Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-03-15
Clover as a Fertilizer.

it is not so well understood, nor SO extern t
sively relied on as in some other parts of '
the country. In fact, the stories told of S
its value in other sections, seem quite mar ]
velous, and we hardly know what to think,
when we are told that in Western New
York there is land, deemed poor in the
commencement, which has been made to
produce heavy crops of corn and wheat for
fifty or sixty years, with no other manure
than clover and plaster. Surprising as
this seems to us, there is no doubt of its
truth, and it is well for US to inquire
what advantage we may derive from this
fact. If the same may be done here, we
possess ready means of rendering our
land fertile, for, poor as our land may be,
there is little of it but will produce clover.
The suggestion will readily arise that
theirs in New York, is an exceptional case,
that their land is different from ours, and
hence will show these results, while ours
will not. This view is doubtless true, at
least in part; and yet there are facts that |
render it probable that these results may |
be realized on a greater extent of land, |
and may be more nearly approached on all |
| land, than we have been in the habit Of
supposing | have heard statements made |
| of persons in our own State, who sowed |
oats on the same ground year after year.
and found the crop to increase for a dozen |
years. And some of us will recollect the
case of some scientific agriculturist of Eng
| land perhaps it was Mr.. Lawes, who cul-
tivated wheat on the same ground, letting
the land rest every alternate year, for a
great number Of years, without diminutiOn
of product, and getting, if I recollect right,
about seventeen bushels per acre. In the
case Of the oats, IF there ever was any
such instance, and do not feel competent
to dispute it, there was probably some la
tent principle Of vegetable nutriment which
the strong growing grain was capable of
appr0priating to its use. and this in so great
abundance as to suffice as long as the ex-
pertinent lasted. On such land, it IS pre-
sumed, the New York experiment would
succeed; for in addition to the inherent
capabilities of the soil, we should have the
heterogeneous and other elements produced
by the growth of clover. How much Of
such land we may have, if any, is uncer-
tain. We may have considerable; and it
is worth while to improve some of our I'M
promising descriptions Of land, with a view
to ascertaining the point Certain it is
that clover does flourish on some very un-
promising soils | have noticed a place
on my own farm, where the earth had been
wheeled away~to form a dam, leaving moth
ing but bed of mere gravel, some very
stout stalks of clover were growing. Also
many have noticed in earth thrown out OF
wells from a depth too great to admit Of 6
possibility of any mixture Of any vegeta
bic matter. clover will often be found grow
= ing luxuriantly. 1t seems that the eartl
:. in these instances contains the Ingredient
necessary for the production Of clover, ex
- cept what the plant is capable Of deriving
from the atmosphere This Is the case al
! so. doubtless with the New York soils il
i question the gypsum, in some way as We
: unknown. assisting the clover in appropri
ating the elements contained in the soil
i. drawing another portion Of nutriment iron
. the atmosphere and manufacturing a stor
of nitrogen for the sustenance of futur
- crops We have a glimpse ofthe name
. in which clover acts, and Of the reason VIII
so great an advance is gained by its cul
ture in fertilizing the soil. The roots Q
- down deep. when allowed to do so, an
dissolve the plant food contained in tn
depths below. 1t attracts from the atmos
j phere, and somehow procures, or manutaC
lures nitrogen, an indispensable priucipl
of vegetable life. Taking this view of tn
case the fact that the means of enrichmer
i will bear to be many times repeated doe
~ not seem so strange That there is a lin
/, beyond which this process will not produc
:. good crops, at least on most lands, there
no doubt We hear occasionally Of Ian
that has become GLOVER sick" and III
- doubtedly the trouble in this case IS, IL
/ elements of fertility, other than those SUI
- piled by the clover, not being in full SUI
:. ply in the soil, have become exhauste
y, But this is no argument against the prof
ableuess of clover, inasmuch as there
scarcely any soil but with little manage
ment may be made to respond to this pr,
- cess for a time, and thus sufficient mear
,, will be furnished in the manufacture
manure to cause productiveness. Exper
ments have seemed to indicate that in o
der to realize the greatest advantage frol
this method the clover should be above
to attain full growth and maturity. 1t hi
been found that even pasturing with shee
has not produced so much richness
1er where the clover has been cut for seed.
he western New York, the seasons permit
cutting clover once for hay, and then afte
ct wards for seed. But our climate will n
ms admit of this. All we can expect is ere
gn. of grain in one year, and a crop of Glow
adj for hay or seed the next. And even tn
ian must be very profitable, if we can make Il
uc- clover, with little other manuring do Il
to work. now recollect an instance that
in was acquainted with when boy, in Il
ain town of Wilton, where | was brought Il
er A man had a tract of light, gravelly Ian
IN. and somehow he took it into his head
ND alternate with rye, II clover f
nd seed, using no manure on most Of his Ian
ers not even gypsum. He continued this Il
w he got forehanded, and his land instead
the being spoiled, now constitutes at least tv
is good farms. | have no doubt there is nut
Is land in this State, even that has been e
hit hausted by cropping, which, with lit
ltn assistance by the application of swan
IN muck, ashes, bones or phosphate, may
ex- brought up with clover and plaster to
oll- certain point of fertility with much prot
ger, If had piece of land that I could spa
hat for the purpose, and that needed the tres
As ment, l would try the following expe1
uai ment: Plough up one half of it, SOW sor
lets grain, seeding with clover, applying 1
ma tie manure, muck or phosphate ifrequire
SIS, The next year, SOW plaster on the Glove
'ut- and plough the other half of the Ian
en- treating it in the same way. Then, aft
rest the clover on the first half was mature
lch plough in, seed and all, preparatory f
ed, another crop of grain, and so proceed, ha
18th ing each year, one-half in grain, the 9th
ex- half in clover to plough in, seed and a
BILE till the land should bear cutting the cloy
in for seed, which if done with machir
try merely taking the tops of the stalks, won
leave most of the hauln, To bo nIourbad