AGRICULTURAL SITUATION IN THE EAST 35 



rendered very profitable by the raising of live stock 

 and the growing of leguminous crops. These crops 

 may either be turned under or may be fed to the 

 farm stock. The latter procedure, of course, is the 

 logical and common-sense one. The judicious ap- 

 plication of a certain amount of commercial fer- 

 tilizer will also assist. 



The great importance of soil moisture can be no 

 better illustrated than to remember that in order 

 to produce a ton of dry hay on an acre of land it is 

 necessary that the grass have approximately 500 

 tons of water. In order to supply this enormous 

 quantity, the soil must not only be in condition to 

 absorb and hold water well, but it must be porous 

 enough to permit water to flow freely from one soil 

 grain to another. The presence of large quantities 

 of decaying organic matter, ordinarily termed 

 humus, adds enormously to the water-holding 

 capacity of the soil. One ton of humus will absorb 

 two tons of water and give it up readily to grow- 

 ing crops. The shrinkage of the particles of de- 

 caying organic matter and the consequent loosen- 

 ing of soil grains keeps the soil open and porous. 



Above and beyond all this, humus of good qual- 

 ity is exceedingly rich, both in nitrogen and in 

 mineral plant food. The first step, therefore, to 

 renovating worn-out soil is to give it an abundant 

 supply of humus. Perhaps the best source of 

 humus is stable manure, especially when animals 

 are fed foods rich in nitrogen. Even poor barn- 

 yard manure has considerable value because of the 

 humus it contains. 



TILLAGE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE 



Careful tillage is another problem which must 

 enter into the renovation of worn-out soil. In 



