Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1909 — Virgin Soil. [ARTICLE]

Virgin Soil.

We often hear people speak of virgin soil as if that kind of a soil were superior to any other. To the soil robber it may be superior, because his whole process of farming consists in taking out of the soil as much of its fertility as possible and then passing on to another lot of virgin soil, says the Farmer’s Review. But as a matter of fact much of the virgin soil is very undesirable till it has been worked for some years, in which time the top soil will be turned under and furnish the lower layers of soli with some humus. The turning up of the soil lets the air into it, and this makes it possible for the bacteria to begin work. The work of tho bacteria is to change mineral matter into a form that can be used by the plants. Some virgin soil, such as the prairie soil, is already in a high state of adaptability, and this it is that has made the prairie states such prizes for the men that knew nothing more about soils than to take out of them all the plant food they could get. A soil that has been properly handled for any number of years 1b better than virgin soil, for it has had the wildness taken out of it by the plow and by cultivation, by the air and sunlight, and has hod Increased energy put into it by the microscopic life that has been given a chance to develop under the best of conditions. Do not put off the little task of cleaning out the weeds between the rows and in the fence corners, whether it be a field, a garden, a little grass plot or a walk or driveway. Those left will go to seed and as a stitch in time saves nine, so one year’s seeding makes seven years' weeding. A well matched team is a pleasure to handle add creates prtde in the farm and brings respect from ail who gee them. It will sell for a good price and advertises the farm ip a desirable manner. The effort required to obtain a well matched team will be well paiu for.