Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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\ SOIL BUILDING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA. Hy W. H. BARTON. Full Text of Circular No. 13, Issued by 5. C. Experiment Station, Clemson College, S. C TUB PURPOSES OF THIS CIRCULAR AUK.: 1. To represent in comprehensive form by diagram, the logi cal order of practice to bo pursued, by means of which practice, the farmer may most easily, most economically and most rapidly enrich and develop the ordinary South Carolina farm. 2. To briefly indicato in regular order some of the results accruing to allied and dependent Interests of modern agriculture as a result of such a logical and well organized practice. 3. To give the farmer, in detailed form, information and in structions necessary for his putting into practice the principles outlined in this circular. To which end, we have discussed each principle separately, making reference to the diagram. Thus endeavoring to lix in tho mind of the farmer the kind of practice, the order of practice, and the details necessary for intelligent action on his part. 4. To briefly suggest a simple plan of co-operation between agricultural and country school education in tho community, aa a nucleus for the development of co-operative uplift along all lines of community interests-un effective way to reach the major ity of the great masses in the country, who either cannot or will not bo reached otherwise. \V. H. BARTON, District Agent. Farmers' Co-operative Demonstration Work of Clem son College and the United States Department of Agri culture. The following diagram represents the logical order of practice necessary for the enrichment of our soils, and suggests some of the results which will naturally follow such a practice: These principles are being put into practice by the Fanners' Co-opera ti vo Demonstration Work of Clemson College and the United States Department of Agriculture in joint co-operation with fanners. step by step, In the order indicated in the diagram. FIGURE I. First Step. Second Step. Third Step I. Deep Fall Flowing; ?. Better Terracing ami Drainage; ii. Better Seed Red; 4. Bettor Seed; ">. Moro Frequent Shallow Cultivation. These live principles always will bo neces sary to tho best farming, but unless wo introduce tho second step, we shall soon bankrupt the State by bankrupting the soil. gs CC rr. - i** Q r WINTER COVER CROPS of VETCH, CLOVER and CHAIN to be double disked and turned just be fore planting In tho spring. Thia practice means more than all else to the Southern fanner, since it fur nishes a foundation for relatively all else, when vetch and clover aro prop erly Inoculated and supplied with a sufficiency of phosphorus and potas sium -"Acid and Potash." DIVERSIFICATION AND ROTA TION OF CHOI'S with winter cover crops of vetch, clover and grain on all open lands. The cover crop is the most important pail of any rotation, provided ibo legumes aro properly inoculated and supplied with tho necessary mineral fertilizers - PHOSPHORIC ACID AND POTASH. Fourth S.ep. First Result. Second Kel.nil . Third Ites-ult. Fourth Result. ANIMAL INDUSTRY. The production of hoes, sheep, cat tle, horses, etc., should be gradually increased as the practices above fur nish sufficient (dieap feeds on tho resulting fertile soil. ENRICH TI IE SOIL TO FF FD ANIMALS, rather than FEED ANIMALS TO ENRICH THF SOIL, should be our policy. li la h ca * ECONOMIC PRODUCTION with nature's nitrogen from the air instead of expensive production, ?is we now have it, with high-priced ammonia od fertilizers. AGRICULTURAL PROSPERITY instead of soil robbery such as ex ists ?it present. MERCANTILE AND COMMERCIAL PROSPERITY instead of a "scramble" for the rela tively small volume of business of to-day. CIVIC PROSPERITY with something to tax, and a con stituency who will demand taxation instead of fighting it as at present. Prosperity demands good things (In the country as well as else 'here) and it is usually willing to pay for them. OUR "ROBBERY SYSTEM" AND "SOIL BUILDING SYSTEM" BRIEFLY COMPARED. (See Fig. 1.) ROBBER CROPS: Wheat, rye. oats. corn, cotton, sorghum, sweet and Irish potatoes in fact all non-leguminous plants take their nitrogen from tho soil aloro. SOIL BUILDING CHOI'S: Peas, beans, vetches, clovers briefly, all leguminous plants, especially when planted <>n poor soil, take probabiy at least one-half to three-fourths of their nitrogen from the air, the amounts depending upon the poorness of the soil and the supply of phosphoric acid and potash, ?ill else being equal. South Carolina, with robber crops, In lilli, removed from tho soil In fruit, roots and stalk growth, approximately $69,000, 000 in plant food-phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen. With our robbery crop system, we practically returned only about 000,una in commercial fertilizers, apparently leaving $40, 000,Otu? deficit. Of course, considerable plant food should have been, and was returned when the stalk growth was turned under; but even at that, then- was a large overdraft In available fertility made upon the Boll. If we had been farming a two-year or three year rotation, with winter cover crops, such as vetch and clover, turned in the spring, instead of having a ruinous overdraft, we should have had $30.000,000. approximately, "ca: h hillanco" In our bank of fertility ,he soil. THE RATE OF ROBBERY. For each unit of tho following robbery crops we remove fer tility in root, stalk and grain, as approximately Indicated below: Corn.$.48 per Hu. Wheat . !.63 per Bu. Oats.32 per Bu. Lint Cotton .045 per lb. Sweet Potatoes .045 per Bu. Irish Potatoes.035 per Bu. When all growth, except grain, or fruit, is turned in the fall, this fertility cost of production ls reduced to the following: forn .$.3:? per L.t. Wheat .. .3:1 i>or Bu. ??ts . ... .Kir, per Bu. Lint Cotton.*.0ir?8perlb. when seed are sold, and only 45 cents per 500-pound bale when seed are fed, or used as a fertilizer, assuming seed to be fed in form of meal gotten In exchange for seed. TUB HATE OE REBUILDING. The following soil building crops deposit approximately the amounis indicated in the two columns. The left hand column represents the amount of fertility returned to the soil when the entire plant ls turned. The right hand column shows the amount of fertility deposited when these crops are cut off, as hay, and sold: Approximate value of fertility desposltod,i>er Approxmato value of fertility de dry ton of growth, i>oslted in root?, per dry ton of when turned. hay, when hay ls cut and sold. $ 8.30.Cow Peas.$ .50, about 6 p.c. of whole growth. 12.00.Burr Clover ... 1.30, about ll p. ?. of whole growth. 15.50.Vetch. 1.70, about 11 p.c. of whole growth. 11.25.Crimson Clover .08, about 6 p.o. of~whole growth. 11.90.Red Clover ... 3.80, about 32 p.c. of whole growth. 8.3".Soy Beans.54, about 6.6 p.c. of whole growth. (E~\ ' .. es based on nitrogen at 20 cents per pound, and phos phorous and potassium at 5 cents each per pound.) 1< ls apparent what becomes of our fertility when we sell hay, as indicated in the right hand column, by the small volume of fertility (principally nitrogen), left in the soil. The "other follow" gets it. On poor land, the humus added by turning the entire growth is probably worth as much as the fertility thus returned to the soil. If so, the left hand column would read as follows: Cow peas, $1G.G0; burr clover, $24.00; vetch, $31.00; crim son clover, $22.50; red clover, $23.80; soy beans, $16.66. lt is thus seen that only a small percentage of the fertility in legumi nous crops is under the ground, the general belief of the farmer to the contrary notwithstanding. Of course, the stubble left varies In amount as the mowing is made high or low, and each farmer can roughly estimate as to how much to add to the right hand column when taking an inventory of his soil fertility. FIRST STEP. DEEP FALL PLOWING, BETTER TERRACING AND DRAIN AGE, BETTER SEED BED, BETTER SEED, AND MORE FREQUENT SHALLOW CULTIVATION. (See Fig. 1.) The above principles contained In "First Step" (Fig. 1) are so well understood and practic ed by the best tanners, both white and black, that nothing probably, could stop this practice In some communities of South Carolina. The practice of these principles will always be necessary for the best farming, but if this first step is all that we propose doing, it would be better for us as far mers, had w i never been born. These principles ALONE consti tute SOIL ROBBERY, and the resulting failure of the farmer and of all allied and dependent interests. The greatest need in South Carolina agriculture is humus, (decayed vegetable matter) for development of friendly soil bac teria, for airing the soi', for prevention of washing and leaching, for retaining sufficient moisture to enable plants to continue feed ing during drought, for quick drainage of root-feeding areas in wet weather, for making available, on clay soils, ample potash, and for treoting crude, ground phosphate rock in the soil (in stead of in Mle manufacturing establishment), at about one fourth the present cost for phosphorous as now purchased in the form of phosphoric acid. We must, therefore, turn to the prac tice represented in "Second Step," Fig. 1. SECOND STEP. WINTER COVER CROPS.-(See Fig. 1.) If properly Inoculate' and sown on well-drained land, vetch, cilmson and burr clovers will succeed from the mountains to the seashore of South Carolina, provided they are supplied with at least 200 pounds of sixteen per cent phosphoric acid on clay land, and the t...no amount, with an additional application of 100 pounds of kalnit, of 25 pounds muriate of potash, on sandy soil, lier acre. If soil contains acidity, use lime at the rate of at least one thousand pounds of the burnt, or a ton of grour.d "lime stone per acre. These plant? have different inoculating bacteria? To inoculate vetch, use soil where vetch or English (Canada field ) peas have grown vigorously for two years. Sow September ?st to October 15, above Columbia; below, sow until Novem ber 1st. To Inoculate crimson clover, use soil where crimson, red or little white clover has succeeded for two years. Above Columbia, sow September 15 to October 15. E?low Columbia, sow until November 1. Burr clover carries Its own inoculation, if sown in the burr, but the best results the first year require aodltlonal Inoculation. Use soil where burr clover has succeeded for two years. Above Columbia, sow September 1 to October l?. Relow, probably as lato as November 1. Vetch will bear deeper covering, but does not require it. Cleaned clover seed require only about % Inch covering. Burr clover In the burr should be sown on freshly plowed land with out covering. Sow burrs only if possible. (Ask Clemson College for information on how to save seed of these crops.) In using soil for inoculating these plants, best results will be secured by sowing broadcast 500 pounds or more per acre, and immediately incorporating it with the soil on which it ls sown. Otherwise, the light and heat will destroy the bacteria. "Farmo Germ" and Government (free) bacteria will give fair resulta if used very carefully on good land. It doesn't Inoculate so well on very poor land. For cover crops or for hay always sow rye or some grain with these legumes, as both crops will grow together more per acre than either alone; and too, If one should fail, you have the other. Besides, grain holds up these crops and facilitates cutting when used for hay. Remember, that liquid bacteria (as well as Inoculated soil) should be Immediately incorporated with the soil on which it is sown. Sow 15 pounds crimson clover per acre; 20 pounds hairy vetch pc; acre, and. 20 pounds burr dover in the rough, or 15 i .ou-ids clean seed per acre, when sown with grain. When sown alone, sow 5 pounds of cleaned seed per acre additional. Vetch, like cow ;*oas, will fetand moro seed-probably 30 to 4 0 pounds. Or."j land Is well Inoculated, it is Inoculated for all time, pro vided these legumes are kept as a part of our system of rotation. These winier cover crops, when turned on poor land, mean more to Southern farmers than any other principle lu modern agricul ture. This practico is tho foundation stone of real, economic soil building, provided wt keep these crops well supplied with phosphoric acid and potash. They will double yields on poor lands in two to three years If properly handled. The turning of theso winter legume crops is a cheaper and more rapid method of nitrogen supply than cattle feeding or anything else known to modern science. Four fifths of the Atmosphere is nitrogen-tho most costly ingredient we buy, and we can obtain enough through turning vetch and clover to produce paying crops, and increase tlie fertility of our soils rapidly from year to year. Besides, wlhen we shall have filled the soil with humus (decayed vegeta ble matter) we shall force clay hinds to give ni? ample potash. We then can also use crude ground phosphate rock containing about twice ns much phosphorous as the treated product, and at about half tho present price, thus getting our supply of phos phoric acid at one-fourth tao preseni cost, 'i hinK or ttl Nitrogen tree, potash free, and phosphorous at one-fourth the present price. Natuio is anxious to li ol p ns, and we act "No." Whereas, by ai m pie co-operation with nature, all good things would accrue to the farmer and to those who are do|>endent upon his production. Don't forget that the winter cover crop of vetch and clover is the agency which brings these blessings In greatest abundance, In the len?*, time, and at least cost. * Some ono has said, "Humus first, then nitrogen." Why not both humus and nitrogen together, by thc use of peas and beans In summer, and vetch and the clovers in winter. TH HU) STEP. DIVERSIFICATION AND ROTATION. Diversification and rotation has always been regarded as good i: -actice which will double yields within eight to ten years. This practice combined with winter cover crops, as outlined in "Second Step," 'Fig. 1) will double yields in two to three years or less time if properly handled, and will establish a firm basis for ani mal Industry. No one-crop system has ever succeeded in any similar coun try. lt means soil robbery, unless it be in a case like this: Cot ton, for example, followed by grain and vetch and clover, and this cover crop turned each spring Just before late planting; in which case the yield has been known to quadruple in four years with the same cost each year for fertilizers. Even this is not best, however, for the land or the country; for it fails to give maxi mum yields and it 'produces one article of consumption out of proportion to others. The law of supply and demand, therefore, is compelled sooner or later, to levy its penalty, and as the farmer suffers, all allied and dependent isterests suffer. Th? following figures, 2 and 3, represent probably the best practice for South Carolina In diversification and rotation. Fig. 2. THREE-YEAR ROTATION. rs u el .2 si ? fi Cotton. Com. Grain. Winter cover crop Peas, or peanuts Summer cover of of rye, vetch or and peas bei ween peas and winter clover. rows. cover of rye and vetch or clover. Corn. I ?rain. Cotton. Peas, or peanuts Summer cover -winter cover crop and peas, between crop of peas and ol- rvo aml vetcn rows. i winter cover ol' or clover. rye ami vetch or, clover. ti rain. Summer cover crop of peas and winter cover of rye and vetch or dov er. Cotton. rom. Winter cover erop;i>t,a8i or peanuts Of rye and vetch ann pea8i between or clover. rows. Fig. :t. S s? TWO-YEAR ROTATION. Cotton. Winter cover crop of ry? and vetch or clover. Crain. Summer cov er of peas, and winter cover of rye and vetch or clover. Corn. Peas or pea nuts and peas, be tween rows, and winter cover of ryo and vetch or clover. Com. Peas or pea nuts peas tween and cover a n (1 he ro ws, winter of ryo Grain. Stun mer cov er of |>eas, 'and winter 'cover of rye and vetch or clover. and vetch or clover. Cotton. Winter cover crop of ry? and vetch or clover. FOURTH STEP. ANIMAL INDUSTRY.-(See Fig. 1.) Animal industry will probably always be a part of farm econ omy-an important part If lt ls introduced as c fourth step in our development of principles and practice; for we shall then have ample food In the proi>er proportions and at sufftcicntl> low cost for the necessary feeding of live stock. Ry sowing and turning legumes, more and cheaper fertility can be obtained; besides, In rebuilding poor soils, it will be accompanied by an adequate humus supply. Stable manure contains only about five hundred pounds of humus per ton, which, oil poor soil, ls as much out of proportion probably as a pound of hay to ten ears of corn would be for a horse feed. The manure falls to give maximum yields for lack of humus to retain sufficient moisture to enable plants to feed during drought. We should use all the manure we possibly can get at the proper cost, but at tho same time we should get better results from it by using the winter cover crop in connection with it. Land can be enriched faster and cheaper by putting on win ter cover crops of grain and vetch or clover, (apply ing always sufficient phosphoric acid and potash, which can be obtained from the mines cheaper than from the animal as the only source.) In September and October and double disking and turning them In spring until the land will produce paying crops. Then, and not until then, should live stock industry be under taken to any considerable extent. Re it remembered, however, that when wo have completed Steps 2 and 3, (Fig. 1) we shall of necessity go Into the raising of live stock. These three steps, cover crops, rotation and animal industry, combined with "First Step," wiil constitute the acme of perfection In soil building and lay a firm foundation for farm economics in Its highest form of development. In our practice we must learn tho difference between the soil robber crops and the soil building crops, as au aid to our most rapid development; for, w? must farm at even a better profit than we have been doing while we at the sam? time rebuild th? waste places. We must learn what to sell and what to buy; what to feed and what to turn under as soil builders. For instance, the man who sells butter and lint cotton, sells only 36 cents In i'ertUlty for each ton of butter, and 4 5 cents in fertility for each 500-pound halo of cotton. No man would think of feeding or turning either of these, but there are many who sell pea hay and cotton seed, thereby selling great quantities of their soil fertility to the "other fellow." Cotton seed aro worth about $7.50 as a fertilizer for each five hundred pound bale produced. Yet. we c\n at present (1913) exchange them for cotton seed meal worth more than twice as much for feed or fertilizer. The cotton stalks on which a 500-pound bale of cotton has grown arc worth about $ 1 2 as fertilizer, which should be turned In the fall or winter if possible. Rriefly, the man who farms with his head has facilities for success, whereas the man who simply follows his nose, his horso and present day robbery methods, will soon "make a suc cess at failure." RESULTS 1, 2, il AND 4.-(Seo Fig. I.) Lack of space forbids ti full discussion of the four natural results indicated In Fig. 1, which would follow such a practice as we have outlined. Suffice it to say, these results are the re wards of logical and faithful co-operation with nat tire, who ls our best friend if allowed to perform her perfect work. "The face of the earth will renew itself," if we co-operate instead of hindering. HOW THE COUNTRY SCHOOL CAN CO-OPERATE. Plant on or near the school grounds a plot of vetch and clover, securing tho services of the County Farm Demonstration Agent, who will gladly show how to inoculate these crops, how to sow them, and he will talk on the Importance of Inoculation and growth of such plants. All this can be dono In September or October, when the agent visits the school to organize and instruct the member? of the Roys' Corn Club. Tho whole school will soon become Interested In these valuablo soil building plants, and their us? will soon be common in tho school community, rebuild ing tho soil and increasing the production of the farms in the community-all resulting in agricultural prosperity which usually demands as good things for th? country as for tho town, and for which prosperous farmers usually are willing to pay. Under such conditions tho school soon becomes a center for general In formation and uplift of all Interests of tho community through co-operation. This is the ultimate end which ls sought by the Farnaors' Co-Operativ? Demonstration Work of Clemson College and tho United States Department of Agriculture, which aro working In Joint co-operation for the uplift and development of the thousands who will not or cannot bo developed otherwise.