The news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1882-1891, 1882-07-13
FARM NOTES
Green nranurins ON sandy Soils.

Sandy soils that are destitute of
clay are not easily brought up to a
high state Of fertility, and much diff
fculty has been experienced in get
ting them set to clover. Most
farmers believe that soil once in
clover sod can be placed under high
cultivation. In the first place, there
Is required preparation not usually
made 10 order to accomplish such a
purpose A great difficulty in the
way Is the porosity Of such soils.
Clover On sandy soils should be seed
I'd In the fall, just as the fall rains are
beginning, and not in the spring, as
doae on clay soils. Before seeding
to clover the previous year should be
devoted to green manuring, and the
process continued till time for seed
ing the succeeding season. This oc-
casions the loss of a year and the
expense Of labor and seed, but no
doubt the renovation Of the soil aill
be an emple remuneration for the
time and outlay. The lack Of grass
has compelled the farmers in sandy
sections to buy milk and butter.
This difficulty can be obviated if a
stand Of clover is procured, which not
only assists in keeping stock on the
farms, but is fertilizing in nature by
reason Of the covering it affords, the
nitrogen it adds and the chemical
changes 1t produces.
There are many methods of green
manuring, but the system best suited
for sandy soils is the one which gives
. greater number Of crops in success
sion and frequent turnings under.
If the process is begun in the spsiog
mixture Of oats aud peas is excel
lent. One need not wait for. the crop
to mature, but when the peas are
beginning to bloom turn them 10. II
the soil is not warm enough for buck
wheat SOW peas again and turn under.
Then try buckwheat, af'er buckwhea,
SOW millet, Hungarian grass or corn.
The last crop should be left until
time for sowing rye, unless there is
danger Of its seeding itself, which
should not be allowed. Sow rye fer
. winter occupant Of the ground,
turning the rye under in the spring.
Follow with cow peas. When the
COW peas are under, lime well, and
leave the ground for clover, which
can be sown about the 1st of Septem-
Der. An important point to be OBJ
served in green manuring is the fact
that . sprinkling Of lime should be
applied to every crop just previous to
being plowed under. In seeding it is
better to use an excess Of seed rather
than too little. Plaster shows but
little eject on clover grown on sandy
soils, which is not the case on clay
soils, while lime exerts an immediate
effect on light soils. A mixture of
ashes and lime, with a proportion Of
plaster, is very beneficial, and in seed
ing in the fall no other crop should
occupy the ground except the clover.
The COW pea belongs to the clover
family, and answers well in its place
Of rotation, but it requires more time
for growth than the others. The
buckwheat and millet must have
warm weather, and the COW pea
should not be within the reach of
frost.
While it is admitted that the green
manuring method is slow, and requires
time, expense and labor, yet to ac-
complish important results some sac
rifces must be made 1t is very diff
fieult to get stand Of clover on light
sandy soil, but it can be done if the
object justifes the means employed.
The accomplishment, however, Of a
clover set is the beginning of fertility
in the soil, and return of outlay is