SOILS 21 
in the worst condition of any in the neighborhood. 
People wondered why a man whose life and business in 
other lines had been so successful should allow his farm, 
upon which he was residing, to get into such a condition. 
The governor was interrogated regarding the matter and 
replied, “I am not farming for future generations.” 
But it is encouraging to see so many of our great 
financiers, statesmen and people in the humbler walks of 
life becoming interested in soil restoration. Our agri- 
cultural schools are doing a noble work along this line. 
If it be true that the condition of the soil is of more 
importance than its character, then it is not necessary for 
us to go into the discussion of the relative value of the 
different kinds of soils, further than to say that some of 
the extreme sandy soils of New Jersey and Long Island 
have by proper treatment been transformed into the rich- 
est of soils; so have the sandy lands of Holland been 
made worth $3,000 per acre by proper treatment. 
After thorough study, backed up by actual experiment, 
we make the statement that most any sandy or clay soil 
can be made to yield 100 bushels of corn per acre. 
That this can be done, and done quickly, we have 
demonstrated by actual experiments. 
Three elements are necessary to make good soils: 
Potash, phosphorus and nitrogen; and the last men- 
tioned, according to the best authority, is the ‘ most 
precious, the most important and the most costly.” It 
is the element soonest farmed out of fertile soils. 
It is said that “ nitrogen promotes growth, phosphorus 
produces fruitfulness and early maturity, and potash 
increases quality.” 
