Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1869-02-19
Wheat on Clover Ground.

| AOtO0oOi sOOtOn0Is III d ICCCuU puUe
lished valuable reports on this subject.
arrives at the conclusions which We epito-
mize below. They are the result of very
careful estimates and experiments, and
must command the attention of all inter
ested in wheat culture. Whatever may
be said Of his particular conclusions. there
can be no doubt Of the acceptance of the
general one in favor of clover, as furnish
ing the elements most needed for good
growth of wheat. t III
1. "A good crop of clover removes from
the soil more potash, phosphoric acid,
lime, and other matters which enter into
the composition of the ashes of our cult
vated crops. than any other crop usually
grown in this country CEngland)..s
2. There is fully three times as much
nitrogen in a crop of clover, as in the
average produce Of the grain and straw Of
wheat per acre.
8. Notwithstanding the large amount
of nitrogenous matter, and of ash consti-
tuents of plants. in the produce of an acre,
clover is an excellent preparatory crop for
wheat.
4. During the growth Of clover, large
amount of nitrogenoQs matter accumulates
in the soil.
5. This accumulation, which is great
est in the surface soil, is due to decaying
leaves dropped during the growth Of clo-
yer, and to an abundance of roots. con-
tanning, when dry, from Il to2 per cent.
of nitrogen.
8. The clover roots are stronger and
more numerous, and more leaves fall on
the ground when clover is grown for seed
than when it is mown for hay; in comse-
quence, more nitrogen Is left after clover
seed than after hay. aohich accounts for
'0heat yielding better crop after cloOer
seed than after hay.
7. The development of roots being
checked when the produce, in green con-
dition. is fed of by sheep. in all probabil-
|ity leaves still less nitrogenous matter in
the soil than when clover is allowed to get
ripper, and is mown for hay-thus, no
doubt, accounting for the observation
made by practical men, that. notwith-
standing the return of the produce in the
sheep excrements. wheat is generally
stronger, and yields better. after clover
mown for hay. than when the clover is
fed off green by sheep.
8. The nitrogenous matter in the clo-
ver-remains, on their gradual decay. are
finally transformed into nitrates. thus af-
fording a continuous source of food on
which cereal crops specially delight to
grow. 81" e ii fa
8. There is strong presumptivea evil
dence that the nitrogen which exists in
the air in the shape of ammonia and nitric
acid. and descends in these combinations.
with the rain which falls on the ground,
satisfies. under ordinary circumstances;
the requirements ofthe clover crop. This
crop causes a large accumulation of nitro
genous matters, which are gradually
changed in the soil into nitrates. The
atmosphere thus furnishes nitrogenous
food to the succeeding wheat Indirectly,
and. so to say, gratis. s iy
10. Glover. not only provides abun-
dance Of nitrogenous food, but deliver this
food in readily available form Gas nj
trates) more gradually and continuously, !,
with more certainty of good result. than
such food can be applied to the land in
the shape of nitrogenous spring top-dress-
ings. Hearth and Home. 3..t 3 sso4 3
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