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Report of Farmers' Institutes 



ture as a sponge holds water and gave it off as the plant needed 

 it. This decayed organic matter also furnished food for the 

 plants. 



At present most soils are very deficient in humus. Good soil 

 management not only keeps up the supply of humus in the soil, 

 but increases it, and thus helps to restore the soil to its former 

 condition. This can he done by the use of stable manure and by 



Fig. 588. — Green-Manuke Crops Should Be Plowed Under as Soox as 

 They Have Attained the Desired Growth. Plowing Should Be 

 Deep and Thorough 



plowing under crops grown on the land. If the crops that are 

 grown to plow under are of the nitrogen-gathering varieties, such 

 as clover, vetch, or soy beans, the plant food added will be much 

 gi'eater, and if these nitrogen-gathering plants are inoculated by 

 the proper bacteria being applied to the seed or to the soil, their 

 value as soil builders will be still further increased. 



By the long-continued growing of plants and by the action of 

 water, the soil has lost some of its original mineral elements. 



