The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-09
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

sS-To any who will contribute an coca
sional article to this column-once a month
or ottener if 80 inclined-we will send q copy
of The Wing free.
For The Cecil Whir
Green MaDures.
First, what is manure?
Every species of matter capable of pro-
considered manure. On examining the
constituents of vegetables, we find that
they are composed Of oxygen, hydrogen,
carbon, and nitrogen or azote, with a small
portion of saline bodies. 1t is evident,
therefore, that the substances employed as
manures should also be composed of three
elements, for unless they are, there will be
deficiency in some of the elements in the
plants itself; and it is probable that such
deficiency may prevent the formation of
those substances within it, for which it's
peculiar organization is contrived, and
upon which its healthy existence depends.
Decaying vegetable or animal substances
constitute by far the most important class
of manures, or vegetable food, and may be
considered as to the theory of their opera
ton, and their preservation and applica-
ton in practice.
Vegetable and animal substances depos-
tied in the soil, as is shown by universal
experience, are consumed during the pro-
cess of vegetation; and they can only nour-
ish the plant by affording solid matters
capable of being dissolved by water, or
gaseous substances capable of being alb
sorbed by the fluids in the leaves of vege-
tables; but such parts of them as are ren-
dered gaseous, and pass into the atmos-
phere, must produce a comparatively small
effect, for gases soon become diffused
through the surrounding air. The great
object, therefore, in the application of
manure should be to make it afford as
much soluble matter as possible to the
roots of the plant; and that in slow and
gradual manner, so that it may be entirely
consumed in forming sap and organized
parts.
Muci1aginous, gclatinous, sacchari,,e, and
ertrrettpe fluids, car6onic acid and aeater,
are substances that in their unchanged
state contain almost all the principles nee
essary for the life of plants, but they must
undergo chemical changes before they are
fit to become the food of plants.
The properties and nature of the manures
in common use should be known to every
cultivator: for as different manures contains
different proportions Of the elements neces-
sary to vegetation, so they require differ
ent treatment to enable them to produce
their full effect in culture.
All green succulent plants contain sac
charine or mucilaginous matter, with woody
fibre, and readily ferment. They cannot,
therefore, be used too soon after their death.
Hence the advantage of blowing in green
crops, whether natural, of weeds, or sown
for that purpose; they must not, however,
be turned in too deep, otherwise, fermen-
tation will be checked, land perhaps pre-
ventcdD by compression and the exclusion
of air
Green crops should be ploughed in, if
possible, when in flower or at the time
the flower is about 10 appear, for it is at
this time that they contain the largest
quantity readily soluable matter, and that
their leaves are most active i'll forming
nutritive matter. Green crops, or any
kind of fresh vegetables require no prepar-
ton to fit them for manure. The decom-
position slowly proceeds beneath the soil;
the soluable matters are grdually dissolved,
and the slight fermentation goes on check
ed by want of free communication of
air, tends to render the woody fibre solu-
bic without occasioning the rapid dissipa-
ton of elastic matter. When old pastures
are broken up and made arrable, not only
has the soil been enriched by the death and
slow decay of the plants which have left
soluble matter in the soil, but the leaves
and roots of the grasses, living at the time,
and occupying SO large part of the sur
face, afford saccharine, mucilaginous, and
cxtractivc matters, which become immcdi-
ately the food of the crop, and the gradual
decomposition affords a supply for success
sive years.
I could ennumeratc other kinds of vege-
table manures, but as their name is legion,
l will wait until hear them mentioned by
some other of your many readers, and, as
was said in my first article, will take AMI
NAL Manures for continuation of the arti-
Gle. AGRICoLA.
Tonn Point, Oct 1862