134 SOILS 



that falls on the land dissolves some of the nitrates and 

 other nitrogen-carrying salts and carries them with it as 

 it seeks lower levels until finally it reaches the ocean, 

 there to give over its findings and its stores to the great- 

 ness of the deep. 



There is just one thing to say: nitrogen is lost. 



Finally putrefaction and denitrifying bacteria are busy 

 ever sending nitrogen away from the soil, even engaged 

 in the work of stealing from plants and robbing the soil 

 of its nitrogen stores. 



Nitrogen is therefore lost, constantly and continuously. 

 There seems to be no way of prevention, no way of saving 

 these valuable stores. True sewage farms will lessen the 

 contribution to the ocean, better tillage will check the 

 loss through drainage waters, and better soil manage- 

 ment will lessen the loss occasioned by evil-working bac- 

 teria. Still, with the very best that man can do, the loss 

 can be diminished, only, but never overcome. 



The problem: to reclaim the nitrogen lost. Nitrogen 

 loss, then, is not preventable : the call to the ocean, the 

 demands of combustion, the determination of certain bac- 

 teria, are all so powerful there is no hope of complete 

 remedy. If this be true, then this question is in order: 

 How may the normal supply of nitrogen be maintained? 



The solution of this problem is of most vital interest 

 to agriculture and to the human race. The problem, it- 

 self, is the most important of all problems before us to- 

 day. For these reasons: upon its solution rests the main- 

 tenance of the fertility of the land, and the production of 

 food in sufficient quantities to supply all the needs of the 

 entire living world : bread and meat, heat and shelter, 

 every sort of food and raiment. 



There is no cause, however, for alarm. Let those al- 

 ready disturbed and of little faith remember this: the 



