The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1872-04-26


for, by continual draining Of the
shallow surfaces soil, no nitrogen IS
left. without which there cannot be
vigorous fructifying growth. Here
then clover subserves an indispensa-
bic purpose the long roots reaching
down into the sub. soil, where nitro
gen has been locked-up, brings it
up to the surface, in a condition to
be assimilated by the growing crops
tina, follow the clover. The second
and ost-known use OF clover as a
fertilizer is its rank growth, its dense
foliage. This growth is mostly from
the atmosphere, by the assimilation
of carbon under tao influence Of the
actinic rays Of The sun
Now to insure the growth of clo-
YER, to obtain good sci, the soil
must be properly conditioned; if
very poor it must be assisted ; if
sour. it must be sweetened filthy,
it must he cleaned. Deep blowing,
in this country, say s inches; thor
ough narrowing carefully burning
all weeds, roots. &C., brought into
piles is the first matter to be attend
ed to The soil is generally more or
less pervaded with carburet, sui
phuret, bisuIphuret Of iron and cop
per; and, therefore, if these acids,
are not neutralized by alkalies, you
will see the clover growing III spots
and soon disappear. Hence, plow-
/ ing the field in December, thorough
/ " cleaning it, and then sowing Plas-
ter of Paris upon it, you assist II
greatly in two ways; first, by its
getting a good ficeze, and thorough
drenching with the rains, which
bring into it some ammonia from
the atmosphere; and, secondly, the
gypsum being sulphate of lime, and
suphmic acid having greater at
fnitv for ammonia than for lime,
scisos upon the former and utilizes
it in the soil as a sweetner, or neu-
trailer of the acids. Pillow, harrow,
and clean the field thoroughly again
in February, following immediately
with gypsum second time. BY
this course, you rob the surrounding
country of It's ammonia; and though
YOU used on 10 acres only about
20 dollars worth Of gypsum, you
have improved the land to the val
nc of hundreds. II the field was not
entirely worn out, you may expect
sowing and narrowing in the seed in
March to have a good stand; but, to
insure this end, you had better
spread all the ashes and barn yard
manure YOU have collected during
the winter, over the field, and har
row in with the seed then there
will be no doubt Of success unless
it should so happen that May should
be very dry and hot, in which case,
there would be danger OF It's being
burned up. This, however, wall
happen very rarely. On a good,
naturally strong soil, Oats may be
proftabI y sowed with the seed and
it will serve to protect the clover
against the firece heat Of early June
days. Indeed, this plan is general
~ to be preferred; but if land IS
poor, be sure to give a good coat of
manure; or, else both oats and clo-
yer will be light; and in every case,
one should operate so as to command
success; for, il you cannot treat
ten acres properly, try five; better
five acres Of good clover than twen-
ty that will prove useless, or soon
disappear Regarding the blowing
under of the clover, custom has
made it rule to do SO when the
seed is perfectly m0turc-it matters
no, whether the leaves have died
and dropped to the earth ornot BE
sure to have a good turning plow-
and a strong team. The next
Spring your eyes will be charmed
by the luxurious growth of the
clover, which in May will give you
from two to three tons Of rich hay,
per acre, worth here S75. In the
tail plow under again and SOW in
wheat. The following year expect
at least % bushels per acre-and a
fine crop of hay likewise. Your
field is now on the way to fatness
and real value. Poor lands are next
to worthless and it is really easier
and far more satisfactory to say
nothing of the profit to farm rich .
land, tnan poor, dead acres.
w. I. BARNITz.
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