The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-08-06
Reducing Old Sod.

Sod land sometimes requires a
very long time during which to rot,
and as the value of the time thus
expended in its reduction is often
very valuable, and method that en-
ables such land to be rendered fine
and easily cultivated without occa-
sioning loss of the land for the time
during which it is being made ready
for crop should be adopted. When
sod land is plowed under during a
very dry season a harrow will mate
rally assist in loosening enough of
it to cover the seeds well but if
plowed under when the ground is
very damp the land viii be full of
clods. On sand soils no such diff
Guilty exists, as sod land may then
be plowed and seeded down at once,
especially if shower of rain is ex-
pected.
What We particularly wish to no.
tice is the difficulty often experience
ed in reducing heavy sod ON stiff
clay land. At this season the op-
portunity is an excellent one for re-
alizing a crop during the time the
sod is rctting. For this purpose we
have two excellent agents-buck-
wheat and Hungarian grass. Both
crops are quick growers, and paw
well for the labor and care DEVOTED
to them, considering the short time
they occupy the land. A crop of
buckwheat not only yields good
return on new land, or that which
was in sod, but leaves such land in
splendid condition fora second plow-
ing before the winter sets in. Sod
land put in buckwheat now. and
then plowed again late in the fall,
after the buckwheat is off, may be
put down to rye, and just before
narrowing for the seed. about twen-
ty bushels of lime should be sowed
which viii gradually work down
wards into the soil, by action of the
rains. Itrapidly ro;s the grass, caus-
es chemical action on the soil, and
assists the vegetable matter of the
sod to become converted into availa-
bic plant food In the spring the
rye may be allowed to grow and
mature, but it viii be found econom-
ical and beneficial to plow the
rye and apply twenty bushels of
lime again upon the land by broad
casting it over the rye just before
turning it under, which will cause
it to rot Immediately. By the time
the season for complaining begins
the land will not only be in splendid
condition for corn crop, but will
give large yield without the addi-
ton Of stable manure, while the cul-
tivation OF the corn, by clearing out
the grass and weeds, will soon fit the
land for wheat.
In blowing under sod, lime should
always be used. 1t is a saving Of
time to do SO, for by its chemical
action it lessons the labor of the
second plowing. The buckwheat,
which is usually harvested, may be
plowed under when in bloom if pre-
ferred, and if Hungarian grass be
substituted for the buckwheat it
will yield one crop of hay and grow
again, when it may then be turned
under. In all cases broadcast at
least ten bushels of lime over green
matter when it is turned under.
When plowing in the fall when the
buckwheat is turned under, leave
the plowed land in the rough state,
without using the harrow, which
permits the frost to more easily
assist in pulverising the soil.
With the aid of the frost green ma
nurial crops, and lime, not only
can old sod be easily reduced, but
inferior soils may also be improved
in fertility.