Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-03

o4N July CAAS
play an important part in the econo-
mic development of civilization, and
science has begun to take serious &C
count of this fact. DR.. c. +. Mar
but of the Department of Agriculture
has just returned from Europe where
he made a study of soils. He an
phasizes the need for this country
to know the exact soil condition In
other parts of the world.
The amount Of lime or organic
matter in the soil of pine distant
country may not seem to concern
this country to any great extent. yet
this n factor may vitality affect
the future of III 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-
icant. Considerable areas in Europe
and South America are still used for
grazing by nomadic peoples who
have not reached a settled agricul-
tural stage, Cultivation of the plains
of Rumania was begun only about
so years ago. And enormous stretch
es of land in Uruguay, Argentina,
and southern Brazil, similar in soil
conditions to our corn belt, are not
under cultivation.
When South American lands are
planted in crops and when farm ma
chinery and scientific methods come
into general use in these sections the
United States may find that it has
some new and powerful competitors
in world trade. The South Ameri-
| nm aannfriaS will oncf EkaIu OrnyV
corn IL their soil conditions are suit
able. II the Argentine planter is
likely to become a dangerous COM
petitor of the corn belt farmer in
this country we should know the
probabilities and be ready.
Some parts If Europe, too, may
go into corn raising more extensive
ly in the future. AS Europe be-
comes more prosperous and the peo-
pie consume more meat there will
be a greater demand for corn to feed
stock. Europe may buy more grain
from this country then, but if it can
be raised there cheaply and in guam
titles the United States may be ask
ed for smaller instead of larger ship
ments. knowledge of European soil
conditions will help agricultural ex-
perts to prophesy about these mat
WAS ~ III NShN0 VI ~
Europe's Corn Belt
Thus, part Of Rumania has a telt
of black soil somewhat like the corn
land of the central Dakotas, Nebras-
ka and Kansas. This is significant
when you consider that Rumania is
now the great corn exporting country
of Europe. DR.. Marbut had thought
1t possible that with cheap labor In
Europe there might be a large area
in Rumania capable of producing
corn as cheaply as this country does
If Rumania should adopt meth
DDS of farming. After spending
some time in Rumania and studying
the soil, however, he thinks it I'M
likely that that country will become
a corn growing rival of the United
States. They have no land that is
the exact equivalent of our great
corn belt.
This is one instance in which
scientific study of soil has made it
possible to forecast agricultural
probabilities in a general way. DR..
Marbut believes that we should learn
what We can from European exper-
fence and research and apply the
conclusions to our own problems
These problems are numerous fol-
we have a greater variety of soils
than any other country on earth and
we raise a wide range of a%gricultur-
al products. We think of a kind
of soil as being peculiar to some
one region. Yet again and again
striking similarities occur. The soil
of the fertile Hungarian plains is
reproduced in a strip of land run
ming through parts of Minnesota. the
Dakotas. Nebraska, Iowa and Kan
sas.
The famous sod Of Ireland Is on
soil very like that along the coast
OF Washington and Oregon. Moist
climate and heavy rainfall of this
west coast region are favorable for
grass. The land is heavily timbered,
but where the trees are cut out there
are some fine grass felds. Ireland.
OF course, was cleared hundreds of
years ago, perhaps 1000 years, and
rainfall is better distributed there.
But this country may yet produce
grass to rival the emerald sod OF
Erin.
The Kentucky bluegrass that we
think of as typically American
grows on limestone soil very much
like that of northern France. The
French soil 10 somewhat shallower,
lpla MAy1Yt kQ0na. Il . TIA hast
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