus becomes a gas that rises
and escapes into the air. The humus
deposited in the upper portion Of the
l soil, is subject to leave without no.
/ tice. The top growth of a green ma
nure crop may largely become lost in
this manner. but the deeper root sys-
tenn is largely below the level where
the effect from the sun can reach it
That is why a green manure legumt
crop is more valuable than a barley
green manure crop. with its shallow
| root system. Both have their value
only the legume has several time,
more value
Does Clinton Campbell build hi,
roofs first? He might just as vel
do SO. as to try and build up our val
ley soils from turning under shallow
growing green manure crops. We
must fill up our sub-soiI with fibr
and the top will take care of itself.
Humus allows water to be retaine
in the soil, the same as a sponge re
tains water. It is the correct amour
of water retained in the sub-soi tina
determines the available plant food
the soil gives the crop, providing
most naturally. that these mineral
are present in the soil Where waite
air also is retained in proportional
amounts. and air and water oxidiz
the minerals of the soil so they ar
available as plant food
Now comes the subject of artificia
inocculation of the Iegume seed:
Why is it necessary, where is its vaIu
as farm profit? To those not ia
miliar with this form of life, Gale
legume bacteria, the suggestion
here given. to carefully dig around a.
alfalfa root and find little punches o
them. These are legume bacteri
They have either been supplied arti
ficially upon the seed before plantin
or have developed in the soil after tn
plant has grown there some time. jus
as bacteria develops in milk, althoug
not there at the time of milking. ,Thes
bacteria live upon the Juice of the lie
gume. and in return give the legum
pure fixed nitrogen. Nitrogen is
most important part OF the feed ra
ton of the legume plant, and nitroge
is not present in available form
our soils in large enough amounts
allow OF the legunne plants to gro
I into their natural productsvenes
4 When the legune plant is very youn
4 1t cannot resist the bacteria from a,
tachlng themselves to the little hair
& OF the roots. and that is but one reaso
why it is better to inoculate the see
\ as then each sprout has its bactert
n ready to serve it, and be its life Ion
friend.