Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-12-17
farm aud Annsehula.
Green Manuring.

Many and varied are the attempts, in
this intelligent age, at restoring fertility
to the soil. Among the successful meth
DDS green manuring stands out promi-
nently, though it is by no means new
device, since the system was practiced
by the Romans over two thousand years
ago. While not proposing to discuss
the whole subject, which would require
volume, yet few points dcduced from
practical experience may be presented
with benefit to the farmer. The benefit
of clover for this purpose is fully rccog-
nized. Occasionally rye is grown for
manuring, sowing it late in August, or
more commonly from September LIST to
October LIST, and turning it under about
Che middle of May, thus growing large
bulk of vegetable fertilizing material dur
ing a period when most of the farm lands
are lying idle.
Without discouraging the practice, yet
we think rye possesses value above
that of ploughing under simply as fer
tilizer. If sown in August or Septem-
Der, sheep might be turned upon it in
November, keeping down the growth,
though care should be exercised not to
feed it too slow If the farmer has a
few sheep which he desires to finish off
before winter, rye would make an excel
lent pasture for such purpose In
April the rye would start, so that in
very short time the ewes and lambs could
b. turned upon it and fed till the time
for ploughing in the rye for another crop.
True, there would not be so large a
growth to turn under, but there would
be greater weight of roots and thicker
heritage, because the rye would tillcr out
more when fed in this manner than if it
was allowed continuous growth from
the time Of sowing Again, the drop
ping of the sheep would aid greatly in
fertiliziDg the soil. The rye would also
start an abundance of milk with ewes,
while the lambs would fatten rapidly
By the time the rye was eaten off the
grass in the pastures would have obtained
II good start, so that the lambs, if they
should not be wanted for the butcher,
would make good size for future stock.
Finally, the wool would make excellent
growth from such feed and the size of the
fleece woull be increased, the staple be-
ing longer and stronger in consequence
thereof.
Our eastern farmers have been trying
many devices for procuring additional
supplies of food for our dairy herds and
beef cattle. Is not some available meth
cd for adding to the feeding material for
our Aocks of sheep worthy our careful
consideration Is there any other way
in which the fertility of many of our
hillside farms can be restored at so low
cost as by increasing the number of
sheep? Raising mutton and wool in
larger quantities than at present will Sc
cure the financial prosperity oe the farm
ers Of this section. 1t is quite common
in England to turn sheep upon wheat in
the fall; they cat it down, causing it to
tiller more, while their trampling upon
the ground tends to press the earth more
closely against the roots. preventing
from being thrown out by the frosts in
winter and spring. Their droppings en-
rich the soil, and a heavier crop of wheat
is the consequence If rye were allowed
to ripen its seed a heavier crop woald be
the consequence of its having been eaten
down in the fall by sheep Sometimes
wheat is eaten off in the spring, andlso
might the rye; yet whether this should
be done or not would be matter for the
farmer to decide according TO his ud-
vidual surroundings But one thing is
very certaln-ryc would make an excel
lent crop To turn under after having been
pasturcd by sheep both in the fall and
spring. Let every farmer whose cir
cumstanccs will permit determine to add
flock of sheep, large or small to his
farm stock, investigating the question of
cheap and available feeding material,
pro6ting by the experience of thousands
of British farmers who have added to the
fertility of their acres, as well as the
length Of their purse, through intcll-
gent sheep husbandry.