292 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



fertility that is sold in the form of butter-fat or beef is not very great. 

 Besides the concentrated feeds that are bought would probably com- 

 pensate for the loss of fertility in the sale of the products. 



The amounts and kind of commercial fertilizers to be used depend 

 upon the kind and condition of the soil and also upon the crops to be 

 grown. No specific recommendations can be made at this time and we 

 shall only attempt to give some general directions for a few of the more 

 common soil types in the state. In certain sections of the state very large 

 areas are made up almost exclusively of light, sandy soil, and they are 

 generally referred to as unproductive soils. There are, however, many 

 cases on record where, by a wise method of handling, these soils have 

 been made very productive. Undoubtedly the greatest need of such 

 soil is organic matter or humus and this is probably more easily sup- 

 plied, at least in the beginning, by turning under green manures. These 

 soils must be well supplied with organic matter at all times, since it 

 betters the physical condition and greatly increases the water-holding 

 capacity. 



Commercial fertilizers are very liable to meet with failure on such 

 soils unless the humus supply is kept up. Farmers' Bulletin No. 323 of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, rec- 

 ommends methods for handling these soils, based upon observations 

 made in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. This bulletin may be 

 obtained by applying at the United States Department of Agriculture. 



These soils are quite generally deficient in nitrogen, but this may 

 and should be supplied very largely by turning under legumes, as most 

 of these soils grow clover very successfully. 



Whether any forms of phosphoric acid or potash should be added will 

 depend very largely upon the crops grown and should be determined 

 by actual experiment. 



Clay soils are universally spoken of as strong soils and they will 

 generally respond to good cultivation methods for a good many years 

 without any apparent decline in fertility. What is true of the sandy 

 soils in regard to humus is equally true of the clay soils, though the 

 effects of a lack of humus is evidenced in a different way. Clay soils 

 deficient in humus become heavy and soggy, and are very liable to 

 puddle after a heavy rain and to bake so hard as to render them almost 

 impossible of cultivation. Humus will correct these faults by making 

 the soil more open and porous, so that the air may circulate more freely 

 and it will prevent puddling and baking. These soils are more liable to 

 be deficient in available phosphoric acid than either of the other essen- 

 tial plant-food elements. The kind and extent of fertilization will de- 

 pend upon the kind of crops to be grown. 



The loam soils are gradations between the heavy clays and light 

 sands and are generally productive soils. The same general considera- 

 tions will apply to these soils as to the clays and sands. 



Muck soils are almost invariably deficient in potash and as a rule will 

 respond to api)lications of this material. This has been conclusively 

 demonstrated hj experiments carried on in our neighboring states as 

 well as in our own state. Muck soils also generally respond to applica- 

 tions of barnyard manure. 



