The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-16
How Does Red Clover Improve the Soil

How Does Red Clover Improve the Soil
The general impression is, we believe,
that where plaster of Paris (sulphate OF
lime) will act, by far the cheapest and
most expeditions way to renovatea worn
out soil is to turn under with the plough
crop of clover, which plant under
favorable circumstances, and stimu'
lated by plaster, will pro-
duce heavier swarth OF vege-
table matter than any other which
we can grow; hence many farmers dep
recate the pasturing of clover as rob-
berry of the land, which it was intended
to improve. In Loudon, one of the
most fertile counties of Virginia, diff
erent belief obtains, and many of the
best farmers prefer to pasture their
clover until the fields are bare
before following for small grain, con-
tending that the deep-growing roots are
all sufficient, while the heavy tops
turned under would make the land too
spongy to grow grain well.
While it would be manifestly absurd
to deny the vast benefit to the land
from a mass of vegetable matter re-
turned to it by crop which derives its
chief nutriment from the atmosphere,
vet we are inclined to believe with DR..
Baldwin that clover when grown as an
ameliorator should neither be cut or
pastured, because the Chief benefit de-
rived from it is through the dense shade
which it affords. DR.. Baldwin, of Win
chester, writing twenty odd years ago,
asserts that vegetable mould" "vir-
gin earth - or "humus," as tits termed,
is a change in the chemical qualities OF
the earth caused by shade, having no
necessary connection whatever with
vegetable decomposition. He cites as
an instance OF the truth OF this theory
an utterly worn out piece of meadow
land restored to its pristine fertility by
being covered for a short time with
water; and a still better proof of his
theory is, that any spot from which an
old building has been removed will re-
main actually too rich for small grain
after years OF cropping. Under plank,
stone, logs, or under any other sub
stance which effectually shades the
earth, we find the vegetable mould be-
gins to form very soon, and progresses
deeper and deeper, precisely in proper
ton to the length of time the ground
remains shaded. 1t is notorious fact
that the apparently impoverished fields
on the Blue Ridge, in Virginia, covered
with loose stones, produce surprising
crops for years In succession without
the application of manure. A single
oak will draw" and impoverish the
land about 1t; yet in our shady forests
the trees grow luxuriantly, and leave the
soil fertile beneath. This cannot be ex-
planned by the decomposition of the
leaves, for it is well known that they
are the most Indifferent of all vegetable
substances to convert into manure, and
the least valuable when converted; and
decayed vegetable FIBRE" or rather
wood, is known to be destructive of
vegetation of every description beside
experience teaches we can make trees
grow and the ground fertile beneath by
paving around the roots with stone or
any other indestructible substance.
Lastly, large masses of vegetable mat
ter, when suffered TO remain until com
pletely decomposel leave but a small
residue, and we find large quantities of
vegetable mould in caves and cellars
where vegetation cannot possibly exist
Turf, Field, and Farm.