163 



" The experiments reported [in the preceding articles'elearly demon- 

 strate that those agriculturists who have long attributed to cultivation 

 of the soil a decisive influence on nitrification have held a correct view 

 of the subject. This influence is, in fact, much greater than might be 

 supposed. A soil properly stirred and aerated is capable of producing 

 much greater amounts of nitrates than are required to sustain the most 

 abundant crops. 



" The enormous reserves of nitrogenous matter which arable soils 

 contain are therefore not destined to remain indefinitely inactive. We 

 will not always be reduced to the necessity of paying cash down for 

 assimilable nitrogen and of importing each year large amounts of nitro- 

 gen compounds to make up the deficiency in the production of assimi- 

 lable nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen compounds are found in profusion 

 in the soil, and the experiments which we have reviewed show that the 

 transformation of inert organic matter in nitrates may be greatly accel- 

 erated by cultivation of the soil. 



" The most important part of the cultivation of the soil is done [in 

 Europe] in October or November. The soil broken up by the plough 

 and rendered absorbent, stores up the rain water of winter, which would 

 flow off the surface of a soil hardened by dryness or compacted by rain. 

 The first cultivation is very well performed by the plough, but this 

 implement does not do more than turn over the sod without breaking 

 it, and arrange it in parallel strips. There is no pulverisation, and 

 this is an advantage if the soil is to remain uncovered during the 

 winter, since pulverisation promotes an active nitrification, which is 

 very undesirable under these conditions, the nitrates formed in a soil 

 without vegetation being irrevocably lost. 



"When the time of seeding approaches, however, as thorough 

 pulverisation as possible is desirable. The harrows and cultivators 

 which are commonly used, do not answer the purpose, since they stir 

 the soil very imperfectly. Our efforts should be directed toward 

 improving these implements in this respect. The advantage of 

 perfect cultivation, in the soil is seen among the French peasants. They 

 cultivate their fields [with spade, fork, &c] again and again in different 

 ways, and without knowing it, promote a very active nitrification. 

 Cultivators of sugar beets know that the weight of roots harvested in 

 creases with the number of cultivations to which the crop is subjected. 



" From the earliest times cultivation of the soil has been considered 

 as labour par excellence. The man who performs it, is known as 

 " the labourer." Slowly and laboriously through the ages he has 

 perfected his implements. From the piece of wood hardened in the 

 fire and drawn by an ass, he has passed to the plough drawn by oxen or 

 the more powerful implement driven by steam. But further efforts 

 are still necessary in order to utilise the immense reserves of the soil. 

 The plough is the emblem of agriculture only until we are able to find 

 a better. The soil is a niggardly mother who distrusts her wasteful 

 children and refuses at first to give up her treasure, but yields finally 

 to the supreme force of the world — work." 



