Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-19
Agricultural
Renovatlng Sterile Soils.

In many parts Of the country soils are found
naturally 30 sterile, that il is difficult to grow even
a small crop Of any kind Of grain or grass When
there are no beds Of muck or peat within conye-
nient hauling distance, and 10 foreign manure is
used, it is tedious task to render such soil even
moderately productive. Still, it can often be done
with no other fertllzng material than the farm al
fords. Take for example, shallow, calcareous,
or silicous loan, in which there is little or no hu
mus or vegetable mold and which has never pro
duced much but weeds. Soils Of this description
can seldom be benefited by understanding because
the subsoil is usually so porous that the large
amount Of falling water in the spring and autumn
teaches through the soil In a short time. II there
10 surface water in certain places, OF course the
first step will be to render it dry by thorough
draining The next operation will be to obtain a
little mold, or humus, OF which such soils are des-
titute. Ii barn-yard manure, mellow earth from
the highways, or pond beds can be obtained, a
thin layer over the surface will enable farmer to
bring sterile soil into good state OF productive
ness in few years. Where nothing OF the kind
is at hand, proceed as follows:
Pow 10 autumn If possible, not more than SIX
inches deep and pillow again in the spring no deep
er than before as soon as the frost is out and II IS
sufficiently dry. The surface soil is superior to
that which is seven or eight inches below, even
where it is very sterilej and il is important to
keep the best on the surface AS soon as the
ground is sufficiently warm to plant Indian corn,
pillow again 10 narrow furrow Slices and SOW broad
cast or drill n three and half or four bushels OF
good grain per acre. 1t is better to drill in two
bushels per acre each way, than TO SOW il broad
cast, as it will be covered ola more uniform depth,
and will grow more uniformly. Now, SOW three
or four bushels OF gypsum per acre, and the more
wood ashes the better, even to one hundred bush
els per acre. If the work be well done, and the
soil unusually sterile, all that can be expected will
be a growth OF green corn, from enc to two feet
high. As soon as the tassels have appeared,
which will be in about seventy days. pillow 1t under,
SOW FIVE to ten bushels OF quick lime,ia and harrow
il in then drill in another four bushels of corn
per acre to pillow under just before frost. By th
means two coats of green manure will be ploweds
under which will furnish more humus, or vegeta-
BILE mold, than any other plants will supply IN one
season. The spring following, plow with narrow
furrow slices, as soon as the soil is dry but no
deeper than usual, SOW five or eight bushels Of
quick lime per acre. harrow it in, and drill IN one
bushel OF spring rye per acre. Then SOW eight
pounds Of Early Red Clover seed aud half bush
oil, or seven pounds, OF Orchard Grass seed per
acre. II the ground be at all lumpy, roll it before
sowing the grass seed. AS soon as the rye has
come up, SOW two or three bushels Of gypsum per
acre. The chief object Of the rye is to shade the
Young grass, should there be much hot weather.
As soon as the rye begins TO head, NOV it all oil
with grass scythes, foot or more high, letting 1t
remain where il falls. If the rye be allowed to
70 to seed it will exhaust the fertility of the sol.
Keep all stock of the grass that it may become
well rooted. Should it attain large growth by
autumn, it may be fed off in part, but in genera
1t Is best not to do 50.
The next spring SOW three or four bushels o
gypsum per acre, and all the wood ashes leaohet
or uneached that can be obtained, unless previous
ly applied. II the grass be grazed oil, 1t SHOULD
not be fed very close to the ground. 1t is bette
to NOV it, make hay, feed it to sheep or neat cat
tie, and return the manure as top.dresslng 10
two years. Then pillow the usual depth with
common pillow, following with the subsoi pillow
and plant Indian corn one season, SOW peas th
next, and feed out most or all the crops to swn'
sheep, or neat cattle, and make as much manur
as practicable 10 return TO the soil. The mex
seasou, if the soil be adapted to wheat, wints
VIII at may be sowed after peas, and the groun
stocked down in autumn with Timothy and Il
late kind Of Red Clover; the next spring, the
will be sufficient quantity of mold in the soil
commence system OF rotation Of crops. III
best soil should bekept near the surface. 1t vou
be bad management to pillow such soil deep vii
scommon plow, though the subsoil pillow may
very many instances be used TO advantage
.9m .7gneuHurist.