CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



seeded primarily for the benefit of the soil. The 

 need of organic matter is recognized, and a cheap 

 supply of nitrogen is wanted for other crops in 

 the rotation. The purpose of the seeding is 

 praiseworthy, but if all of the product were 

 available for use off the land, observation teaches 

 that the soil producing the crop probably would 

 fare badly. The crops grown prior to the season 

 devoted to legumes proclaim their need of better 

 soil conditions, more organic matter, and more 

 nitrogen, but the legumes, appropriating nitrogen 

 for themselves, give to the land a more prosper- 

 ous appearance, and the disposition to harvest 

 everything that is in sight prevails. 



There is the excusing intention to return to the 

 soil the residue from feeding, which should be 

 nearly as valuable as the original material, while 

 the fact usually is that faulty handling of the ma- 

 nure results in heavy loss, and the distribution 

 of the remainder is imperfect. There is no hap- 

 pier provision of nature for the guarding of the 

 soil's interests than the unavailability for man's 

 direct use of a considerable part of most plants, 

 thus saving to the land a portion of its share of 

 its products. The humus obtained from plant- 

 roots, stubble, and fallen leaves forms a large per- 



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