Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-10-29
(Fiom the Southern Planter.snd Psrmsr)
Green Fallow Crops. Animal
Manures and Commercial
Fertilizers.
BY T. L. PAYNE, ESQ cHEsrLRFrELD.

| have read with much interest the
very able aud interesting article by
your Stock Editor under the above
caption, and an fully prepared to en-
dOrse by far the larger part Of
what he says, l do Rot pretend to
discuss the scientific principle involv-
ed as TO the mode Of action OF the va
rious fertilizers. I only take the fact
oftheir beneficial effects as admitted,
and proceed at once to the practical
application of these ascsrtained facts.
The point of difference between the
Doctors theory and my experience is
entirely in the method Of treating the
crop intended for fallow, and especial
ly the pea crop after it is planted.
The Doctor says plow under the crop
when in bloom. say allow it to ma
ture aud stand upon the land as long
as possible. 1t is true, that differ
ence of soil would, perhaps, make a
difference in the result Indeed, l
think it highly probable that upon
very stiff clay land, such as abound in
the Piedmont country and in the VAL
ley, burying heavy coat OF green
vegetation beneath the surface might
be mechanically beneficial TO the soil
bat upon the light grey lands around
Richmond, aud, Indeed, all that sec
ton east of the Piedmont countryside
a course would prove detrimental.
Mr.. Ruf1in, in a very able Essay on
the pea as a Fallow Crop" read be-
tore the Virginia Agricultural Society
10 1854, aod published il the olle;lion
of his essays, takes precisely the same
position. lie bad been an advocate
of the green fallow system until he
accidentally discovered the advantage
OF permitting the crop to riPeu, and
by a series of carefully conducted ex
periments, demonstrated, beyond a
doubt, that 10 his section (Tidewater(
it was best to allow the crop to MAJ
ture and be killed down by the frost
before blowing it in. Like Mr.. Rut"
fin, | was raised up to believe that all
all crops should be plOwed under just
at the time when they had reached
their greatest bulk. But after re'
peated experiments, conducted under
circumstances which could leave no
doubt Of their fairness, have been
convinced, against my opinion that it
i. an error. The reason given 10y
Mr.. Ruffin q am writing from memo
ry) is, that as nitrogen is the most
valuable part ofthe pea as fertilizer,
the concentration Of this in the seeds
in a torn that readily decays when
buried in the GOLD. damp, soils of aut-
umn, made the action Of the pea more
sure and prompt than if We had plow-
ed it down earlier. While | agree
with bin in this, l am not prepared
to say that This is the only reason Cor
indeed, the chief one) Why the pea will
yield a larger amount Of fertilizing ma
terial when permitted to stand until
mature chan if turned under when in
bloom. 1t is well known fact-for
which the Doctor can doubtless give
the scientific reason-that in dense
shades, such as is produced by heavy
growth of peas, the land is greatly
enriched by some cause hey the
improvement drawn from the atmos-
phere by the growing plant Indeed,
shade of any kind, even from dead
substances, such as straw and leaves,
will induce The formation OF (sCme rem
oyating material probably nitrogen
or some of its compounds. and rapid
ly increase the fertility Of The land.
Such being the case, it seems to me
that permitting the growth to accu-
mulate, and keeping the ground sha
ded from the hot sun of the latter
pant OF the summer and early autumn,
would prove most beneficial to the
soil.
Another reason which suggests it,
self TO me is this The pea and clover
plants in this growth send down
long tap root into the sub.sdil, and
draw from depths beyond the reach Of
the roots of the cereals the mineral
substances necessary for their full de-
velopment. This mineral matter is
brought up to the surface and left in
the most available form by the decay
of these plants. So long as the plant
continues to grow, it is pushing its
roots deeper and deeper into the sub
soil, aud drawing .herefrom material
tor the growth and perfection OF the
succeeding grain crop. If, by re-
naming longer upon the land, the
roots OF these plants can penetrate
even two or three iuches deeper in the
ground, they thereby lay under con-
tribution an immense amount Of SOL
otherwise could yield nothing TO the
crop which is to follow. The sugges-