GOOD SOILS BACK OF GOOD CROPS II 



a family of plants that will be able to make mineral 

 matter for other plants. 



The nearest approach to any such magical dis- 

 covery is an open secret available to all. No 

 trained genius is needed to do the work ; no costly 

 apparatus is demanded. Simply a plow and cul- 

 tivator to unlock the hidden treasures and to 

 change clay and rock and compounds into avail- 

 able plant food. Of course, if potassium and phos- 

 phorus are deficient in the soil they must be added 

 artificially; but they cost little in comparison with 

 nitrogen. 



This economical and practical method of soil im- 

 provement ought to be steadily followed. The 

 grain farmer, the cotton farmer, the hay farmer, 

 the market gardener — in fact every business man 

 who has to do with soil culture — can rapidly im- 

 prove his land and keep it fertile by thus feeding 

 the soil. Recently I saw a number of flower beds 

 and forcing beds utilizing the cowpeas as a nitro- 

 gen crop for the crops that are to come on during 

 the winter and fall months. 



AN EXPERIMENT STATION OF YOUR OWN 



Every soil worker should be an experimenter. 

 This is the surest practical way to get acquainted 

 with the soils, and thus to determine what plant 

 food is present or absent. The following plan 

 presents a simple method of ascertaining which of 

 the three elements of plant food is needed in soils. 

 It can be employed for every crop and on any farm. 



Lay off five plats of equal size in any field. 

 Plant each to the same crop and use exactly the 

 same amount of seed to each. Prepare each plat 



