Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-14
EXPERTS DISCUSS
SOIL PROBLEMS
-.HHH "HHN hill
Preservation of Fertility and
Other Features Topics at
Congress of Scientists.

The stability of human society in
any part of the world is affected
vitality by the supply of soluble salts
in the soil and it is the duty OF
science to determine how these can De
conserved and increased, DIR. jacob u.
Lipman of New Brunswick, N. j.,
president Of the international Con
gress of Soil Science, told the hrst
annual session of that body in the
United States Chamber of Commerce
Building this morning.
The problem of preserving the fer'
tilitv of the soil, DR.. Lipnan said,
extends far beyond the soil itself into
the proyince of other sciences. He
stressed particularly the dangers OF
ilI.advised methods of cultivation In
running productive land.
DIR. I,ipman described the farmer as
ian organic chemical manufactures,
producing highly complex organic
compounds out of simple chemical
substances" who, is dependant on his
supply of raw materials for the nm
ished product.
Welcomed by Jardine.
The convention was welcomed by
Secretary of Agriculture Jardine and
chairmen of the various scientific
commissions reported on the progress
of their work since the preliminary
meeting in Rome, three years ago.
A resolution was adopted. intro+
duced by Sir John Russell, director of
the Rothamstead Station OF England,
expressing the sympathy Of the con-
gress to DIR. Milton Whitney, chief Of
the Bureau of Soils of the United
States Department of Agriculture,
who is seriously i'll at his home here.
DIR. Whitney was described as one of
the outstanding figures in the world
study of this science.
DIR. Lipman's presidential address
was an appeal for a clearer under
standing of the fundamental problems
in the study of the soils.
Presidents Address Quoted.
'"The producing of animal and hui
man food" he said, docs not repre-
sent the entire responsibility of those
who till the soil. They are also en-
gagged in creating something less pom.
derable. something of large value as
measured in terms Of human under
standing. 1t is common knowledge
that plants, soils and animals repre-
sent an accumulation of carbon and
nitrogen that, at one time or another.
The carbon and nitrogen Of living ami.
mails represent relatively recent trans
mutations of plant materials. But the
residues of ancient fauns and fioras
contain something that was with.
drawn from the atmosphere a very
long time ago.
There is more or less definite re-
lation between man in his physical
and mental makeup and his soil en-
vironment. Systematic studies still are
lacking on the part that soils have
played in determining the peculiari-
ties Of individuals and nations. Soils
which supply readily available and
abundant quantities of nitrogen and
ash ingredients usually produce plants
having relatively high proportion of
these ingredients. The nitrogen and
ash content of animal and human
food have direct effect on the growth
and development of both animals and
men. The supply and quality of food
have made themselves felt In the
currents of human history"
Food of Past Generations.
DR.. Lipman, pointed out that in
past generations the food OF COM
munity was largely restricted to the
nature of the plants, and consequently