29 



Vegetables short of phosphorus usually develop a reddish purple 

 color on the undersides of leaves. 



Potassium shorted leaves become grayish, with edges brownish and 

 wrinkled. 



Slow growth is a symptom common to most deficiencies. Drought 

 can duplicate this, of course, since water is necessary for making 

 nutrients available to the roots, and, in cases of stunting due to 

 weather conditions, the nutrient quality may not be impaired. 



Obviously, these and scores of unmentioned similar conditions vary 

 from the borderline, almost undetectable cases, to the one-foot-in-the- 

 grave stage. The subject is introduced here merely to confirm the 

 point that human health rests on plant health that, as edible food, 

 plants do have intrinsic quality ranging from excellent to no-account 

 and that in many instances, plant health depends on soil. 



The Way of the Flesh. There is no disputing the fact that in- 

 heritance puts a ceiling over our development. It is generally con- 

 ceded, however, that very few of us ever reach that ceiling. The en- 

 vironment interposes too many obstacles, too many distractions. Yet 

 the environment in a civilized community is to a great extent our own 

 product. Certainly our ability to alter it is considerable. Equally 

 certain is the fact that we will not alter it for the better unless a 

 powerful reason is presented- because there is a lot of work and ex- 

 pense involved. 



If there is anything on earth more desirable than good health, it 

 has been well concealed. Yet, it is probable that there are fewer 

 people with 100 per cent good health then there are people with 

 money wealth. If the connection between good soil, good plants and 

 good health can be proven, then the environmental changes necessary 

 to secure it should be forthcoming. The effort would probably be 

 made. Let 's see if the relationship can be further proved by example. 

 (Fig. 12.) 



Hidden Hungers in Animals. Borst 7 mentions the not unusual 

 fact that cattle have been observed chewing on bones, suggesting a 

 hunger for phosphorus and calcium. The dog and his bone are com- 

 monplace. Livestock swallow wood, bits of iron, hair and other foreign 

 substances; these acts have in many cases been stopped by providing 

 minerals found to be lacking in the diet. The wide use of salt blocks 

 of various compositions in livestock feeding is well known. (Many 

 wild animals find and use salt licks.) Cattle can be routed over the 

 entire range available by moving the salts about at a distance from 

 the water supply, thus insuring more even grazing. Carnivorus ani- 

 mals, dogs and cats for instance, may be seen at times seating various 

 plants, and the question arises whether they are seeking, in many in- 

 stances, not merely an emetic but to satisfy some instinctive demand 

 for additional mineral nutrients. 



7 Borst, Dr. Harold, Supervisor, Northwest Appalachian Soils and Water Ex- 

 periment Station, Zanesville, Ohio, Personal communication. 



