The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-02-27

s"ofeIore, suppose that they do not requir,
It,. Oa the contrary, they are gross feed
ers OF Ammonia, but their nature is suci
that they get their supply almost entirel,
from the atmosphere. In this. way, they
appropr'ate'a very large amount of Ammo
MIA, and by process peculiar to themselves
they (through the sap and roots) deposit /,
ell in the ground. there to enrich the land
f,r other crops. And not only so, they also
eject such changes IN the mincrals that hayt
been applied to themselves, as TO render them
also more available tc subsequent crops.
Now, in connection with this fact that
peas, and other Lcguminoids, do thus enrich
the land, We find other facts apparently Con.
t,ngeut, viz, that the fertiliring capacity
otthe peas is in proportion to the Iuxuriarce
OF the vines. Also, that the longer the
growth OF the peas, the greater the amount
or Nitrogon Cor Aumonial -ihaf1they will
supply 70 the soil. II, therefore, the peas
are supplying Nitrogen during all the time
OF their growth, it follows that the longer
they remain on the land, the more Nitrogen
will they supply; they should, therefore, be
allowed to die on the ground and then, if
desired, they may be turned under; or, at
least, the turning under should be DELAYED
as long as possible.
1t seems also evident, that the peas can
perform but ono Office at time. IF thew
are expected to feed the land, they cannot
be expected at the same time to serve also
as a food for man and beast; they must, there
fore, be unmolested. -
And, lastly: we observe that the benefit
to the soil is cumulative-that is, there is,
year by year, more heterogeneous matter sup.
piled by the peas than is consumed by the
following crops. So that the lands are un.
dergoing progressive annual improvement
quite the contrary Of the results of agri.
culture as ordinarily practiced.
No,o the application Of all this is very
simple: In our experience, wheas and
oats are the most profitable winter crops.
and Bermuda or joint grass the most profit.
able summer crop.
We will say, then, that we want to grow
these crops. We have found out that Ger.
tain minerals, called by DIR. Ravenel Ash
Element, are the best food for LegumiDoids
and that Leguminous plants prepare food
Tor the graminacious.
10 grow wheat and oats, then, we must
procure the Ash Element and the Legumi.
noids, and apply them as directed, and our
work is, in the main, accomplished.
The Ash Element We have at hand. or
the Leguminoids, there are q great many
varieties-some wild and some cultivated.
some growing in the winter and some in the
summer. Of the winter-growing varieties,
the wild vetch, or rabbit pea. is the most
available and of the summer. growing
varieties the common RED or COW pea.
To plant tOheat and oats, select high and
thoroughly drained land, plow the land in
May or June, and SOW upon it about five
Hundred pounds of Ash Element and two
bushels peas, per acre, and harrow both in
together. In the fall, when the vines have
died down, or the planting season is at
hand, turn them under, broadcast the seed
of the wheat or oats, and harrow in.
Instead of turning in the vines they may
be burned off, and the seed turned in with
the Nischwitch Harrow without plowing-;
or, if the vines (through their extreme lux.
uriance) will not die in time, and cannot
be turned under, then the oats may be sowed
broadcast upon the top of the green vines.
The seed will in time reach the ground
where it will 6nd sufficient lodgment and
moisture, aud upon the vines being killed
by frost, beautiful crop of oats will .ap-
pear.
The chief objection 10 this last plan is,
that the seed is liable to be molested by
birds and rats.
All these plans will do we'll, but pe pouM
decidedly prefer the first that is the 1,lop-
sng and harrO,oing.
To make a n,eadoU of Bermuda Grass,
select field (if practicable) already DOS.
sessed by the grass; otherwise procure
supply OF the grass roots. chop them up,
scatter, them unniformely over the field
after rain, and plow under. In the spring
plow up the field, and broadcast upon It
five hundred pounds Ash Element, and two
bushels peas per acre, and harrow in. Pro-
tect the peas from depreciation, and allow
them 70 die on the ground. In the fall,
SOW the seed Of the native or the imported
vetch on the surface. 1t will find sufficient
cover in tho debris Of the peas. The vetch
grows from October TO May, when it seeds
abundantly, dies, and, rotting on the ground,
supplies an abundance of heterogeneous mat
ter. The following springs, the Bermuda
grass (the roots of which are in the land)
will take possession, and yield in July, one
cutting, another in October. In the fall
apply five hundred pounds Ash Element
again to the soil, to supply tho inorganic
matter taken from the land in the crop re-
moved
The chief difficulty in the establishment
of this meadow will be the eradication of
briars, grasses, weeds, SO. This may give
trouble for two or three years, but once nc.
compiahed, your work is done, and there It
remains permanent source Of income, re-
quiring no plowing, no cultivation, only to
be harvested, and Eve hundred to one thou.
sand pounds Ash Element to be applied