118 Practical Farming 



got into the form of a nitrate. But when once in this 

 form it is very soluble, and is rapidly leached from the 

 soil. If, therefore, the nitrogen that the bacteria on the 

 roots of legumes gather remains altogether in the soil in 

 the form of a nitrate, it would be lost before the crops of 

 the following season could get it. But being taken up 

 by the roots at once, it is transformed into the living mat- 

 ter of the plant and becomes organic nitrogen, which 

 remains in the soil to decay and become transformed 

 back again the following season through the agency of 

 the soil bacteria which are engaged in the formation of 

 nitrates from organic nitrogen. While it could not be 

 carried over as a nitrate it can be as organic matter, and 

 we can see the great wisdom of the Creator in this process 

 of preservation. But these legume crops, which are in 

 this way enabled to get and leave in the soil for the follow- 

 ing crop the combined nitrogen in sufficient amount, are 

 themselves among the greediest consumers of the phos- 

 phoric acid and potash in the soil. Hence, we use acid 

 phosphate and potash only on the leguminous crops to 

 increase their growth, and through them to get the needed 

 nitrogen. Since the nitrogen in a complete fertilizer mix- 

 ture costs about as much as both the other ingredients, 

 we can see the great saving that can be made by using 

 these to get through the agency of clover or peas the 

 needed nitrogen in greater abundance than we could get 

 it in a complete fertiUzer, while at the same time we get 

 the organic decay in the soil as well as through the appli- 

 cation of stable manure, and can get the most valuable 

 forage for the feeding of stock and the increase of the 

 home-made manures. 



