The winter 1999 issue of Small Farmers Journal had some interesting quotes and articles. Lots of stuff on soils and phosphorus. Basically it said the phosphorus question is complicated and soil tests do not tell the whole story. Indicator plants are often more reliable than soil tests. Buckwheat is a good way to mine the lower depths for phosphorus. It also goes into fungi and suggests that cover crops have a role in promoting fungi and keeping it active. A quote: When land is really "down and out" artificals will do nothing to restore it to life. Only life itself which is humus, can come to the rescue. -- Friend Sykes 1947 The introduction points out that most of the material for this issue is taken from old articles going back many years to the time small farmers were the backbone of agriculture. Today these articles are still valid and their criticisms of chemical farming still very relevant. The fact that most areas of agriculture ignore these writings is not due to accuracy or truth content. The struggle continues today and the issues have not changed. Looking back we see that chemical farming won the battle for farmers beliefs but has never delivered a sustainable path and may eventually lose the war. We should expect to see the chemical farmers incorporate some non-chemical techniques and claim this the "new" chemical path. Those who control the language control the cultural mind. jeff
