8 FARM CROPS 



deepening of the seed and root bed until ten or a 

 dozen inches are turned to the air for purificationi 

 and rejuvenation. I say gradual, because som« 

 soils would be physically hurt by sudden deep 

 plowing. The innovation must, in many cases 

 come slowly or the soil may be injured for years! 

 When there is a probability of injury by deep plow 

 ing, let the plow down gradually. Go one, two oi* 

 even three inches deeper at every plowing, until a 

 deep and comfortable seed bed is obtained. 



Chemical fertilizers will aid in soil improvement 

 So will some medicines aid people when they are 

 sick. But let us not depend on either too much 

 They are costly in the first place, and then, again 

 they may do harm. Alcohol may be used as 

 medicine, yet may lead to disease. Commercial 

 fertilizers add plant food to the soil and produce 

 better crops for a time, but if depended on too 

 much, they may do serious harm ; for under the 

 commercial fertilizer system of farming the humu 

 in the soil is soon exhausted, and these sorts o: 

 fertilizers do nothing to restore this invaluable in 

 gredient. 



THE FUNCTION OF FERTILIZERS AND 

 LEGUMES 



Commercial fertilizers are to be used as acces- 

 sories to tillage and rotation. Tillage improves th( 

 physical condition of the soil. The rational way ti 

 use commercial fertilizers is to ascertain the ele 

 ments needed in the soil and then apply such fei 

 tilizers as are needed. Investigations may sho 

 that of the elements needed for plant growth, nitro 

 gen, potassium and phosphorus, one or all may b 



