Nature’s secrets, to a great extent, have been revealed, but if the practical man be not acquainted with the things revealed, to what avail their revelations? Until teacher and practical farmer are congenial in the full sense of the word, the power of the soil will remain unknown.
Plants drink and do not eat: therefore, Nature, although robbed by man of many methods, and now needing man’s assistance, still provides means of converting insoluble elements into drinkable or water-soluble foods. All insoluble foods brought to the surface by plowing are decomposed by freezes, frosts and snows, and are acted upon by carbonic acid, other acids, oxygen and carbonate of lime. Again, if the soil be properly conditioned rains will carry the acids, oxygen and lime down below the surface to accomplish the same end. After the end is accomplished, the soluble foods are brought back to the plants by capillary attraction. Humus should be in the soil to hold the moisture or foods coming from above and below.
System breeds success, neglected details, failure.
Farming needs brains as well as brawn; furthermore, it offers far greater opportunities for brains than do the overcrowded professions of the cities.
Buy for cash, and you will get more and need less.