The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-12-23
DECEMBER.
FORTY-FIVE BUSHELS OF
CORN TO THE ACRE.


turned under, as a manure, an ex-
pertinent was made during the past
planting season, on four and q half
acres Of land on Charleston Neck.
It proved so successful and sugges-
tive, that a detailed account Of it
should be brought to the attention
offarmers generally, particularly as
the materials employed and the
manner Of working the crop, are
within the reach of all.
This experiment in land improve
ment has also apparently solved
an interesting agricultural problem,
which has hitherto perplexed both
the chemist and the practical far
mer, namely, to discover a cheap
and abundant supply Of nitrogen
for the use of our cereal and textile
crops.
If the plan herein recommended
should prove after further trial, to
be as successful in other hands as
it has been in those of the writer,
an important step forward has been
made in agriculture, and the cost Of
production will be very much lessen
ed thereby, and the certainty of
makinga crop vastly increased.
We know by experience that the
ash element Of plant food, that is
to say, the potash, lime, and phos-
pilates are either sufficiently abun-
dant in most soils or can if needed,
be readily supplied by artificial
means at small outlay, and with
comparatively little labor; but the
nitrogen which all plants require,
and without which they cannot
thrive, must be sought for in the
waste Of animal organizations
Hence it is the most expensive ma
terial which enters into the compo-
sition of our manures. To obtain
it, the farmer has to resort to the
troublesome and expensive process
Of soiling cattle and the collection
and composing Of their manure,
and ship loads Of guano, fish scraps,
and dried flesh are yearly imported
to supply the demand. Therefore:
the great desideratum for the agri-
culturist, is to discover some cheap
mode Of obtaining this important
agent, and an economical method
of distributing it when found.
The worn out wheat fields of Eir-
ginia arc being rapidly renovated by
the systematic cultivation of the
grasses, and particularly clover which
turned under with lime and phosphates
added, has worked like charm upon
old fields long abandoned as worthless.
But clover will not grow readily under
the burning Suns and in the light
sandy soil Of the cotton States, and
substitute has been diligently sought
for.
The soil Of the four and half acres
upon which the experiment alluded to
was tried, is a light and sandy loan.
The higher portions Of the field are
dry but part slopes gradually to a
salt lead, and being low and wet, has
been undetermined with wooden boxes,
on the ordinary and well known plan.
Fo~ three years past 2 crop Of corn
has been taken from Il . icid, and no
manure applied, except dressings Of
Atlantic Company Phosphate. Not
one Of these crops has been in any
way remarkable. 1t had been obscrv.
cd that, growing in this field, during
the winter month, was heavy crop Of
the native Ictch, Of which there are
two species, one bearing large pod
and pee, the other smaller, and seeding
in different way. In other respects.
the plants are quite similar in their
appearances and habits, which are pccu-
liar The seed germinatcs and springs
into life in October, at a season when
the weeds and grasses Of summer be-
gin to decay. The vines push rapidly
to maturity during the winter months,
seeding in March. AS soon as ripe,
the seed is shed, thus spontaneously
the ground upon which it
grew, before the ploughing, and pre-
parat;ou for the planters crops are
commenced. Animals of all sort are
remarkably fond Of Eetch vines as for
age, either in the green state or dried,
and feed greedily upon them, thus
proving their nutritive qualities.
The applicability therefore of this
plant for land improvement can, from
what has been said, be seen at glance.
Being winter growth it can in no way
interfere with planting operations.-
1t seeds itself, and is practically inde-
strucSlblc, unless ploughedand destroy
ed before it seeds. 1t propogates it
self ONLY hv seed and annaroni1,- &c ono