Soil Conservation Easy to Understand 



It is easy to grasp the main essentials of soil improve- 

 ment, and it is important that considerable study be given 

 to this subject. Many farms now on the market are run 

 down and need a little scientific attention, and thousands 

 of farmers are wishing that they knew how to build up 

 the fertility of their land. 



One of the first essentials is a rotative scheme which 

 will tax the land less severely than exclusive grain grow- 

 ing does. A variety of crops not only increases the 

 amount of cultivation, but adds numerous good elements 

 as the stubble or plant growth is plowed under. 



Then, as ail our lands have become deficient in phos- 

 phates, wheat should always have a good application of 

 acid phosphate. This will suffice if the preceding culti- 

 vated crop has been planted on a clover sod on which 

 farm manure has been spread. In fact, where there is a 

 good, short rotation and plenty of legume crops are 

 grown and fed, there will never be any need for the pur- 

 chase of nitrogen in fertilizer. 



Rapidly growing crops require an ample supply of 

 potassium in a form available to the plants, that is, soluble 

 in water. Where a good rotation is practiced it has been 

 found that the cultivation of a crop like corn or tobacco 

 during the summer makes the best possible preparation 

 for wheat, oats or barley. After the cultivated crop is 

 off the best preparation is the rapid and frequent use of 

 the disk harrow. 



One of the most valuable uses of lime and plaster is 

 to release the insoluble potash in the soil and the accumu* 



86 



