AN'a best friend , Is his
mother the oorth. All
Bho asks la the oppor
tunity and she will
yield him the wealth of
an account thnt has
boon growing for ages.
And ho has treated her
as he usually treats his
best friends. Ho has
taken all she had to
give , bought an auto
mobile and a house in
town and then hid his
tuldross from his relatives of the soil
for fear they would bring their earthy
smell Into his new residence.
With quiet Indifference old Mother
Earth endures this Ingratitude , but
the time comes when she has nothing
for his greed. What happens then ?
Look to India for one answer. Ton
million of our own Aryan blood starve
there In a single famine year starve
upon a soil that once was , and still
could be , almost inconceivably fertile.
Russia offers another reply , where
with stomachs empty men enter a
world that never fills them. Yet an
other answer , centuries old , may bo
found In the Tigris-Euphrates valley ,
which , once nmrvolously fertile , now
scorches uselessly in the tropic sun.
The necessity of man forged a weapon
that brought him plenty ; but the greed
of man forged a weapon that brought
him penury. For do you think there
can be prosperity when the earth no
longer yields ? Do not forget that the
Bhamo of Rome was coincident with
ithe time when one bushel of seed re
turned but four in the harvest. When
the soil exploited , that Is when It
is so farmed that the essential ele
ments are taken out In crops and noth
ing returned to build It up , the result
is exactly the same as when men are
exploited in workshops and nothing
returned to build up their bodies. You
cannot haul phosphorus and nltiogcn
In oats and wheat and corn from your
farms year after year and maintain
the fertility of the soil , if you give
back no phosphorus and nitrogen In
return. Twelve thousand abandoned
farms in the state of New York alone
testify to this. After sixty years of
cultivation the lands of the corn bolt
1IUUU3H1UII1 , lUUKUUblUIII 11I1U UII1LT US-
Bontlal abundant elements supplemented -
montod by the amounts returned in
manure and crop residues for the pro
duction of largo crops at least for
thousands of years ; whereas if the
supply ot phosphorus in the soil Is
steadily decreased In the future in ac
cordance with the past and present
most common farm practise , then
poverty is the only future for thn
people who till the common agricultu
ral lands of the United States. "
Phosphorus may bo applied-In liberal -
oral amounts as much as 1,000 pounds
to the aero every three or four years
and It costs about $7 a ton.
After the problem of returning the
elements to the soil has been solved
the farmer may find another condition
of the soil which must bo corrected
before his farm rtlll produce as It
should. This Is the tendency of cer
tain soils to acidity. Clover , alfalfa
and other valuable legumes cannot
thrive upon soil that Is sour. Some
times on acid soils when applications
of farm manure are made , the legumes
will seem to grow well , but examina
tion rovoalB the fact that the nitrogen
gathering bacteria fall to develop
properly Hcnco the most valuable
contribution the legumes have to make
to the soil is largely lost. Upon cer
tain fields belonging to ono of the
most famous agricultural stations In
the world , that of RothamBtoad , Eng
land , applications of natural limestone
\\oro made a century ago. They are
still moderately productive , although
other Holds near by , which have never
rocolvcd the application , are extreme
ly unproductive.
Care should bo taken that llmo-
Btono is used for the ono and'only pur
pose of correcting soil acidity.
And whllo wo are upon this
thing.
.
Zf
not the man with the hayseed in his hair who
feels it first but the man with the pen behind
, Ws oar. Month by month the price of each
aoparato commodity puts a little largo punc
ture in his salary , until by the end of the year
, hls savings , which began hopefully , as an un
known quantity , have ended as "X = nothing , "
, Ho it Is who knows the cold dread of middle
age ; for unless the land can be Induced to
yield abundantly prices will not settle down to
itho point where the man on a moderate salary
can llvo free from fear. Farmer and clerk
[ alike , \\e are all vitally concerned in this
iproblotn * of maintaining and increasing the fer
tility of the soil that Is fertile , and of restor-
, lng soils that have been cruelly exploited.
Fortunately they can bo restored. Intelll-
igonco is more potent than avarice and can
undo the evil it has wrought. Even those soils
that have been exploited to the point of appar
ent ruin can bo nursed back to health. Dr.
Cyril Hopkins , head of the agronomy depart
ment of the University of Illinois , a soil spe
cialist of national reputation and the author of
numerous pamphlets and a book entitled "Soil
Fertility and Permanent Agriculture , " Is ono
of the most enthusiastic workers along this
line. He is a man of hard facts and loves
pretty theories even as the devil loves holy
water. Every fact that ho gives out must
prove Itself over and over again in tests upon
his own farms , or those belonging to the uni
versity or upon ono of the various experimen
tal plots. There are about thirty of these plots
scattered through the state of Illinois , where
the soils are carefully examined and then
cropped according to their needs. I could tell
you tales of what Mother Earth has done in
the way of corn , wheat , oats , or clover when
aho baa received proper treatment that would
eat you to building castles in the air upon an
earthy foundation. The corn yield upon ono of
J the university farms in 1909 was 87 bushels
to the acre , duo to treatments with limestone
Mid phosphorous. But before wo BO farther
let us consider a few fundamentals of crop
growing.
First , there are six positive , absolutely es
sential factors. They are : (1) ( ) the seed ,
(2) ( ) the plant home , (3) ( ) the food of which the
plant Is made , (4) ( ) moisture , (5) ( ) heat , ( C ) light.
Now , except in the case of the seed and plant
food these factors are largely beyond the farm
er's control. Dame Nature can , however , bo
trusted to attend to them satisfactorily. How ,
then , has the fanner made use of his ability to
control the two factors ? By exorcising judg
ment and care in the selection of Hoed and by
Ignoring the matter of plant Jood entirely. The
result ? When the land was worn out and had
no plant food to give the good seed the agricul
turist arose irately In farmers' institute and
told what he thought of the seed seller. The
trouble all the time \sas not with the seed but
with the soil , which had had the elements of
plant food removed In previous crops , and as
a consequence could not respond to the call of
the seed.
What are these elements ? There are ten
in the list , but eight are provided abundantly.
Three oxygen , hydrogen and carbon como
directly from the air and water. Most nor
mal foils contain enough potassium , magne
sium , iron , calcium and sulphur , although some
times the first must be supplied. The problem
of plant food , therefore , narrows itself , in most
cases , to maintaining and increasing the phos
phorus and nitrogen
Now nitrogen Is as easy to catch as the
measles if ono knows how. The air contains
It in inconceivable amounts. Dr. Hopkins has
estimated that the air above an aero of ground
contains about $10,000,000 worth , if sold over
the counter at ordinary commercial rates. In
order to Induce this nitrogen to enter the
earth , where it may reappear as food for man ,
all that is necessary is to plant clover , alfalfa ,
pees or any legume. By moons of the bacteria
upon the roots these legumes draw the nitro
gen into the soil. How necessary the element
of nitrogen is may bo seen from the fact that
a 100-bushol crop of corn takes from the soil
almost 100 pounds of nitrogen in the corn and
about 48 pounds in the stalks. Rich , well-bal
anced land in the corn belt contains about
8,000 pounds of nitrogen Therefore , If the
process of subtraction of nitrogen goes on
year after year with never an addition , it can
be seen clearly that the farmer's finances can
not multiply. Rotation plans for grain fann
ers always should include a crop of legumes.
Wheat , corn , outs and clover is a satisfactory
rotation ; also wheat , corn and cow peas ; also
cotton , corn and oats and cow peas. The first
of these rotations should Include a catch crop
of clover seeded the first year and plowed un
der for corn as late as practicable the second
year. The other two should Include catch
crops of legumes whenever possible. Legumes
when plowed under perform valuable services
besides supplying the soil with nitrogen aa
they decay they supply organic matter to the
soil which helps other elements of plant food
to free themselves from the earth and Into the
farmer's bank account.
Now thnt the question of nitrogen has boon
outlined , suppose no turn to the problem of
phosphorus , the only element of plant food wo
over shall have to buy As to the Importance
of the use of phosphorus upon the common
soils of the United States , Dr. Hopkins has
this to say : J
"Phosphorus is the key to permannont ag
riculture on these lands. To maintain or In
crease the amount of phosphorus in the soil
makes possible the growth of clover or other
legumes and the consequent addition of nitro
gen from the inexhaustible supply in the air ;
and with the addition of decaying organic mat
ter in the residues of clover and other crops
and in manure , made in large part from clover ,
hay and pasture , and from the larger crops of
corn and other grains which clover helps to
produce comes the possibility of liberating
from the immense supplies in tbo soil sufficient
that only ? Improved seed , improved machin
ery , Irrigation , even crop rotation , all are
means for extracting from the soil the rich
ness that ia In H , not for returning any of the
food elements of grain building. All of those
methods of cell stimulation are excellent in
their way , if used in connection with methods
of returning the elements of plant food ; but
if used without them they are moans of
hastening the impoverishment of the soil.
To return to the question of limestone , ono
ton to the aero finely ground will correct the
acid condition of most soils. It Is , however ,
in the end cheaper and easier to apply more
and to apply It loss often. As much OB ton
tons to the aero was applied , to the soil of ono
of the experiment fields in southern Illinois
and the crop yields there have boon greater
than mioii any other fields In that district
A question that has been given much at
tention lately is the question of crop rota
tion. Undoubtedly It is absolutely essential
for successful grain farming , but It is not
the universal panacea some would have us bo-
llovo. For Instance , a group of theorists
have declared that fertilization is unnecessary ,
that crop rotation will keep the soils In per
fect condition. The Idea Is that plants do not
injure the soil because they use Its plant food
elements but because they throw off poisonous
excreta aa animals do. Therefore a so-called
worn-out soil simply has become saturated
with this oxcrota. Plant a crop which will
neutralize the poison of the last crop and the
Bollsoll will bo sweetened and the breasts of
Mother Earth kept dripping with plenty for-
over. This is very attractive as a theory. It
has , however , no foundation in fact. As Dr.
Hopkins has said , tbo rotation of crops has just
the name effect upon wealth in the Booll as
the rotation of the check book among the
members of the family has upon the wealth
in the bank. Plant food elements cannot tie
used up and not returned without resulting
in impoverishment of the soli.
WHAT HE CONSIDERED FAIR
Mr. Olecn'B Offer Must Have Como Aa /
Surprise Even to Persuasive
Claim Agent.
Up in Minnesota Mr. Olson had
cow killed by a railroad train. la
duo season the claim agent for the
railroad called. I
"We understand , of course , ' .nt th
deceased was a very docile and vnlu-
RDlo animal , " said the claim agent in
his most poreuaslvo clalm-agontleman-
ly manner , "and wo sympathize with
you and your family In your loss. But ,
Mr. Olson , you must remember this :
Your cote had no business being upon
our tracks. These tracks are our prl-
rate property and vhon eho Invaded
them she became a trespasser. Tech.
nlcally speaking , you , as her owner ,
became a trespasser also. But w
have no doslro to carry the Issue into
court , and possibly give you trouble.
Now , then what would you regard a *
R fair settlement between you and the
railroad company ? " >
"Vail , " said Mr. Olson slowly , "Ay
bacn poor Swede farmer , but Aye shall
dvo you two dollars. " Everybody's.
Wrong Quest.
It was exhibition day at No. 3 , and
an the parents of Jack Qrady , the
dullest pupil , were listening hopefully ,
the teacher tried her best to help the
boy. "How did Charles I. of .England
dlo ? " Bho naked , assigning the easiest
quostlon on her list to Jack. Aa he
looked at her , with no Indication of a
coming answer , the teacher put her
hand up to her nock. Jack oaw the
movement and understood its moan
ing , aa ho thought "Charles I. of Eng
land dlod of cholera , " ho announced
briskly. Youth's Companion.
$100 Reward , $100.
Th milrn ot thta paper will b pleawxl to
that ttier * li at leut oua dreaded dUeaM that telenet
bai been abl * to curt In all lu itatea and that M
Catarrb. Hair * Catarrh Curt U the only p ° * ltM
cure uow knonn to the medical traUrnltjr. CatarrH
belnc a corutltutlonal diatom , require * a roiutltu/
llonal treatment. Hall'i Catarrh Cure ta taken tni
ternally , acting directly upon tb > blood and mncoul
lurtacei ot the lyitem. thereby drjtroylng tht
foundation ot tha dlieoM , and ( tiring tbe patient
trengtb by building up the constitution and analjt-
bl natura In doing It * work. The proprietors hav
to much faith In IU curative power * that they oriel
One Hundred Dollan for any e& * that U ( all * tc
cure. Bend ( or lilt of testimonial *
Addreu F. J. CIin.VEV J , CO. . Toledo. O , .
Pout by all Drurotita. 'Jo.
lake lutl'i lamlly 1'UU ( or cotuUpaUoa.
She Probably Could.
Senator La Follotto , apropos of cer
tain ocandala , said at a dinner in Mad
ison : "These things recall the legisla
tor who remarked to his wife , with a
look of disgust : 'One of those land
lobbyists approached mo today with
another insulting proposition. ' I
"Tho wife , a young and pretty wom
an , clapped her hands. 'Oh , good ! '
Eho cried. 'Then I can have that sable
Btolo , after all , can't I , dcarT * "
"SPOHN'S. "
This IB the nnmo of the RTenlcst of nil
remedies for Distemper , Pink Eye , Hcnves ,
I ml the like aihmiR all RRCH of horses. Bold
| > y DruggistR , Ilnrnenii Makers , or fiend to
the manufacturers. $ 0 and $1.00 a bottle.
A Rents wanted. Scud for free book. Spohn
Jleillctil Co. , SpeO. CouUitfoui Disease * ,
Qo hen , Ind.
80 They Say.
Stranger I say , my lad , what U
considered a coed ccoro on those
links ?
Caddie Well , sir , most of the gonta
here trlon to do It in as few stroked'
as they can , but it generally takqs a
few more. Scottish American.
TRY MURINE EYE REMEDY
for Red , Weak , Weary , Watery Eyoa
andGramilatodEyelids. Murlno Doesn't
Smart Soothes Bye Pain. Druggists
Boll Murlno Eye Remedy , Liquid , 250 ,
COc , $1.00. Murlno Bye Salve In
Afloptlc Tubes , 25o , $1.00. Eye Books
and Eye Advlco Free by Mall.
Murlno Eye Remedy Co. , Chicago.
Her Tribute.
Randall How did you like the mili
tary parade , Ida ? ,
MIso Rogers--GlorlouBl I never saw
enough men in all my life before
Harper's Bazar.
Slrn.VlniiIoTr * Boothlnc Byrnp.
For children tooth Urn. Boftonstlio gum , riHlucHsln-
tUmin | | 'T'iffiliM" wilo. CIUM wind collo. a&o a U. Ui .
When a man drossua like a slouch
it's a pretty good sign that ho either
ought to get married or got divorced.
Many who used to itnoko lOo cigars
now buy Lewii1 Single Binder gtraight 5a ,
A woman hatea her enemies longer
than nho loves her friends.
A TRULY BENE
FICIAL AID
in cases of Poor Appetite ,
Headache , Heartburn ,
Sour Risings , Bloating ,
Indigestion , Dyspepsia.
Costiveness , Biliousness
and Malaria , Fever and
Ague is Hpstetter's Stomach
ach Bitters. For over
57 years it has been as
sisting sickly and run
down people back to
health , and its friends are
therefore , legion. You
really ought to try this
wonderful remedy at
once and be satisfied that
it is the onl3r one you
need to keep you healthy.
COUGHS S COLONS
