The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1880-04-01
FARM, GARDEN AND HUUsEuVLp.
Ora SO In Orchards.

Grhss III OrChnrdS.
An opinion is very generally enter
tanned that turf in orchards is not only
not injurious 10 fruit trees, but is ac-
tually IN advantage, as forming n cover
which prevents the too rapid drying of
tie soil. Both Of these views, says the
Berlin PrcSSe, are erroneous. AS regards
the first, it has been actually proved that
tulfed ground gives out far more m1is-
ture than unturfed. Practical expert
ments have shown that during five
months in the summer 4 morgen of turf
land gives off, on the average, 800 cubic
Get of water day; unturfed ground,
though dry on it's surface, is not able to
withdraw so much moisture from the
subsoil; the evaporation which goes on
through the leaves of the grass is far
greater. Turf presents fresher appear
acne, because the roots which attract
the moisture permeate the dry SUPER
fetal layer of soil. The Importance of
the amount of water supply is evident if
we reflect that the quantity evaporated
from the turf in the course of these five
months would, if collected, form stra-
tum OF is meters in depth. The proper
tion of this, which is due directly to rain,
is only about 0.4 meter, so that
at least meter must be made
up from other sources if the ground
is to be kept moist. On good
soils this necessary compensation is
complete. at all events in parts. Coarse
sandy lands, however, and some others
DO not belong to this category; the
plants growin ng on them are referred to
the subsoil, and thus, in case of pro-
longed drough hit, are very liable to in
ury. That turfs and trees together
consume more moisture than either
alone is self-evident. If there be plenty
of moisture in the subsoil, tree-growing
and grass-growing can be carried on
together, especially if the situation be
protected from drying winds. Both
growths, however, make their demands
on the fertility Of the soil. Where
there is much underground water, and
consequently plenty of moisture, no i'll
effect may ersue, but if young trees are
planted in ordinary turfed soil the dis
advantages soon become merifest.
Often such trees will stand for years be,
fore they make any appreciable head
way. And the reason of this is obvi-
Gus, for in their earlier years the roots
of the young trees are lying near the
surface Of the soil, where the little moist
ure and nutriment that may be present.
are absorbed by the roots OF the grass.
1t is only when the roots have got down
deep that the trees begin to make way.
In this manner not only is turf injur-
ious to fruit trees, but any other kind
of plant with thick or matted roots.
Lucerne, for instance, planted under
young trees will soon kill them, and
the same holds good of carrots, endives.
caraways, and many other varieties.
Value of Ashes. ...'.
sui,.s -refaeo- FsT1sa lol
many years, both leached and I'm
leached, I consider them valuable
fertilizer for grass or grain. I have
used large quantities of leached ashes,
generally applying them to land to be
seeded down. first prepare the ground
for sowing; then spread 100 or $50
bushels of leached ashes to the acre,
then sow wheat, barley or oats, as the
case may be, and seed down, narrowing
thoroughly, and when the crop natures
am always pleased with the result. 1
use fifty bushels Of unleached ashes to
the acre. Ashes, whether leached or
unleached, makes very fine top dress
ing for meadows and pastures, and in
every case where 1 have used them the
result for grain or grass has been very
satisfactory, there being large increase
in both quantity and quality of grain or
grass.
My mode of using ashes for corn is to
apply them to the top of the hill before
the corn comes up. As soon as the corn
is planted put about a gill OF unleacned
ashes on the top of each hill, always
preferring to get my corn ashed before a
rain, so that the first shower will carry
the potash from the ashes down into the
hill for the corn roots to feed upon.
apply in the same way for potatoes. 1t
takes, rs I apply them, from fifteen to
twenty bushels to the acre, and think
the ashes thus used are worth half a
dollar per bushel. am satisfied that
ashes, either leached or unleached, are
the best fertilizers the farmer can use.
For immediate effects I know of nothing
that is equal to them, and they are also
lasting. They do not leach through the
Soil like manure, but after an applica-
ton is made to grass or grain the fol-
lowing crops for many years will show
the results.