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


therefore, suppose that they do not requir
1t. On the contrary. they ure gross feed
ers OF Ammonia, but their nature is suc
that they get their supply almost eutirel
from the atmosphere. In this way, the,
appropriate very large amount of Ammo
MA, and by process peculiar TO themselves
they Qhrough the sap and roots) deposit i
all in the ground. there to enrich the lane
br other crops. And not only so, they alst
eject such changes IN the minerals Mat hov,
been applied to themselves, as to render them
also more available tc subsequent crops.
Now, in connection with this fact, tha,
peas, and other Leguminoids, do thus enrich
the land, We find other facts apparently Con,
tingent, viz. {: that the fertilixing capacity
otthe peas is in proportion to the Iuxuriarc &C
OF the vines. Also, that the longer the
growth OF the peas, the greater the amount
OF Nitrogen Cor Ammonial -iha4-thax will
supply to the soil. If, 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 one Office at time. IF they
are expected to feed the land, they cannot
be expected at the same time to serve also
as 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 uery
simple: In our experience, wheat and
oats arc the NEST 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 cer-
tain minerals, called by DIR. Ravenel Ash
Element, are the best food for Leguminoids
and that Leguminous plants prepare food
for 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 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
rvraIe and of the he, 81
To plant ,oheat and oats, select high and
thoroughly drained land, plow the land in
May or June, and sow upon it about five
+ tundred pounds of Ash Element and two
bushels peas, per acre, aud 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 find sufficient Judgment and
moisture, and upon tho vines being killed
by frost, beautiful crop Of oats will ap-
pear.
The chief objection TO this last plan is,
that the seed is liable to be molested by
birds and rats.
All these plans will do well, but zoe ,oouH
prefer the first that is the rlo,o-
ing dnd harroUing.
To make a maeadoU of Bermuda Grass,
select field (if practicablc) already pos.
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 to 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 the 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, &c. This may give
trouble for two or three years, but once nc