The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-06-01
M;hs Farm.
Manure.

Notwithstanding the great and indis-
pensable system Of gathering and pre-
serving manure on the farm, which we
have in these articles recommended, if
the land is subjected to the merciless
system of blowing and grain cropping
so generally practiced by farmers, it will
constantly run down, and fail to pro-
duce remunerative crops, even though
the manure gathered on the farm be
supplemented by purchased fertilizers.
Without the cultivation of grasses is
largely entered into and judicously fol-
lowed up, all land appropriated to gen.
eral farming purposes will be kept at a
comparatively low state of fertility.
Two tons of clover hay, the estima-
ted product of an acre of land, contains
ammonia, 80 pounds; phosphoric acid,
1916 pounds; surphuric acid, $50
pounds; lime, IS pounds; magnesia, 81
pounds; potash, $3.50 pounds. The
best bone dust contains about 4 per
cent of ammonia, 40 per cent phosphate
of lime, and % per cent phosphoric
acid. 1000 pounds of bone dust con-
tanning these per centages Of fertilizing
properties will cost about $50. The
constituents found in clover hay are
mainly supplied from the atmosphere
and drawn from the subsoil where the
roots of no other plant will reach, cost
ing the farmer little more than the inter-
est on the land while the clover is grow
ing, which, if permitted to rot on the
surface or is turned under, is restoring
a large amount of the various constitu-
ents found in all crops, in the best con-
dition to enter into the growth of any
crop that may be afterward put in the
soil. Manuring with the aid of the
grasses has Il three-fold advantage. 1t
saves labor and actual outlay for ma
nures, and is, what is equally import
ant, but almost always overlooked, re-
operating the soil by natures own
process, which is always the most sure
and perfect practice to follow in every
enterprise.
The customary mode of farming is
an exhausting, laborious and most expen-
sive process to wiring from the soil the
uttermost farthing it will give out, at
the expense of future crops. The farm
.er who cuts down his grain crops to
one-half or one-third his customary
number of acres, and adopts well
defined plan of resting and recuperating
his farm by the cultivation of grass,
which shall be mainly consumed and
allowed to rot on and be turned under
as green crops, will find the productive
capacity of his land doubled in a few
wears, while his expense of hire, nipple.
ments and other OUTLAWS will be greatly
diminished. An acre that raises % to
40 bushels of corn, can, by getting a
good stiff sod on it, and turning the sod
under, be readily made to double that
amount, and this will be found true of
wheat and other products. The same
amount of labor in both instances is
required, except in harvesting the crops.
Of all the prolitless, laborious, unre'
Quilted employments ever voluntarily
assumed by man, that of the plow farmer
in the worked-to-death lands of the old
States is the greatest. And this system
is persisted in despite natures endeavors
to relieve him of one-half his toll, and
return to him double portion of hel
bounties, if he will but allow her, and
have patience.