132 INTENSIVE FARMING 



of the plantation. As a rule, the use of manure 

 or green crops turned under is more economical 

 than the use of commercial fertilizers. 



The continued use of large quantities of 

 high-grade commercial fertilizers sooner or 

 later brings about soil conditions manifestly 

 uncongenial to the plants as indicated by their 

 appearance. In humid regions this is as a rule 

 easily corrected by the use of stable manure in 

 large quantities or by plowing under leguminous 

 crops, such as crimson clover or cow peas. The 

 presence of liberal quantities of decomposing 

 organic matter in the soil appears to be essen- 

 tial to correct adverse conditions brought about 

 by the excessive use of fertilizers. Dangers of 

 this sort are not liable to develop in a complex 

 based on the sale of high-grade finished prod- 

 ucts such as cattle, horses, or dairy products. 



The truck farm, as usually maintained, is 

 above all others the one most liable to develop 

 uncongenial soil conditions. The excessive ap- 

 plication of commercial fertilizers without an 

 adequate use of either stable or green manure 

 is responsible for these troubles. Now that the 

 cause of the difficulty as well as its remedy is 

 well understood it becomes an easy matter for 

 the truck farmer to protect himself against such 

 misfortunes by the use of stable manure or by 



