Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-06-30
SHADE AS A FERTILIZER.

More than once we have alluded 10 y 9
great Importance Of shading the surface
soil by thc use of some natural or arti6.
cial covering. Every body knows TIM,
where hay or straw is stacked ont for
some time. or where bushes or weeds have
been heaped NJ for burning anl allowed
TO 'cmain on the f"ld. or where the
ground 'crcath the stacks or heaps has
been shaded when next put into crops
shows a heavier growth on those spots
than on any other part Of the - Geld. A
short time ago Western correspondent
OF one of the Northern sgricul,ural Jour.
nails called attention to the fact, as if it
were a new discovery. Ye. no observing
farmer can have failed to havo noticed i.
often. although he may not have under.
stood the philosophy Of it. The Cores
Poudcn: in question seems to have been
taught by accident tho advantage to be
derived from shading the soil with rcfnse
straw. and to hav. subsequently, prctitei
by the discovery. He remarks. that
years ago spread some refuse straw
upon a meadow and rcaPing thercfrom an
unlocked for benefit, ] continued the
practice subsequently. and always and
ever with good results" The benefit to
be derived from the samo quantity of
straw turned undcr would have been very
small indeed. Spread ov,r tho surface
soil. it checked evaporation By intercept
ing the rays Of the Summer sun, it leca y
cd gradually aud thus absorbed and re-
taincd moisture from tho rainfall, aud i,
also returned. as it decaycd. some soluble
salt to the soil. of which it stood in need.
But the chief value Of mulch Of this kind
lies in its protection Of the soil from loss
by evaporation. aud its beneficial fl. ct on
the chemical ami electrical acton which
is always going on beneath a scil. and hv
which inorganic Substances are gradually
broken down aud rendered soluble. Il
is this which makes lands newly opeued
from the virgin forest 81 rich The leaves
falling from year to year, and decaying
gradually on the surface. have covered il
with thick layer Of vegetable mould.
rich in potash. and have also kept the sur.
face, spOngy and open. SO that the de-
scendins rains could penetrate easily and
be absorbed BY the soil. Forest lauds.
not withssarding the constant drain which
the growing trees make upou the soil. no.
only never grow poorer. but year by year.
store up in the soil greater quantity Of
ftrsiliHing constituents. II is upoa this
principle tha, mulchiug acts.
The English land owners. in leasing
out their farms. sIipnla,c very wisely that
a certain proportion Of the land lent-
ly one-thiri- shall be kept permanently
in grass. They have learned bv cxpc.
rieucc tha. grass lands improve the soil
frum year 20 year, by the decayiog leaves
aud the thick heavy turf which is yraiu.
ally iorned. In that moist, coct elm ate.
shade is far iess essential tn the preservs-
ton Of the soil than it Is with ns. Our
Sunmcrs arc lot. and our system Of crop-
ping Is singularly exhaustive They hav.
no hccd crcps worth sTcakiIg Of. an,l are
compelled to resort TO Sammers falicvs 70
subdae the weeds. Our hecd cseps are
anon: the mos. import ant OF any Ne cul-
tivatc. and South ot the Su>qaehauu,
River. down throush ali the resious where
the sun poars lis aoet sccrchiux raxs. and
ths coils are Of light textures, aud The
rains meet vashiog, corn and tobacco and
eotssa are the great ssspses we cuisivase.
Tia. Tie soil nlaid bare. and By she con-
ssans stirEias u is. vAish il rqsired 70
bring the crops TO psriscsioa. thus .sruing
up from week to week iresA su,l foe the
saa to act upes. sbesla sspidly become
exhausted. is ,fset xhieh easAs ssexci,e
no wosdsr. asd watch s1pefieucs fally
attests. - ssA4
rss tsasGy lies 10 aerns;ag ca!,iv4-
ted >rys-,f f.ihSg ttes- in r,,les;rp