Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-08-21
farm and AunssholG.
Grass as q Renoratcir Of the scIl.

THE age has not yet developed one of its
greatest benefits; but II Is fast approach.
ing H. namely, the benefit of grass, both as
\ forage plant, and as renovator Of the
soil. We have twofold benefit here
and each Is important II Is this, more
than anything else, that improves our soil
Dairying end the use of clover do this. SO
great is this advantage that II Is fast be.
coming universal, 20 far at least as Il Is
practicable Diaries are being multiplied,
and rapidly, not only from the benefit
which results from their product--which
is equal, perhaps, to that Of grain, and
superior in many locallties--but for the
effect upon the soil this Is never unccr-
tain, but may be relied upon at all times.
And II is the right kind of improvement;
ii is what the soil has grown, and will
grow again; and Il Is readily converted
into plant food; q season will do Il ciiec
tually--half season will prepare 1t (tle
roots) for use. How readily we change n
sod for the reception of seed in the fall.
IT Is but simply blowing, and than wait
ing but a few months and the work is
done, the soil is improved. There has
been no saving of manure, no drawing I,
no spreading etc. All is in the soil
already, and needs but attention as soil
We thus readily and in the easiest manner
improve and keepup our land. For many
years continued land with profit mean.
while) the improvement Is almost mirncu.
lous, and most delightful TO witness And
we may grow our grasses as strong as we
please; use what manure we please. II
will but thicken the sod add fertility,
both in the manure and in the sod, so that
according 10 the benefit land not the loss)
of the one will be the Improvement Of the
other. This is the beauty of the opera.
ton, getting first the good, and then the
improvement, n good also, and In proper
tion to the first. A very heavy, old sod,
that has received more or less manure, is
perhaps unexcelled for most crops-per-
haps for all crops--for we have never seen
any i'll effects, but only good, from the use
of the sod. II is particularly grateful to
fruit trees, the smaller fruits, grapevines,
etc, and ranks with leaf.mould, chip.
manure, weddings OF the garden, etc. For
corn we think there Is no manure equal to
1t in a good season. We think SO be-
cause we have seen it, Now, rank ma
nurc, strong manure of any kind will
benefit corn corn Is n strong feeder But
still sod is the relinnce--in the old set
tied portions of the country practiced
largely. 1t is curious that vegetable
onaceous-manure should have such an
influence--an influence great in proper
tion TO what II seems to possess. Thus a
few leaves have perceptible effect upon
the grapevine. A good coat of leaves ap'
piled in the fall-covered slightly with
soil-will give yield the ensuing season
that can hardly be credited 10 the leaves
alone. Yet such is the fact. Let vegeta
BILE manure be eapplied to the Wilson straw
berry, and similar effect will take place.
Now, a sod has depth, and therefore guam
tity and richness. There Is much more of
il than of the thickest coat of manure we
apply 1t would pay to raise sod, aside
from its benefit as grass, merely to en-
rich. II is hence that sod is becoming 50
general But sod should be treated prop
erly. You can bury 1t too deeply For
grain or for grass no one would turn it in
deep, but plow shallow, just turning the
sward WELL with some mellow soil to cover
the roots. This will keep the richness at
the top where IL Is wanted For corn,
there is deeper furrow; the sod Is put
where the roots of the corn, which cX.
tend downward, will appropriate il, and
at the time when it Is well iermented, the
fermenting process heating the soil, and
extending its effect upward toward the
roots as If to invite them. They soon
reach this bed of rotted vegetation this
when sod is plowed in the spring. rs is
the most successful practice, For fruit
trees sod has a high reputation--and IL
deserves it, Here it may be put in as far
as the plow win admit or may be worked
through the soil; either will do, only let
there be stiff, old sod Sod loosens the
soil, mcllows it, 1t is Just the reverse of
clogging and compacting. The long tap
root of clover will loosen; and roots of the
grasses win do the same, the one above
the other below and above. Hence one
advantage of using the two in connection,
practice universal in New York and
other places II on such SOIL thoroughly
penetrated with roots, and for years, with
additions of top-dressings, and coat of
rich, fermenting manures added, as is
sometimes done, the greatest results are
effected. The soil is thoroughly mellow
If drained, either artihcially or other.
wise-well enriched with the right kind
of pabulum, and will grow anything.
Such soils are the soils that are needed;
and we can make them, and with profit in
the making,-JourHdl IF AgrioUIttrO.