COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS FOR MAINTENANCE OF FERTILITY 119 



uplands could not grow the crop the coast farmer does with any such appli- 

 cation. The chances are that he would burn his crop instead of benefiting it. 

 This is because his soil has lost its humus and lacks the capacity for the 

 retention of moisture which the low farm has. Here, then, lies the secret 

 of the improvement of the upland farm; the growing of the pea purely 

 for the benefit of the soil, even if not fed, as it should be, to stock, for through 

 its agency he not only gets added fertility from the air but added capacity 

 for using increased applications of fertilizers; for it is a fact that the use of 

 fertilizers is more profitable on a fertile farm than on a dead poor one. The 

 past hot and dry summer was one of the most remarkable illustrations of the 

 truth of this we have ever seen. All over the State on the thin and dry lands 

 the crop was remarkably short, and the fertilizers applied were almost entirely 

 wasted by reason of the fact that the plants could not get them in the dry soil. 

 But here and there were men who have been practicing pea culture for the 

 benefit of their land, and have thus increased its moisture retaining character, 

 who made a good crop and got the benefit of the fertilizers they applied to the 

 crop. It is evident, then, that even where the cotton farmer is not wise 

 enough, or is not able to feed stock, the peas are still the best means he can 

 employ for the improvement of his crops and the maintenance of the pro- 

 ductivity of his soil. 



