Vernon Parish Democrat., 1922-02-09
THE NEEDS OF THE AVERAGE
SOUTHERN CULTIVATED LAND



In stock-raising sections Of the U. S.
lit is the custom to depend almost en-
tireIy upon stable and barn-yard man-
ure to maintain soil fertility, with the
very natural result that phosphates are
gradually Withdrawn from the soil and
no single thing will benefit such soils
so much as ground rock phosphales or
ground bone. Bad as is this condi-
ton, it is better than the Southern far
mers' practice Of paying Fifty Million
Dollars Of their cotton money to the
fertilizer trust aand depending upon
commercial fertilizers. which supply no
humus and very little nitrogen. I'm
Iless clover, peas, beans. or some nj
,trogen-gathering crop is grown and
plowed under to supply nitrogen, we
find Southern cultivated soils notably
deficient in nitrogen, and we see that
Southern corn fields the lacking in
strong stalks and the bright green co.
lor of the leaves which denote the lack
Of nitrogen. They are also deficient in
humus; and, as these two are the most
important things needed to maintain
fertility, Southern agriculture lags and
i have been told so often. This is not
good corn country" The climate of
the South is the very best for growing
corn, and the average mechanical con-
dition Of the soils is good; and to say
it is moi a good corn country is equiv
aIent to saying that the Southern far
mer is either lazy or ignorant, or both.
Here where rye will grow in the win
ter and in the early spring give an
abundance of root to top for blowing
under to supply human, there is no
possible excuse for the. deficiency Of
Ihumus. Rye is smaller seed than
wheat, oats, OF barley. hence a bush
Eol Of seed rye will go farther than the
kother mentioned grains, besides being
tcheaper per bushel. But why supply
lonly the humus when there is so cry
Ting need For nitrogen2 Why not
sow hairy or winter vetch which will
supply also nitrogen? Vetch in the
iSouth will grow not only in the win
| ter, but will be found green under the
snow. In the Gulf States, where vetch
will grow strong all winter, why no
SOW it and get not only humus. but nj
ltrogen2 Vetch seed | admit is higher
priced than rye, and it is difficult tc
! find clean, as other seeds are found II
the best samples; but, as it is to BE-
lplowed under before it is seeded, thai
can make no difference. Then, too
in the South, where vetch Is sown and
little hay or fodder made, it can be
used for pasturage and stock be kept
in better condition and at little ex-
lpense. Vetch has small seed and a
higher price; and, if half the mon
jpound goes a long way and atones for
ey paid for commercial fertilizer is In
vested in vetch seed, it will prove a
good investment.
The man who, in the South, no mat
ter what the character of his soil Gun
less it be waterlogged). will say, This
is not good corn country" is either
a phonograph with two legs repeating
what others say, or he is lazy or ignor-
ant. The report of the Louisiana Agri-
cultural College, or the analysis of Yer
non Parish soils, and all of West Lou
isiana, is, | will admit, not encourage
ing, because lacking in phosphates,
lime, and potash; but the two first can
be supplied, and the third does exist
only in an unavailable form-and hui
mus and sulphate of lime will render
It available. Give humus and nitrogen
20 Vernon Parish soils and corn and
other things will grow big and fat.