Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-17
for the fart,ter.
obsan Manurss for Poor Land.

RcrhAny
farming engrosses so much the attention OF
those interested, as the question of preser-
wing or increasing the fertility Of the SOIL
There are several reasons for this, indepen-
dent of the ever existing necessity for sup
plying farming land with the properties ia
ken from it by unjust cultivation. They are
FIRST, the great quantity of worn-out Land,
once fertile, and made needful by the rapid
growth of population, and the growing oe'
mapd for the products of the farm; anu
second, the soil of inferior quality brought
into cultivation from year to year, by reason
of the same necessity. Land that has been
worked to death, and left to lie as waste,
must be restored to fertility, and that which
has never been productive must be made so,
in order to become profitable. 1t is not so
difficulty to make worn out and barren land
produce good crops, as one would suppose
from hasty view of the innumerable fail
ures 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 put
ting them there or if they are there, but
locked up, without first making the necessa-
ry conditions to release them and give them
vitality. Every observing farmer knows
that it is far easier to produce grass than
wheat, and a common remark among far
mers is ''if can raise crop of clover | am
sure I can raise Wheat" One of the means
of raising land is to get it to produce clover,
and plow it down when in full bloom. But
clover contains a large percentage of potash,
and in soils already abundantly supplied
with this, such as slate and shaie lands it is
better to mix the clover with other gras ses.
Mixed grasses have all the fertilizing proper
ties of barn, yard manure and this furnishes
satisfactory reason why old meadows and sod
fields yield so abundaltly when farmed. Far
mers know that an old sod field farmed in
corn yields the largest crops, and that the
best crops of Wheat are raised from ii.
Why? The field has been left lying until
different kinds of grasses have grown up,
each one gathering different substances from
the atmosphere and carrying them down in
to the soil through the roots, and enriching
it. Hence, when a crop of corn or wheat is
planted, all the substances necessary for Its
growth and perfect developement have been
provided for its use.
By the application of lime on such soil
the decomposition of fbrous matter in the
soil is FASTENED, and they are converted in
to 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 guam
tity of lime, so as to make healthy growth
of straw, the head will fiji well and the grain
mature; tor 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
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 con-
stituents of the crop, each year, we could al
ways count with reasonable certainty on a
large yield. Were the constituent elements
OF wheat inexhaustible in the soil, we nigh,
SOW and reap, year after year, without dim
mutton in the yield or quality. Onthe con-
trary they are easily exhausted, and, unless
supplied, it is not long until we can raise
no crop at all.
Wheat contains lime, soda and chlorine
Soda and chlorine make common salt The
sowing of common salt on wheat fields must
be advantageous. 1t is believed to strength
en- the straw and make it hard, thus preven-
ting rust Rust appears only on straw of a
soft, luxuriant growth, which cracks open
easily, leaving the juices to ooze out and es
cape. The action of the hot sun and mois.
ture upon this, readily produces rust Es
pecially is this the case with wheat grown il
low coil where the dampness is great.
The never failing quantity of plant food
floating in the atmosphere is ever available
for promoting the growth and development
of plants. In its availability there is mar
ked difference between that in the air and
the vegetable nutriment locked up in the
-soil. The atmosphere is sure to nourish
growing plants whenever the tender leave.
open their pores to take in the nourlshmen,
it furnishes. 1t builds up the stem and de-
velops the various parts of the plant i
may send forth its rootlets in every direction
seeking food, andyet famish, droop and die
because the vegetable matter is not in ar
available condition to promote its growth
As it is impossible for every farmer to gel
stable manure in sufficient quantity to enricf
his land, he must look to green vegetabl,
manure supplied by nature. 1t is the prin
cipal source of manure on the earth, and a
such it must te applied by the farmer if HI
wond secure his own greatest advancement
By green manure is, of course, mean: vege
table manures plowsd down. By this method
the soil will receive all, and more than is ia
ken from it, for it receives in addition the
accumulated properties generated by light
air, heat and water, which are inexhausti
bic in nature, and cost nothing. Observing
farmers are well aware that green manure.
fructify the soil. and that it pays best te
plov down clover, mixed grasses, oats, buck
wheat and sowed corn. They should not
fear to lose crop of hay. or miss crop oi
oats. or rye, or buckwhcat by so doing, for
the sacrifice of one crop will enable them to
raise half dozen crops with profit. Every
few years green crops should be plowed