The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-31
Reducing Ola soa.

Philadel phia Record.
Sod land sometimes requires very long time
during which to rot, and as the value Of time
thus expended in its reduction is often yerv val
liable, any method that enables such land to be
rendered fine and easily cultivated without oc-
casioning loss of the land for the time during
which It is being maze ready for crop should
be adopted When sod land is plowed under
during very dry season harrow win mate
rally assist In loosening enough Of it to cover
the seeds well; but If Dlowed under when the
ground Is very damp, kthe land will be full d
clods. On sandy soils no such difficulty existg
as sod land may then be plowed and seeded
down at once, especially if a shower of rain il
expected.
What we particularly wish to notice is thu
difficulty often experienced in reducing heavy
sod on stiff clay land. At this season the OPP
portunity is an excellent one far realizing
crop during the time the sod is rotting For
this purpose we have two excellent agents
bnckWheat and Hungarian grass. Both crops
are quick growers, and pay we'll for the labor
and care devoted to them, considering the short
time they occupy the land A crop of buckwheat
not only yields o good return on new land, or
that which was.in sod, but leaves such land in
splendid condition for q second blowing before
the winter sets in. Sod land put In huekwheai
now, andsthen plowed again late in the fall after
the buckWheat is off, may be put down to rye
Previous TO sowing the rye, and just before har.
rowing for the seed about twenty bushels Of
lime should be sowed, which viii gradually work
downward into the soil, by action of the rains
1t rapidly rots the grass, callses chemical action
on the soil, and assists the vegetable matter 81
the sod to become converted into available plant
food. In the spring the rye may ba
allowed to grow and mature but Il
will be found economical and beneficial
to plow the rye in and apply twenty bushels Of
lime again upon the land by hroadcasting it;ovei
the rye just before turning it under, which will
cause it to rot Immediately. By the time the
season of corn planting begins the land will not
only be in splendid condition for q corn crop but
win give a large yield without the addition Of
stable manure, while the cultivation of the corn,
by clearing out the grass and weeds, will SOON
fit the landhfor wheat
In blowing under sod, lime should always DO
used 1t is saving Of time to do SO, for by its
chemical action it lessons the labor of the second
blowing. The buckwheat, which is usually
harvested may be plowed under when in bloom
if preferred, and if Hungarian grass be sub
stituted 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 blowing in the fall, when
the buckwheat is turned under, leave the plowed
land in the rough state, without using the har
row, which permits the frost to more easily as
assist in pulverizing the SOIL With the aid Of
the frost, green manurial crops, and lime, not
only can old sod be easily reduced but inferior
soils may also be improved in fertility