The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-09-09
Advantages Of Deep Rich Soil.

Land is naturally rich only when it is
kept rich, as in the prairies and in land
subject to overflow. There is a con-
slant washing out by the rains of some
of the fertIlizing elements, among which
is the principal one in importance, nj
trogeu. To secure this before K disap-
pears must be the aim of the farmer,
and liberal applications of manure, es-
pecially if nitrogen be a large COM
ponent part, must be followed by strong
feeding plants to take up this import
ant element before it gets beyond the
reach of the roots of the plant. Sci
ence has demonstrated this and to ig-
more it is TO suffer loss. 1t will not do
To follow heavy manuring with slight
roofing or feeble-growing plants. We
see this in the first crop of timothy after
the clover has disappeared, when the
stand will be large, the crop feeding
upon the decayed roots of the clover.
After the first season there is less
growth, and in a few years the timothy,
unless kept up by enrichment and fav-
ored by a moits undersoil, will die ont
the clover roots forming channels for
the more speedy disappearance of the
nitrates, which would have been ar
rested by more vigorous, deep-rooting
plants. Ii is for this reason that wheat
crops are so successful after clover, the
roots of this grain penetrating rapidly
and deeply SO with corn and proba-
bly, every strong-growing crop, the
only crops that should follow a heavy
growth OF clover, especially where the
soil is deep and well-drained, carrying
the rain water rapidly through it and
with it always some of the fertilizing
material, unless arrested by appropri-
ate vegetation whose roots penetrate
deeply as they will in such soil.
Hence the success of corn on our deep
alluvial soils. Orchard grass thrives
here remarkably, as does wheat, so far
as the straw is concerned, and in favor
able years the grain also. l have known
forty-siX bushels per acre raised on the
Mohawk river flats in a. good year for
wheat. Even on sandy soil, unless
quite light, heavy manuring may be al
lowed, and is an advantage if immedi-
ately followed by a strong feeding crop.
Heavy crops of corn are thus grown. 1t
is remarkable to what extent roots will
penetrate in such soil, following the
manure and the moisture. l have
known blackberry roots to extend over
five feet in sand (what seemed pure
sand); clover and hop roots nearly the
same, in a deep, loose soil. Orchard grass
also ilourishes here, only give it manure,
which it will bear in good quantities
oftor - - ,,yo11 opto blicbaI allOu-;Dor IF
tie waste, because its long and many
roots occupy and penetrate the soil.
Hence also it stands the drouth well,
but will do equally well in moist situa-
tions-indeed in almost any situation,
so that it has root room and is fed
enough, returning with good profit the
outlay of manure upon it, but failing in
soil scantily fed that would support
other less vigorous plants.
Trees and shrubs are particularly cal
culated for deep, loose soils and will
grow almost in pure sand. Look at the
forests of the Northwoods where the
soil is nearly all sand; you are surprised
to see such growth on such soil; and as
to blackberries and raspberries, there
seems to be no end to them. Every
leaf, every twig that decays here is sure
to be taken up by the roots it comes in
contact with in its course through the
soil. As to growing grain and grass
here after the land is cleared, the at.
tempt has proved a failure. The land
therefore is left to the berries and to 8
new growth of wood which is slowly
taking possession of it. And yet some
of this soil is under successful cultiva-
ton. Heavy crops of corn and clover
are raised, of course by a correspond
ing amount of manure. Timothy stands
little chance here, and | may include
the grain in a dry season. Wheat can
not well be raised as the soil is too light
/ have mentioned orchard grass re-
peatedly, as it is particularly adapted
to deep soil, highly MANFRED, doub-
ling the yield and more, as compared
with the general grasses and, as l have
said, Increasing the profit, making an
acre serve the purpose of two or more.
Three good crops may be cut in sea-
son with sufficient fall grass left for
winter protection, the first crop cut
when just headed out Ga heavy one.)
the rest as aftermath. This grass is
still better for pasture, allowing of close
feeding when it is tender and nutritious
and relished by stock, imparting also a
fine flavor TO milk.
The true doctrine, therefore, is to
manure highly for the strong-growing,
deep-rooting plants, such as corn and |
clover, the thrifty grasses, millet. etc,
as these will use up much more manure
and realize more proportionate profit. |
They are the crops to grow largely.
The same amount of manure applied to |
the less fast-growing plants is to loose
some of it-particularly in sandy and |
all leachy soil-and is not sufficient for |
the strong feeders.-Cor. Country Gen
tLonlG7a.