The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1869-07-16
GREEN MANuREs FOR POOR LANDS.

Perhaps r.othing IN the whole province
Of farming cngrosses SO much the atten-
ton of those interested, as the question
of preserving or increasing the fertility
of the. soil. ~
1t is not difficult to mako worn out
and barren land produce goods crops,
as enc we.sld suppose from a hasty view
of the innumerablc failures to be seen
all around. If the needful properties to
grow crops are not in the soil, It is vain
to SOW, and plant, without first putting
them there or if they are there, but
locked up, without first making the
necessary conditions to release them,
and give them vitality. Every obsery-
ing farmer knows that it is far easier TO-
produce grass than wheat, end q COM
mon remark among farmers is "if ] can
raise crop Of clover am sure can
raise wheat" One of the means of
raising land is to get it to produce clover,
aad plow it down when in full bloom
But clover contains large per centage
of potash, and in soils already album
dainty supplied with this, such as slate
and slate lands, it is better to mix the
clover with other grasses.
Farmers know that an old sod field
farmcd in corn, yields the largest crops,
and that the best crops of wheat arc
raised from it. Whys3 The field has
been left lying until different kinds of
grasses have grown up, each one gath
ering different substances from the at
mosphcrc, and carrying them down into
the soil through the roots, and enriching
it. Hence when a crop of corn or wheat
is planted all the substances for its
growth and perfect development have
been provided for its use.
BY the application Of lime on such
soil the decomposition of fibrous matter
in the soil is hastened, and they arc
converted into plant food. If too much
is applied, "a heavy growth of straw is
produced, and it will grow so rank as to
lodge and yield very little grain. BY
using smaller quantity of lime, SO as to
make healthy growth of straw, tho
heads will fill well and tho grain mature;
for il is found that when the straw does
not make an overgrowth the head gem
orally fills perfectly. The object to be
sought is to know what elements arc
needed in the soil and in what conditions,
to produce the crop we wish to grow
There is no doubt that if we should give
to the soil all the constituents of the
crop, each year, VIC could always count
with reasonable certainty on a large
yield. Wore tho constituent elements
of wheat inexhaustible in the soil, wo-
might SOW and reap, year after year.,
without diminution in the yield or Guall-
ty. On the contrary, they arc easily
exhausted, and unless supplied itis not
long uutil we can raise no crop at'all.
Wheat contains lime, soda and chic
rinc make common salt. The sowing Of
common salt on wheat fields must be adj
vantageous. 1t is believed to strength
en- the straw and make it hard, thus pre-
venting rust. Rust appears only on
straw of a soft, luxuriant growth, which
cracks open easily, leaving the juices to
ooze out and escape. The action OF the
hot sun and moisture upon this readily
produces rust. Especially is this tho
case with wheat grown in low soil where
the dampness is great.
The never failing quantity Of plant
food floating in the atmosphere is ever
available for promoting the growth and
of plants. In this availae-
biity there is marked difference be-
tween that in the air and the vegetable
nulriment locked up In tho soil. The
is sure to nourish growing
plants whenever the tender leaves open
their pores to take in the nourishmcntit
1t builds up the stem and
develops the various parts of the plant.
Not so with the roots of The plant. 1t
may send forth its rootlcts in every di-
rection, seeking food, and yet famish,
droop and die, because the vegetable
matter is not in an available condition
to promote its growth. As it is impos-
siblc for every farmer to get stable man
urc in sufficient quantity to enrich his
land, he must look to the green vegeta-
bic manure supplied by nature. 1t is
the principal source of manure on the
cdIIn, dilQ ts huClI IL HluhI OG bppitNu ~
the farmer if he would secure his own
greatest advancement. BY green man
ures is, Of course, meant vegetable
plowcd down.
Observing farmers arc well aware
that green manurcs fructify the soil, and
that it pays best to plow down clover,
mixed grasses, oats, buckwheat and
sowed corn. They should not fear to
lose a crop of hay, or miss a crop OF
oats, or rye, or buckwheat by so doing,
for the sacrifice of one crop viii enable
them to raise half a dozen crops with
profit. Every year green crops should
be pIowcd down, in the absence of abun-
dance Of barnyard manure. 1t will keep
up the fertility of the soil, as nothing
else viii, and enriches him who does II
as well as his Iand.-Eaperin'entGt f9r"'
JasaYiuA
pongstreet, Surveyor OF the
M u M CIV 15kleans. by the grace OF