The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-11-14
GRASS AS A MANURE.

"GkASS 40 MANUkE,
In recent articles on the !. Manurial Re-
sources Of the Farm" we put grass-growing
in rotation with grain crops as the first grand
resources of the farmer for raising and keep
ing up Il .ility OF his soil. Having since
noted several facts bearing upon this subject,
which may tend further to illustrate and en-
force the importance Of attending to this
fact in husbandry--" that the growing Of
clover and the grasses lies at the foundation
Of all profitable farming" We note them for
our readers.
That on many of our natural wheat soils
good crops Of that grain have been grown
every three years. and even every other year
for many successive periods, is well known
fact. We end in the Rural New Korker. Of
July 81, a letter from p. Hathaway, Of Mil
ton, o., who. for twenty years, raised wheat
annually on one OF three fields, the wheat be.
ing seeded in spring to clover. dressed with
a bushel oi plaster per acre. pastured the
next season, and then sumner fallowed and
sowsd to wheat the third year. :" The depth
Of ploughing was uniform-what yoke Of
oxen aud span Of horses attached to a nun.
ber.A lden plough could accomplish" The
aversge yield Of wheat for the FIRST seven
years was twenty.six bushels per acre; near
the close Of the term, thirty six bushels, aud
nov, on the same land. he had wheat grow
ing which will yield from twenty-f five to
thirty bushels per acre, and this sown on
oat stubble with two ploughings. "fhe
midge," he adds. "for time was battling
pest, but now, when we escape its ravagss. the
land proves itself unimpaired in fertility"
While we would not advocate any severe
course Of cropping tending rapidly 10 exhaust
the soil. we would advise farmers TO grow all
the clover and grasses possible. if they would
keep their farms fertile and productive when
devoted to grain. As long as soil with the
aid Of bushel Of plaster per acre will grow
heavy crops OF clover, we need not fear but
il will grow grain crops at suitable intervals
without further application Of manure. We
may lind il most profitable to feed the grass
grown TO stock. taking the manure they sup
ply meanwhile in return st'li this would
only be grass in another and (for this pur.
pose perhaps better form. with some add. !
tional elements gained from the animal or.
ganism through which IL has passed. But
we did not intend 20 attempt any discussion
of this branch Of the subject.
Among the question, proposed to every
competitor for farm premium by our State
Agricultural Society, is this: "What do you
consider the best nude nf improving the soil
on your farm 7" with reference 10 the differ.
rnt kinds Of soil, clay, sand or gravel; and
Il is curious TO observe how uniform have
been the answers received. Ole In the
Transactions of '5sl ploushs greensward IN.
der in the spring for csrn; /" likes TO have
coat Of grass on the turf to turn UNDER" some
apply manure during the course Of cropping
befnre again seeding the grass. Another says:
!" My mode Of increasing the productis BY
the use Of plaster lsown on clayer;) on The
home farm | also use barn-yard manure"
Another top dresses his meadows. 10 increase
the growth Of grass with portion Of his stock
manure, while another puts all his manure on
his newly seeded grass lands. These are
mostly dairy farmers. who yet grot con.
siderable share ol grain lor home cnnsump-
tiOn.
Turaing more particularly to the grain
growing farms, we still ind grass, and clover
particularly, the basis ~ their Improvement
!, A clover Law of two nr three years turned
under il May forcorn, o. 10 August ior whest." /"
is the general rule, applying manure, u Al all.
to the corn crop before ploughing. Another
takes care TO return TO grass belure his soil
is over cropped with grain. depending upon
the former power TO produce the latter, aud
we may say that il is dependence not ike
" TO be misplaced. Il We give the grass crop
inc attention which il merits both from it,
intrinsic value and The place which Il must
hold in all self sustaining, iarm improving
systems of agriculture.
/" When we manure our meadows plent. /
fully" says Thaer's Principles Of .fgrield. /
iHe, we are quite sure OF sufficient sup. /
ply Tor our arabic land" aud when We hnd
a farm under management rendering Il eapa. +
bic Of producing good crops Of grass for pas.
turage or moving. as said before, we may
rest assured that il il really fertile, and may
easily be continued 80. A limited supply Of
manure. we think, would 70 farther itappli.
cd early in the fall tin fine siate) on swar,
land than in any other way. II would tend
largely TO thicken the turf by increasing the
growth OF roots aud leaves beyond what
would otherwise take place through the au.
tumn and winter. as we'll as giving Il an
earlier start in spring-benefting, 10 TACT,
both as protection and nourishment. ltsyal.
ue would be enhanced BY this result, and
the turf, when ploughed under. would furnish
rich msnuring for any desired crop. Deep
ploughing, draining. irrigation, any means 70
promote gtass growing. will give US at the
same time profitable gain farms on all soils
suitable 10 lis production. as. indeed, to one
kind or another, most svil. are.
o1gairy Gentleman.