The Wilmington morning star., 1945-07-11

line development OF crop ana SOIL
research was traced for Rotarians
yesterday by Dr. L. G. Willis, him.
self a Rotary member. and direc-
tor of the Soil Research laboratory
of the North Carolina Agricultural
Research department.
Presented by C. B. Newcomb,
Dr.. Willis explained that the
science of soil research chemistry
was one of discovery rather than
invention, and that young man
entering the field today must be
highly trained.
He revealed that young man
must have had four years under
graduate work in chemistry, bot
any, physics and related subjects,
and then three years postgraduate
work and hold a doctors degree
The advanced work cannot be TAX
en- in Southern institutions as they
are not offered except in the North
and West.
DR.. Willis stated that science
and agricultural research, which
he described as process of think
ing had only been developed re-
Gently, and said that the real work
is done in the laboratory.
He described the first known ex.
pertinent in the science occurred
when a Dutcnman planted a willow
shoot in tub and grew it wit,
nothing but water covering the
tub so that nothing could get in it
Later he weighed the soil an"
tie tree and found that the tree
weighed 100 lbs while the soil hac
only lost few ounces. This lee
him to the erroneous conclusion
that wood was soldified water
Later, by gradual steps, ane
through many experiments, which
are still going on, it was conclud
ed that the tree was composed O.
minerals from the soil, acid OBJ
tanned from the air and water. Nj
trogen, PHOSPHORUS and potassium
are the basis for all fertilizers tt
promote growth, he said.
Discussing agricultural teaching
DR.. Willis said that bill was pass
ed by Congress in 1852 granting
federal aid to states for the pur
pose of establishing agriculture
schools. In 1887, a bill Was passec
to establish experimental station.
and the country now spends ap
proximately $20.OOo,ooO yearly fol
stations all over the country.
With the experimental servic,
paying dividends, it began to be
come necessary to establish an ex
tension service so that farmer
might benefit from the results o
the scientific work. This was &C
complished in 1887 but with an in
adequate appropriation of $4,000
This has been increased until tn
i945 allotment has reached a hig
of $500, 600. -
DR.. Willis said that we could nc
simply grow what others do a
our problems are different. Citin
the tobacco crop as one of th
largest of our products, he revea
ed that North Carolina last yea
j He said there is at present BIZ
ranked third in value of her crop!
Iii Congress which would make
possible for the government to ult
lie the nitrates produced by tn
huge war-born industry, to max
fertilizer and distribute it free {
charge to farmers. DR.. Willis sal
ne believed that this would il
crease the return on crops and Ell
able the raising of other crops r.
curing heavy fertilization.
Il DR.. Willis closed his talk bv tel
ing members that fortunately, tn
work was highly fascinating an
that his IS years in it had bee
most interesting.
/ Earlier in the program, the Re,
Mortimer Glover explained t
Observation-Disclosures
Ill SEE KAMER
HI AND SEE BETTER
iii Ewes Eva 3nnl rt.- 80. =