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(?lkni JfewHpaper Su jimitb Carolina VOL. 77. NO, 3 SOIL FERTILITY. Attention Must be Given to Me chanical Condition of Soil as Well as its Supply of Plant Food. So firmly has the idea, that soil fertility is simply a question of plant food in the soil, taken hold of a great many of our farmers that I almost question whether we would not really now be in better shape lo get the maximum good out of fer tilizers had we continued to accept Jethro Tulls idea that ''tillage is manure." So important a part does proper tillage play in soil fertility that, had we acted upon this belief, many of our soils would to-day be in better shape than they actually are. While it is not actually so, yet we will not go very far wrong if we assume that nature, knowing that our soils would be called upon to produce crops forever and a day, stored those soils with a supply of plant food for all future needs. But, very wisely, she placed most of this food in a form that would not dis solve in water. Now we know that all food assimilated by plants from the soil is taken up by them in the form r>f a solution, so before the plants can derive any benefit from any substance in the soil that ma terial must first have been dissolved in water. The agents that do this are large ly the same that wore away and demolished adamantine rocks from which our soil is derived and we must understand what th?s? were and the conditions under which they will continue to act if we want to utilize this reserve store of food to the fullest extent. Brierly sta ted, the most ..ive of these agents ?re the oxygen of the air; changes of* temperature, causing an alter nate expansion and contraction of the material; the power of water iu freezing and also its wearing power ! in running down hill to find its level; acids exuded by the roots of growing plants as well as those de rived from their deca}- when death takes place; even burrowing animals and the lowly earth worm add their mite towards robbing nature's ? storehouse. Wh?t the Bacteria Do. There is still another set of agents engaged in this work that are of very great importance and that too often are not considered, possibly because they are so humble and un obtrusive that we seldom see work that we can always attribute direct ly to them. When the existence of germs and microbes was first dis covered it was little dreamed that we were forming our first acquaint ance with some of the farmers' chief friends-little beings that to day weare learning are very impor tant agents in working over and preparing the material of our soil for the use of plants. These bacte ria, we are beginning to learn, are of the gieatest importance in reu-j dering and keeping a soil fertile. So important are they in this res peet that their absence means an unproductive soil, while they are found in the greatest abundance in the most fertile soils. A fertile soil, then, is ore teeming with life and is no lunger the mass of dead, inert matter that we have so long considered it. It has long been recognized that a ton of stable ma nure invariably gave results far in excess of what we were warranted in expecting from its composition of plant food. An average ton of this material only contains about $2 or $2.50 worth of plant food and yet it is well known that we reap much more than this benefit from its use. Even when vegetable mat ter is used with commercial fertiliz ers to supply the humus, the stable manure still gives better results. A close study of the composition of stable manure shows it to be in re ality a mass of these living bacte ria-orto speak more correctly that it contains thc o organisms in innumerable numbers. When we add this manure to cur soil we start the growing and development of bacteria just as when the house wife adds the yeast cake to her dough. These organisms in their search for food attack the insoluble compounds of the soil and convert them into soluble plant food. The more of them we have in our soil, then the more available plant food will that soil contain and the more fertile will it be. ' How to Make a Good Home for Bacteria. We find that bacterial life is most active when there exists a free ac cess of air to the soil, when that soil is moist but not satu^ted with water, when its temperature ranges from 60 to 90 degrees >nd when that soil is neither decidedly acid nor alkaline. Again, in order that they may live and thrive, these or ganisms, mast have an abundance of decaying vegetable matter on which to live and there must be present in the soil a certain amount of free lime. Mark the statement: "decaying vegetable matter," not decayed. Vegetable matter that has already decayed is not a food for bacterial organisms and hence some soils, filled with decayed vege table matter are still not productive. If we will ^bring about these ideal conditions for the activity of these little friends then we will have a fertile soil-a soil that will give us the maximum yields with the mini mum expenditure of money for ar tificial plant food. But to do this wo must plow our soil deeply and often, we must drain it where need ed, we must incorporate in it con stantly new amounts of vegetable matter, we must correct any acidity that may be present by the judi cious use of lime, The vegetable matter, besides supplying food to our workers, keeps the soil more open so that there is free access of air, and at the same time it so improves its ca pillary condition that the proper amount of water will be supplied and there will be no danger of its becoming so dry that this bacterial activity will cease. This vegetable matter also acids in adding to the warmth of the soil, thus making our friends more active. Making Plant Food Available. Let us understand, then, that the moBlractrve *??reirtrm oar soir tend - ing to fertility is this same bacterial life and bend all of our energies to wards conserving and encouraging it. Should we, through the help of these bacteria succeed in exhaust ing all of this material in the layers that we are using, remember that just under those layers isarninvof plant food that so far has been un touched and all that is necessary is to bring this unused fertility up within reach of our plants, set our friends, the bacteria, to work in elaborating it, and we will have as fertile a soil as we started with, es- j pecially as regards its supply of potash and phosphoric aciu. Now, in our efforts to keep these friends supplied with plant food re member we have been constantly plowing under quantities of vegeta ble matter. If we have had the wisdom to get the vegetable matter by the growing of legumes, then we -have been gathering nitrogen from the air and adding it to our soil and the question of buying plant food in the form of commercial fer tilizers should be reduced to one of adding a small quantity of imme diately available food to keep our plants active until that that is stor ed in the earth can be set free. Barr's Chapel School. Hurrah for the Red Hill school! Now here comos the Barr's chapel school. Our teacher is Miss Essie Young, and she is beloved by all the scholars. She is a fine teacher and I like to go to school to her. I do not want the Red Hill school to think the Barr's Chapel school, just because it is so shabby looking, can not compare with their school. Miss Lila DeLaughter has been very sic k, but is about to recover. Misses Estelle Eubanks and Essie Young went over to Miss DeLaught er's Saturday afternoon. Mr. J. W. A. Burnett has gone to Atlanta for a week's visit. There is nothing out here but measles and muddy roads. Mr. Alfred McGee has been down in this country, hunting himself a wife. He says if he don't succeed in getting him a wife, he will have to keep "bach." Hurry up, girls, this is leap year. School Boy. O'Flannagan came home one night with a deep band of black orape around his hat. * Why, Mike," exclaimed his wife. "What are you wearing that mournful thing for?" "I'm wearing it for your first husband," replied Mike, firmly; "I'm sorry he's d?ad."-Exchange. JOHNSTON LETTER. Training School For Sunday School Work. Reciprocity Day Celebrated. Two Fires. The Ridge association will hold the training school for Sunday school work here in the Baptist church, beginning on Monday, March 18th and closing on Friday evening March 22nd. Among thope to take an active part in the in structing are Dr. Z. T. Cody, of Greenville, Rev. J. D. Moore, of Columbia and Dr. W. E. Thayer, of Ridge. At the association held here last September, it was decided to hold this training school at three of the most convenient churches in the division, but later, the commit tee, appointed for arrangements, have decided that it would be bet ter to have all the sessions at one church. , Reciprocity Day will be celebrat ed by the new century club on the afternoon of March 5th, and two committees have been appointed to arrange for the program and other things. The occasion will be at the home of Mrs. J. Neil Lott as the next regular meeting was to have been on this date with her. Mrs. Gwynn, of Due West, is the guest of her daughter, Miss Mary Pickens Gwynn, at the home of Dr. S. G. Mobley. Mrs. Arthur Webb and children, of Trenton, spent last week here with Mrs. A. P. Lott. Mr. Lewis, of Meeting Street, was here this week. Among those who went to Aiken to see tba Steinhard-Welfe wed ding oe Tuesday evening, February 20th were Messrs. J. D. Eidson, J. A. Lott, Burrell Boatwright. ?L G Mobf?y,* "Wilmot Ouzts, Willie Yonce, Jesse Derrick, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Kirby, Mr. and Mrs. Claud Wertz, Mr. and Mrs. John Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Will Toney, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Dozier, Dr. and Mrs. B. L. Allen, and Dr. F. L. Parker. Mr. J. L. Oxner, of Hephzibah, Ga., spent a few days of the past week here. Johnston had two fires during the past week. On Monday evening, the home of Mr. Jim Johnson, was burned. The fire was discovered by Mrs. Johnson, the dense 'smoke in the room awakening her. By the time the family had been aroused, they saw that there would be no time to save anything, and had to leave the house with scarcely no clothing. Mr. Johnson had very little insurance. On Wednesday evening between eleven and twelve o'clock, the house of Mrs. Annie P. Harrison was discovered by some of the family to be on fire, and it was gaining such rapid headway with the tornado-like wind, that the occupants were compelled to loave the house, clad only as they left their beds. Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Kirby had rooms here and lost all of their personal effects, among this being all of their bridal gifts. Mrs. Harrison had $1,800 insurance. It was only by most heroic efforts that the dwelling of Mr. Edwin Mobley was saved, and others nearby were in danger. Pieces of burning shingles were carried as far as five blocks by the wind, and it is thought that the heavy rains of the afternoon saved a portion of the town from destruction. Mr. Clyde Mobley, now of Atlan ta, Ga., visited relatives kere this week. Mrs. J- H. White has been sick for the past three weeks, and her illness has been a source of regret to her many warm friends. Mr. John McKnight, of Denver, N. C., was a visitor here recently. Mr. and Mrs. Will Hoyt, of Au gusta, spent a portion of last week here at the home of the former's brother, Mr. J. P. Hoyt. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Cogburn were welcomed visitors here last week. Mr. T. B. Truesdale, of Birming ham, Ala., made a visit to friends here recently. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Dozier visited in Augusta last week. Thc little baby girl of Mr. Jim Collins, died on Wednesday of last week, and was buried on Friday afternoon at the Mt. of Olives cem etery, by the side of its mother, whose death occurred about three weeks ago. PARKSVILLE LETTER. Marriage of Miss Carrie Burk tfalterand Mr. W. E. Free land. Mr. Fowler's Split Log-Drag. In bis introduction of one of the speakers of the "Men and religion forward movement" in Charleston on the third Sunday, Right, Rever end "William A. Guerry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolfflk, as reported in the papers said: ,^hat man to-day we should not call a Christian, who is a poor, citizen.,The man, who shirks his duty at the polls, the man who takes every&pportunityt o escape the duty as a^jfepman, as a citizen, the man who )?ndifferent as to the condi tionof-.;his community, the man who is i?fjl-iTerent as to whether you have a juvenile court, or not, the man who usan live in his brownstone house, while his neighbor in the comer-around the street, in a hovel covered with unspeakable filth, or any condition in his city, or tovvn, which tends to dra? down thc^^Kjuf life of his fellow ciii zert-^do not see how such a man c?n^^Kimself a disciple of Jesus Cn ri?t We thank God to hold aloft thntflgBward here this afternoon that$??ffijfe?st Christian in any com munit^jgaght to be the best citizen in that community. The Columbia State applies these words tpf Columbia, and every other cogBHuy, showing that the Chris tian people eiiould not stand aloof from politics, but should take a hand ia ute destruction of the cor ruption of political machinery. And I want td add' on my own account, that.>l??:,Christian people of the ata'^J'eveu down to the remotest baJJBp*d 9. i c. wa,. sh on 1 d Jtuxnjhei ? bkcicBwith bitter scorn upon any office seeker, who is himself a law breaker. Let us turn out the law breaking officials, and elect a clean set. The Parksville Baptist church yesterday in conference, adopted the following preamble and resolu tions offered by Col. W. J. Talbert. Whereas, our pastor, Rev. T. H. Garrett, has seen fit to resign the pastorate of the Parksville Baptist church and whereas we the mem bers of said church desire to ex press our appreciation of his servi ces since he has been with us, there fore be it resolved: 1st. That it is with great sorrow that we accept his resignation and deeply deplore the fact that he has tendered the same, but we trust it is being done by the direction of an All Wise Providence, and we com mend him to those to whom he may go, as a man of God. 2nd. That we desire to put on record our sincere appreciation of his earnest labors since he came among us, and it is with sad hearts and a great deal of relutance, that we part with bim, and his very in teresting family. 3rd. That a copy of these resolu tions be spread upon the church minute book, a copy be sent his family and that they be published in the Baptist Courier, and the county papers. Miss Carrie Burkhalter was quiet ly married to Mr. H. E. Freeland one day last week by Rev. J. T. Littlejohn at her residence. Our congratulations and good wishes naturally go out to them on account of long acquaintance and strong ties of friendship. When, not long ago, we were predicting orange blossoms we were not talking of Rehoboth, but of Parksville. Now all we ask is for the public to watch. Parksville is in an attitude of expectancy, but don't ask us to tell for its a pro found secret. See? Rev. G. H. Burton and wife spent ?ome time in Parksville last week is guests of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Tal bert. Miss Sallje Parker of Edge field came with them, and is still a ernest of her sister, Mrs. Talbert. It was announced yesterday in 1 Sunday school, that a treat awaited 1 the west-side in a short time, which | refers to an expected visit from Miss 1 Shaner of Missouri, the noted tem- i perance lecturer, who visited, and t so much delighted our people a few 1 years ago. Unless the dates are ] changed for providential reasons, i Miss Shaner will lecture at Plum I Branch on Monday, March the 11th, 1 at Parksville March 12 tb, and at i Clark's Hill on the 13th. The la- i dies of these communities will be stir themselves to entertain Miss Shaner and get her good audiences. Let any who are skeptical as to the ability of a woman to make a good lecture be sure to hear her and they will be fully repaid. The bad roads, the bad roads! is a common expression now-a-days. And in this connection, I want to say, that if all farmers and residents on our public highways had the in genuity, the energy, the patriotism of Mr. W. W. Fowler of our vicin age, our roads would be fairly good, notwithstanding the rainy weather. Mr. Fowler made him some time ago a split-log-drag, that anybody could make, who owns a hatchet, augur and saw, and has dragged the public road that passes through his plantation once or twice, when the roads begin to dry off, and the doubter need only to travel this road to be convinced of its utility. What are our county commission ers for? Couldn't they adopt this simple device that is spoken of and illustrated in nearly all our agricul tural Journals? Is Edgefield and her people content to be mossbacked and fossilized one hundred years behind some of our sister counties? Say, gentlemen, please quit trying so hard to get votes, come over to see Mr. Fowler, learn to do some thing for us, and the votes will take care of themselves. To learn how to make and use a split-log drag will get you voltes. More Anon. Young People's Branch En tertains at Johnston. One of the most enjoyable events of the seasou of the younger people was the social meeting of the Y. P. B. at thu hospitable home of Dr. and Mrs. Jas. A. Dobey on Friday evening Feb. 16th. The decora Tf?TiSTvere-r^J ..hearts, a&rrsihSLJfnt} the Valentine idea. The guests were met at the door by Misses Neile Beckham and Em ma Watkins who pinned red hearts on them as souvenirs. The hearts had the modest white ribbon on them. When all the guests had ar rived, about ten minutes were spent in getting partners and at tho right table on which the progressive games were played. Each table had different games and by the tap of a bell 25 couples ranging between fourteen and twenty began the pro gressive games. An opportunity to go to all the 12 tables was given. Mr. Jefferson Lewis won the beau tiful Valentine for having progress ed the most number of times. The booby was awarded to Miss Lottie Bean and Mr. Hill Ready. Following this carre the feature of the day, a tempting salad course with hot chocolate and wafers. This was served by Mesdames James A. Dobey and Jack A. Lott assisted by four charming ladies Misses Stewart, Agnew, Banks and Brockington. I Reluctantly they all departed as suring their leaders that they had spent a most pleasant evening. Robt. E. Kenney. Take Cash and Let Credit Go. (From the Ladies Home Journal.) Tbe knot was tied; the pair were wed, And then the smiiing bridegroom said Unto the preacher, "Shall I pay To you the usual fee to-day, Or would you have me wait a year And give you then a hundred clear, If I should find the marriage state As happy as I estimate?" The preacher lost no time in thought, To his reply no study brought, There were no wrinkles on his brow; Said he, "I'll take three dollars DOW." Make More Per Acre. Grow more cotton per acre and plant fewer acres in cotton, so that 1 what you make will be made at a lower cost. The wise farmer will i keep in view the chance of low i prices and will endeavor to make 1 Iiis crops in the most economical ^ manner to meet these chances. It is t the cost of the crop to the grower I -hat. determines the question of 1 profit or loss in current prices, and if your crop costs you all that it brings on the market you had bet ter study improved methods and itop that sort of farming.-Progres- i sive Farmer. t (?lkni JfewHpaper Su jimitb Carolina VOL. 77. NO, 3