The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-07-19
CRfEN MANURES.

cRFEN MANUREs.
ANCIENT GREED MATURING.
Some people have an idea that green
manuring is meU thing under the sun,
but they are greatly mistaken. The an
cient Romans used 10 sow, grow, and
plough down various plants and grasses as
green manurial crops as we learn from
the works of Rome's most distinguished
agricultural writer's, to-wit: from Cato,
Varro, CELSIUS, and Pliny, who flourish
ed before our Saviours time, and from
Columella and Virgil, who lived after
wards.
The ancient Grecians understood the
value of green manures, for XenophoH,
their countrymen, man celebrated as
historian, general, and a philosopher,
recommended and taught them the use
of such manures.
1t is very likely the ploughing down
of green crops as manure was prac.
ticed by other nations also at a still earli-
er day in the history of our world. And
it is very probable that the idea OF u.s.
ing such crops tor m0nurtal purposes
was first derived from the visible good
effect in ploughing down dense masses
of aUeeds. But, be these things as they
may, there can be no doubt aoout the
fact that the art of providing soils and
crops by the use Of green vegetable
manures was known and pIacticed in
ancient times.
MODERN GREEN MATURING.
The inhabitants of Flanders, (now
Belgium,) in Europe, were the first
among modern nations to SOW and grow
suitable plant and grass crops to be
ploughed down into their soils for ma
nurial purposes, tO-wit: such as red
clover, spurry, sanioin, &c. They were
driven to the use of this kind of manure
through necessity, the mother of in
vention:" for their soil generally con-
sisted of white. loose, and porous sand,
i'll adapted to the growth of wheat
Their soil was naturally very much like
the sandy district upon our sea-coast in
New Jersey and Maryland, and the
sandy plains sometimes occurring in the
valley OF the Connecticut river.
But the Flemish gradually converted
this barren land into most fertile loan /;
they at first cultivated these districts to
depth of only three or four inches, but
by degrees ploughed deeper as their soil
became enriched by the application Of
manures, until they at last secured tor
themselves q very cheap and loamy soil
upon these ancient sandy barrens. In
1919 their average farm crops per acre
were said to be, Of wheat, 80 bushels !;
rye, 80 1-2 bushels; oats, SO bushels !:
potatoes, $50 bushels, &c. From the
beginning of the 10th century down to
our own day, the Flemish have continued
models of neat, economical, and profit
able farming. They have also the hon.
or OF being the first nation that adopted
regular rotation Of farm crops, or what
is commonly called the alternate system
of husbandry. 1t was leading princi-
pie with them to make their farms close
IN resemble gardens. And to do this they
had small farms, and aimed at three
grand points. to-wit:
l. The accumulation and careful use
of the manure.
?. The destruction of weeds; and
s. The frequent and deep stirring or
pulverization of the soil.
No crop was of more importance to
them than red clover; tor. as many OF
them had no natural meadows or grass
lands, red clover was not only relied en-
to supply them with sufficient fodder for
their cattle, but also to make much ms
nure for keeping up the fertility of their
soils. Radcliffe. in writing about them,
says: "Hithosst clorer no man in Elan
ders ,rould pretend to cali himself q
tarnsr'-a maxim worthy OF adoption
BY our American farmers. Their clover
was generally given to their cattle In a
green condition; but when they had
more clover than could be used in this
way, it was cut of with . reaping hook
and converted into hay.
PLOuGHING DOWN OF GREEN MANURIAL
CROP.
Johnston, Of England, says: I'm no
other form can the same crop convey to
the soil IN equal amount Of enriching
matter - in that OF green leaves and
stems. When the first object. therefore,
in the farmers practice is to use his
crops q % enrich his land, he will soon
ct effect il By ploaghing them ina green
state."-Uectures on Az. Chen., p4l0. }