The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-21
A8ritnltnral.
Flowing in Green Crops.

This subject has been before fully treat
ed, but in answer to b. s.. of Fairfield,
in relation to the plowing in of green
corn, and its effects on the soil, we would
state that this, i'll common with all other
green crops, deposits in the surface-soil
by its decay, two classes of substances :;
the chief bulk is organic matter obtained
from the atmosphere, and the green crop
which will produce the greatest number
OF tons to the acre, will secure the largest
amount of this class of material, the chief
constituent of which is carbon, distracted
from the carbonic acid gas pcrvaGing the
atmosphere and arising from the decay of
former vegetation. The next class of sub
stances are those usually denominated in
organic, and which often exist plcntifully
i'll the sub-soil; these are received bv the
roots of plants and 90 to form parts of
their tops thus Lime, Soda, Potash,
Magnesia, Phosphoric Acid, Sulphuric
Acid, Clorine, &c, are all taken up by
the roots of plants, and when green crops
are pIowed under, these are deposited in
the surtace-soiI, and in proper condition,
and suitable relative proportions for the
use of crops which arc to follow. When
the object to be attained by the plowing
in of green crops is to increase the
amount of organic matter in the surface
soil, then clover, or buckwhcat, or peas
haulm, may be used with great advan-
tagc, as these plants receive very large
proportion of their constituents from the
atmosphere. When the object is to Gle
vatc the Inorganic constituents, of the sub
soil and place then: in the surtace-soil.
then plants should be selected, the
the roots of which pass down to the prca-
test depth, and the composition of which
necessarily contains large proportions of
inorganic matter. Luccmc Alfalfa, Clo-
yer and Indian Corn, are the green crops
for this peculiar property, and those should
be selected most su table to the soil ntcn-
dcd to be improved. Many. of the root
crops may be used with advantage as a
green crop for blowing in: thus the Strap
leavcd Red Top Turnp, if sown after
summer crops are taken from the ground,
will make partial growth before winter,
and will continue to grow later than most
other crops. They are not killed bv
winter frosts, and will resume their growth
early in the spring, continuing with great
rapidity up to the time the farmer NAV
be ready to plough his ground. Their
power of growth may be caused to
cease by the application of heavy roller
crushing their crowns, and they may be
plowed under, supplying to the surface
son, all those inorganic constituents of the
sub-soil which the turnip is capable of
taking up. Its amount of organic mat
terlS always large, while its rapid decay,
when placed beneath the surfaces ofthc soil,
will assist early in vegetation of all kinds.
Green crops, as manurcS, can only
be used with propricty when intended to
increase the organic matter Of the soil in
localities where peat, muck, river mud,
leaves from the woods, and other cheap
organic materials cannot readily be pro-
cured; for where these abound, but few
loads, properly prepared, will furnish Or
ganic matter to the soil more cheaplv
and in larger quantities, than would re-
suit from plowing in of the heaviest green
crops. Those who are curious on this
subject, will find more minute accounts
OF the acton of green crops and their rel
ative values with each other, in our for
mer volumes.
When the object is to elevate the inor-
ganic matter Of the sub-soil, green crops
become necessary in localities where the
required inorganic constituents can be
cheaply added; wherever they abound
in any of the cheap forms, they may be
added to the surfacc-soils with more econ
omy than the bringing up of similar in
gredient, from the sub-soiI by deeper dis
Integration, to be taken up by saIcablc
crops, is always judicious, and the use of
green crops as manures is seldom called
for, where soils have been treated with a
strict view to their chemical composition
Wo"king Farmer.
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