Show 1 The Land Doctor U By Vivian Shearer 1111 I 11 Clem was worried about his little field north of the thedra draw dra There were o only lr about abolt four or five acres as I rem remember remember embel em- em ber bel but he knew that the tho topsoil topsoil top- top soil was getting pretty thin so solie he lie decided to do something I about it itI it I got her fixed now he said i slapping me on the back I moed moved moved mo- mo ed a straw stack over there and spread it out It was some job that field and turning the straw under but there thero she is Lots of at organic matter in that field now We all know that organic matter matter matter mat mat- ter is necessary to the proper development of or humus and top- top soil However and as Clem did not understand raw organic matter is not humus On the theother theother theother other hand organic matter Is the food that is consumed by the soil like a a. cow consumes hay The action of chemicals and bacteria bacteria bacteria bac bac- teria In the soil soli digests the tho organic organic organic or or- I ganic matted and makes humus like the cow digests digests' the hay and makes milk When you force the soil to make a hog of Itself like liko Clem did it sort of gets gels indigestion tion something tion-something something like a horse I I foundering on too muck oats or ora ora ora I a small boy getting tho tummy I ache on too many green apples or or maybe In deference to the machine age ago tho the motor getting a no flooded oded Fresh vegetable blo ble matter such as straw or 01 leaves and litter from under the trees is rich in cellulose matter When It is covered by tho the soil and gets plenty of moisture the little residents In the soil get all excited and gather round like hogs at swill time As It decompo de- de compo sees carbon dioxide gas is released This gas furnishes these organisms micro with an anah ah abundant supply of or energy and they decompose more straw and produce more mora gas They multiply multiply multiply multi multi- ply to the tune of a few billion billion children and grand gland grandchildren children and on account of their they begin to compete compote with the plants and crops for tho the invited supply of nitrogen which they need In the formation ot of plow new humus substance proto substance proto They seem to set got the their r first and to get tho the nitrogen and the plants se get get lef This competition competition competition comp comp- goes on until nUl the raw material ma inn- has been heen pretty well decomposed decomposed decomposed de de- composed and less carbon dioxide dioxide ide Is released Tho The bacteria then begin to die off until only the normal population Is loft left and Con Continued on last page pagel The Land an Doctor Continued from page one the farm crops can again have p their share of the nitrogen supply Organic matter and microorganisms microorganisms micro- micro organisms are necessary for tho the development of a no rich topsoil but like cold drinking water or orloe orlove orlove love lo or 01 Thanksgiving dinner it itcan itcan itcan can be overdone Nature is al always always al- al always ways jealous about the tho balances she sho has established and is alway alway alway al- al way ready to crack down on somebody somewhere whenever that equilibrium is attacked In Clem field the nitrate and Nitrogen nitrogen nitrogen nitro nitro- gen will be scarce if not actually disappear until the tho decay organisms organisms organisms or or- have used up the thc straw he put on and the corn ho he plant planted ed on the land will show up with witha a serious case of malnutrition |