The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-12-10
agricultural.
Flowing Under Vegetable Matter.

| That chemical change which vegetable
matters experience when plowed under, may
! well elicit the attention Of scientific agricu-
turlsts, for it appears never to have been
satisfactorily explained. Much diversity Of
opinion among practical farmers has existed
for centuries in relation to the fertilzing
advantages derived from blowing under vcge
taulc m tiers some asserting that it coniers
more fertility to the soil than the best manure,
aud others attrlbuting to 1t the total failure of
| their crops.
1t appears to me that these contradictory
opinions can never be definitely settled until
science can demonstrate the true character Of
the decomposition to which they are subject
and The qualities of the product. From, the
few opportunities offered to my observation.
was induced to believe, from the appearance
of the residue Of this decomposition when
brought to the surface, and from the fact tina t
1t is destitute Of fcrtiizlng properties, that
vegetable matters when powcd under are
dccomposcd by chemical change similar to
that which they ale known 10 experience
upon the snrface but this opinion now
deem erroneous - because similar circuniS,an.
ces are indispensable tC generate similar
chemical changes Iii all subStanccs-th fore
ibis process cannot be eremacauss Won
| harr informs us that the Italians prefer the
fertlizing results obtained from blowing
under crop Of the white lupinc to the best
Danurc. hen practice is to sow the seed
If the upinc upon the stubbe after harvest.
and pillow under the succeeding fall. They
assert that by this method they impart the
utmost degree Of fertility of which the soil
is susceptible. The ability to make abundant
crops and at the same time to increase the
| fertility Of the SOIL without additional labor
or expense, | consider the perfection of agrl-
cultural science. Won Thacr was disposed
to attribute the ferlill2ing value o I the lupine
| to peculiar mucage which is conta med
! but tins olIoniOn Is certainly erroneous, for
similar fcrlIlizlrg results have been obtained
| by pOwing under luXurant crops of clover
and peas, and assert without fear of contra
dlctlon that the same fertility Hill be produced
by covering the surface closely, with any
substance whatever, for the same length OF
time therefore the lrrtlzlng value OF the
| iupinc cannot depend upon any peculiar
quality in the plant itself.
Inc agricultural chemists assert that the
iclrlHlng qualities Of leguminous pants such
as. peas, clover. &C., are derived from the
atmosphere during their growth. This idea
Is purely thcorutic, because it cannot be
proved that the atmosphere contains any
iertllzing principle whatever, and practical
ial1neis know that although free circulation
Of alr is Indispensable TO vegetable life, yet
all cultivated plants require substantial food
! Most scientific writers, however, teach that
| the fyrillZ!ng results obtained from blowing
under vcgctaO ole matter is due to their dvcom-
| position, that is they are converted into
manure. From every experiment that has
| passed. under my observation am induced to
hrlere that this opinion is erroneous, that
The soil is not lertlllzcd by blowing under
vegetable matter OF any KIND prov lded they
hc llowed IN soil upon which they did not
| grow. 1t is a fact universally admitted that
all vegetable substances, if saturated with
| water or mixed with lime or ashes, are con
vcllrd mo manure when pIowed under: that
| they do not form manure under ordinary cir
cumStaucrs is to he attrbutcd to the fact that
they do not experience the only chemical
change which leaves a fertilizing residue.
namely, The profess Of putrriactlon. That
| they do not experience the process Of frrmeI.-
tatioa is plainly manifest, for this process
requires both heat and moisturc; and the
! product, an acid humus found only in
MARSHES is known to be pernicous to the
! growth oicntivattd plants. Therefore. ord.
MARTY. vegetable matters do not experience
the process Of fermentation. ! have arrived
a the conclusion that all vegetable substances
when pluwed under. and thus deprived of IL
contact OF air, are decompoSCd by peculiar
process unknown to science. r. 7. BALDWIN.
Amerlcan Farmer.