GOOD SOILS BACK OF GOOD CROPS 9 



ifrequently lacking in the soil. If this be the case, 

 imaximum crop production is impossible, it fol- 

 ilows that if one or more of these elements is lack- 

 [ing in the soil, the deficiency should be met, and 

 ithe element or elements needed should be supplied, 

 sand it should be the business of the good farmer to 

 ifind out what elements are lacking. 

 II In this connection we should not forget the place 

 ithe legumes should take in a rational system of 

 farming. The legumes! No magician's wand could 

 itwave over any agricultural land and bless it more 

 ithan do these plants. Alfalfa, the clovers — the 

 I common red clover, crimson, alsike, mammoth, 

 [white and bur — the cowpeas, the soja beans, 

 vetches, etc. — these are nature's soil improvers and 

 levery one a cattle food of the highest excellence. 



J THE HIGH IMPORTANCE OF LEGUMES 



I These legumes add nitrogen to the soil, and since 

 nitrogen is one of the elements found in commer- 

 ;cial fertilizers, it is a good thing to know that it 

 may be obtained in other ways than through costly 

 fertilizers. The connection between the element 

 Initrogen and the leguminous plant lies in the fact 

 that bacteria select the clovers, alfalfa, cowpeas 

 and other leguminous roots as the place for build- 

 ang their nitrogen homes. 



J You can see these nitrogenous homes if you will 

 take the trouble to examine the roots of any 

 Heguminous plant. Their presence is shown by the 

 (knots or wartlike tubercles all over the roots of the 

 iplant. How do these tubercles gather nitrogen and 

 [feed plants upon it? In this way: Air, filled with 

 [atmospheric nitrogen, circulates through the soil. 



