OCR Text |
Show HUMUS THE LIFE OF THE SOIL . By P. G. HOLDEN. DECAYING 'organic and vegetable matter forms mold or humus. The' mineral elements may be said to give "body" to the soil, but humus gives It "life." Humus makes soil dark colored and mellow. It not only ndds nitrogen and other plantfoods, but Improves the physical condition of the soil nnd makes It congenial for plants. Humus helps retain the moisture, evens up the soil temperature, makes soil loose and warm, lets in the air, provides pro-vides a home for bacteria, prevents washing, baking and packing; hastens the germination of seed and urges early plant growth In the spring. Soil that Is; without humus, Is without life. A fertile soil is inhabited by countless organisms! ( or bncterin. Humus lsj I essential to the devel-1 V. J opment of these organ-, jf 5 v- isms. Bacteria con-, s JPmNFl Xi trlbute t0 the breakiQs! f & wv. r eri dowa of the so11 pnr"' k l x v v ifE tIclcs and t0 the decayl IMfe ? -- ---J nnUdbbbarn Manures!! This Soil lo Ruined From Washing, Owing to a Lack f JPcf " of Humus-Humus Will Prcvont Erosion. are a part, the supply of humus usually will be maintained. The roots and' the etubble, together with the droppings of the animals on the pasture, nnd manure applied with ono of the crops in the rotation, keep tho land well supplied with vegetable matter. Wheneverpossible, it Is better to feed tho crop to stock and return the manure to the land, than to plow the crop under; un-der; for In this way you get back the greater part of the fertilizing value of tho crops in the manure, and maintain tho animal at the same time. Tbo first essential In the maintaining of humus In tho soil is the adoption of n crop rotation which shall include legume crops.and In which farm manures ma-nures aro used. Y |