Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-07-20
Aoritulturol.
From the Germantown Telegraph.
Turning In Green Crops.

To increase continually, the fertility OF our
arabls lands, should ever be regarded by me
farmer. as an object Of the greatest consequence
Bg adopting improved systems OF hus6andry'
and taking care TO manure highly, or, IN other
words, 10 rslurn somewhat more 10 the soil man
i extracted BY the crop, this is a task oi com
para.iyely easy accomplishment, and the farmer
who carefully practiees upon this principle will
& a mat while he has actually larger and better
crops, his fields are also, at the same ume De-
coming richer in the principles essential 70
healthy vegetation, and to a vegetable llie' One
Of the most iudicious and economical meihoos
Of euriching emasculated or worn out he'ds'
70 turn in green crops-nol care'essy' anu WIN
out reference TO the character OF the vegetable
matter turned under, but with judgment ana dis'
elimination. The nature Of the soil should DO
considered, and the adaptedness OF the crop to
supply Us deficiencies, critically examned'-a'
ms.,er requiring skill, and good degree oil
practical experience to render il ethcien' ana
productive Of The end desired.
The following extract from DR.. DANAs
ssHuek Manual" contains some important sug'
esstions in relation to this matter, aud ! there.
fore present il, hoping that every reader Will
carefully ponder its ruth, and, If tdrm'r'
apply them daily in his Prac'lce;-
"Turning 10 green crops, Says DIR. Dana' us
only returning to the soil the salts, sllca'es and
esins, which the plant had drawn from II, TO-
Re,her with all the organic matter the plant IT,
self has elaborated, from oxygen and hydrogen
carbon and nitrogen, wherever derived II has
decomposed. during the short period OF lis
Growth, more silcatss and salts than the all
ever could effect during The same period, which
being turned in, restore to the soil from when
thew grew, salts and silicates in a new form
whose action on vegetation islike that oiaIkaas
But powerful as is the action oi green crops !ur
ned in, il is the experience OF some praclca
men, that one crop allowed to perfect i'seli' an'
then die where it grew, and then turned in dry
issuoerior to three turned in green. The who'll
result is explained by the fact that dryP anIs CIV
more qeins than green. Green plants lermenl,
drv plants decay. large portion escapes II
fermentation as gas; and more volatile product
era formed than during decay. The one is
ouek consuming fire, the other slow smoud
erine ember, giving of, during all its process
gases which feed plants, and decompose 1he sll
icates Of the soil"
Every practical agriculIurls1 who has mad
use of his head in the management oil his lands
mus, he fully aware, however, that many crop
nrodnce much more beneficial results whe
,n,ned IN green. This, indeed, is tine fact j
,eerence 10 buckwheat, clover, and the culmi
eyon, class of plants generally. The first nam
al ayicle. f permitted TO stand I'LL the grain be
comes fully ripe, and the haulm dry, will be d
ninisb,,d lour.flhs in bulk, and, doubt no
ps.rlv ns much in value for all possible purpC
nes Of Vegetable enrichment and this suppos
,ion supears indeed, 10 be fully sustained an
demonstrated bv the experience Of pracIc'
farmers everywhere.
The efficacy Of silicates, in producing lertlllt
is thus lucidy explained by the author Obov
quoted: =.
.1,o,es of the soil is unlimited. An improve
agriculture must depend on the skill with whc
this power is brought into action. 1t can D
done only by the conjunction Of salts, gone an
plants. Barren sands are worthless; peat 90
i Iinle better; but practical Illustration Of u
principles which have been maintained, is alto
dad by every sandy knoll, made fertile by sprea
inc swamp muck upon it. This is giving geiI
90 siIica,ps. The very act of exposure Of III
awamp muck, has caused an evolution oi ca
bouic acid Gas; that decompOses the scales
potash in The sand; that potash converts me 4
soluble into soluble manure, and lol CROP
The growing crop adds its power 10 geine,
nil tho long series Of experiments after VI
VoGHr, in Germany, are TO be believed, co
6rmed as they are by repeated experiments
our own agriculurists,i !. is not TO be doubted u
every inch Of sand knoll, on every farm, may
changed into soil, in thirteen years, OF hi
,ha. number ofinches ofgood mould"
By turning in occasionally, green crop
either Of the vegetables above named the 81
will be so much invigoraIed as to render the CT
tiyation of /. much more profitable for sor
wears; and as crops for this purpose can be
iec,ed which, by their quick growth, obyate /
necessity of a fallow, the cost Of ameliorati
the land is comparatively slight, indeed so sg
under most circumstances, as 10 be scarcely w
thy Of being taken into account.
A PRACTICAL FARMER