The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-10-14
GREEN MATURING.

One thing, in turning down green crops,
is not sufficiently considered; it is the
chemical action of the decaying crop upon
the soil, preparing, from the crude mater
ial, nutriment for the plant. Thus,
growth of young rye, eight to ten inches
high, turned down, will have wonderful
effect, which the mere nutritive matter can
not account for; that will be taken up all.
or nearly ALL the first year. The soil is
drawn upon and mineral matter supplied,
meeting what organic material the plant
takes from the atmosphere. But this is
not all. Besides, the action upon the soil,
the land is mechanically improved. 1t also
gathers moisture and retains it the longer,
making it a benefit in drought. Young
clover turned down has an effect similar to
that of rye, and the same may be said of
most, if not all, other plants. 1t is the
old, worn out soil, kept under the pillow for
years without manure, that is benefited
most by green crops. Particularly is this
the case with clay land long cropped. But
l have known it to do we'll invariably on
sandy or river loan exhausted, or where
vegetable manure has been withheld.
The best results are obtained with
grain crop by sowing it thick. This null
tiplies the roots in the young plant, which
rapidly penetrate the soil, and before any
the subsoil. The ground thus becomes
charged with these fibres, each doing its
work when the plant dies.
In blowing, do not turn down too deep.
A few inches of soil inverted is sufficient.
This keeps most of the strength near the
surface where the sun has better effect
upon it, converting it the sooner into plant
food. Immediate sowing after the crop Is
turned down has not generally proved good.
The heat, however, does its work soon, as
the plant is tender, particularly grass and
young clover. Corn, when advanced, re
qures more time to Gecompose, and give
the soil a chance to act upon and with the
plant. We all know the effect of green
sod upon crop. The first stage of the
crop is one of doubt often; usually there is
more or less hurt-sometimes ending in
failure.
When the crop turned down is quite
heavy, after it is rotten the cultivator
should be used to mix the soil and decayed
material.
There is another thing. A naked soil,
left exposed to the heat of the sun, no
doubt loses some of its fertilzing material,
ammonia in the form of a carbonate being
one of them. 1t is known that the north
side of hills is more fertile than the south
side, the latter being under the direct rays
of the sun. Keeping the land covered,
especially with growing crop, which is
cool even under the rays of the sun, will,
at least in measure, remedy this. Upon
this theory (of saving the fertility a neigh
Dor of mine sows his land intended for
Spring crops in rye in the Fal-that is,
land not in sod. He meets with the most
gratifying success. There are other cases
within my observation. The writer has no
doubt that the expense of seed and labor
to produce young crop for blowing under
is a good:.investment. 1t seems to be more
particularly so when turned down in the
heat of the season. The ground then is
more apt to be mellow; the heat and the
aerated rains have then full effect, the
porous condition of the soil favoring it.
Hence, young crop of rye or clover, sown
the year before, may be turned down with
advantage, for corn in the latter part of
May, when the warm weather sets in; or a
crop of clover may be taken off, and the
second crop plowed under for Fall sowing
of Winter grain or timothy, or both If
the crop turned down is quite heavy, as
before stated, it should be mixed with the
top soil by cultivator, SO as to neutralize
the acid. This readily takes place where
there is sufficient lime in the soil, other
wise it might be added-the lime in such
case also proving general benefit. A
crop Immediately put on the heated soil
will take up what nitrogen might other
wise escape.-Erchanoe