The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-03
Soils of the Old Country
BY FREDERIC J. HAskiN

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 8. -
Soils play an important part in the
economic development of civilization,
and science has begun to take serious
account of this fact. DIR. c. F. Mar
but of the Department of Agriculture
has just returned from Europe where
he made a study of soils. He en-
phasizes the need for this country
to know the exact soil conditions IN
other parts of the world
The amount of lime or organic mat
ter in the soil of some distant country
may not seem to concern this country
to any great extnt, yet this one fac
tor may vitality affect the future OF
our export trade in some agricultural
staple.
The Importance of knowing about
soil conditions of other parts of the
world is greater now than it was a
few years ago and such information
will constantly become more signif
cant. Considerable areas in Europe
and South America are still used fol
grazing by nomadic peoples who have
| not reached a settled agriculture
stage. Cultivation of the plains Of
Rumania was begun only about 81
years ago. And enormous stretches
of land in Uruguay, Argentina, AM
southern Brazil similar in soil condi
| lions to our corn belt, are not under
cultivation.
When South American lands arr
planted in crops and when farm ma
| chinery and scientific methods com;
| into general use in these sections The
UAAed States may find that IL ha;
some new and powerful competition
in world trade. The South American
countries will most likely grow corr
| if their soil conditions are suitable
! If the Argentine planter is likely Il
| become a dangerous competitor of tn,
corn belt farmer in this country w
! should know the probabilities and b.
ready.
! Some parts of Europe, too, may e
| into corn raising more extensively ii
the future. AS Europe becomes NOR,
| prosperous and the people CONSUME
more meat there will be a greater de
mand for corn to feed stock Europe
may buy more grain from this cOuntrv
/ then, but if it can be raised Their,
| cheaply and in quantities the Unite;
! States may be asked for smaller in
stead OF larger shipments. Know
edge of European soil conditions will
| help agricultural experts to prophes,
about these matters with some degre
of accuracy.
Europe's Corn Belt
Thus, part of Rumania has a bel
of black soil somewhat like the corr
ND Of 1aA ~
and Kansas. This is significant whe1
You consider that Rumania is nov
the great corn exporting country @
Europe. DR.. Marbut had thought i
possible that with cheap labor i
Europe there might be large area i
Rumania capable of producing cor
as cheaply as this country does, if Ri
} mania should adopt our methods @
farming. After spending some time i
Rumania and studying the soil. how
ever, he thinks it unlikely that tina
country will become a corn CROWN
rival of the United States. They hav
no land that is the exact equivalent @
our great corn belt
This is one instance in which scier
titic study of soil has made it possibl
to forecast agricultural probabilities i
a general way DR. Marbut believe
that we should learn what we ca
from European experience and r,
search and apply the conclusions t
our own problems
These problems are numerous fc
we have greater variety of soils tina
any other country on earth and "
raise wide range of agricuitur;
products. We think of a kind Of 50