The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-05-06
AGRICULTURE.
GREEN MANURES FOR POOR
LANDS.


It is not so difficult to make worn
out and barren land produce good crops;
as one would suppose from a hasty
= view Of the innumeratle failures to be
;seen ali around. If the needful pro-
perties to grow crops are no, in the soil,
it is in vain to SOW, and plant, without
first putting them there; or if they are
there, but locked up, without first ma
king the necessary conditions to release
them, and gi7e them vitality. Every
observing farmor knows that it is far
easier to produce grass than wheat and
"a common remark among farmers is "lf
/ can raise crop Of clover 1 am sure
I can raise wheat" One of the means
ofraising land is to get it to produce
clover and plow it down when in full
bloom. But clover contains large
percentage of potash, and soils already
abuudantly supplied with this, such as
slate and shale lands, it is better to mix
the clover with other grasses.
Farmers know that an old sod field
farmed IA corn, yields the largest crops,
and that the best crops of wheat are
raised from it. Why? The field Las
been left lying until different kinds Of
grasses have grown up, each one gath
ering different substances from the at
mosphere, and carrying them down into
the soil through the roots, and enrich
ingit. Hence when crop of corn or
wheat is planted all the substances ne
cessary for its growth and perfect de-
velopment have been provided for its
use.
By the application of lime on sach
soil the decomposition of 6bruus matter
in the soil is hastened, and they are
converted into plant food. If tco tnach
is applied, heavy growth of straw is
produced, and it will grow so rank as to
lodge aud yield very little gain. BY
using smaller quantity of lime, 80 as
to make healthy growth Of straw, the
heads will fill we'll and the grain mature;
for it is found that when the straw does
not make an overgrowth the head gen.
orally fills perfectly. The object to be
sought is to know what elements are
needed in the sell, aud in what condi-
lions, to produce the crop we wish to
grow. There is no doubt that If we
should, give to the soil oil the constitu-
ents Of the crop, each year, we could
always count with reasonable certainty
on large yield. Were constituent el-
ement of wheat inexhaustible in the
soil, we might SOW and reap, year after
year, without diminution 10 the yield
or quality. On the contrary they are
easily exhausted, and, unless supplied,
It is not long until We can raiso no crop
at all.
Wheat contains lime, soda aud chic:
rine. Soda and chlorine make common
salt. The sowing Of cotnmon salt oh
wheat fields must be advantageous. 1t
IS believed to strengthen the straw anu
make it hard, thus preventing rust
Rust appears only on straw of soft,
lu1uriaut growth, which. cracks open
easily, leaving the juices to oozc out and
escape. The action of the hot sun and
moisture upon this, readily produces
rust. Especially is this the case with
wheat grown in low soil where the
damppess is great.
The never failing quantity of plant
foad floating in the atmosphere is ever
available for promoting the growth and
Development of plants. In this availa'
bility there is marked difference be-
tween that In the air and the vegetable
nutriment locked up in the soil. The
atmosphere is sureito nourish growing
plants whenever the tender leaves open
their pores to take in the uourishmeu
1t furnishes. 1t builds UP the stem anc
developes the various parts of the plant
u It may send forth its rootlets in ever.
direction, 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
sible for every farmer to get stable ma
pure in sufficient quantity to enrich hi