McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-10-25
FARM AND AOME E..
Grass on Sandy Soils.

One of the difficulties of farming light
sandy soils is that of securing a sod.
The natural grasses to such soils are
few. All farmers desire to grow the
cultivated grasses, for they are consid-
cred Indispensable to successful stock
raising, and the keeping of stock con-
duces to the improvement and fertility
of the soil. With the beginning of a
growth of grass the hopes of better
system of cultivation are inspired, for
it enables rotation of crops to advan-
tage.
There are several obstacles in the
way of securing good sod on sandy
soils, one of which is a lack of moisture
in dry seasons. Sandy soils sometimes
retain moisture for a greater length of
time than those that are heavier, but
not near the surface. With clover it is
necessary to get the young plants well
rooted and firmly established as early
as possible, as they Immediately perish
when subjected to high degrees of heat
from the sun and lack of moisture be-
low; but when the roots are deep
enough in the earth to reach the moist
ure that is lower down the danger is
over. To do this it is best to seed clover
in the fall, rather than in the spring, on
light soils, for sucn soils are not equal
to the task of maturing crop of grain
to shade the young clover, as is prac-
ticed on heavy soils.
. Another obstacle with sandy soils is
insufficient potash. Clover, as well as
most grass crops, requires potash, which
is usually very soluble material, and
when present in sandy soils in state of
solubIlity is carried downward by the
rains. When mari is applied the pot
ash therein is in the shape of silicate,
which is not available to plants on
account of being insoluble. Mari,
therefore, does not act quickly on soils,
but by continued exposure to the heat,
air and moisture, las well as contact
with other substances in the soil, grad
ually becomes reduced, and its atoms
assume. new. shapes and form other
combinations, changing the silicates
into sulphates and other compounds of
potash. To manure with superphos-
plate for grass is expensive, as much
of it will not be appropriated, though
the seeds, which are not always desired,
are benefited by it. -!
Lime in its several shapes acts differ
emily on light and heavy soils. When
applied to heavy soils as a sulphate
(plaster) it quickens the growth of
clover at once, not only entering into
the composition of the plants but caus-
ing a chemica! action on the ingredi-
ents of the soil also. But on sandy
soils plaster seems to have no effect
upon clover, while lime is very benef-
cial. Lime sets free the potash, which
Immediately unites with other
elements, thus assisting the young
plants to secure sufficiency of potash
that would not otherwise be available;
but as potash is usually plentiful on
heavy soils the lime, though really ben
eficial, does not show so marked an
effect, as it must come in comparison
with the natural elements that are avail
able. 49," #- "F
In order, therefore, to fit sandy soils
for grass they should receive light
dressing in the spring and fall of lime
and wood ashes, and, if the latter can
not be obtained, kainit German pot
ash salts) should be substituted. When
mari is resorted to, the better plan is to 1
compost it with stable manure before
using, or 1t should be accompanied,
when applied directly to the land, by
lime, as lime not only hastens the bene-
fetal effects of mari but is itself a valu-
able fertilizer, entering also into the
composition of plants.
Preserving Salt Meats.
Iowa Homestead.
Much of the corned beef and salt pork
put up by farmers becomes tainted or