The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-05

That plowing under green crops is
one of the cheapest and easiest methods
OF manuring land is admitted by all
farmers, but the difficulty is that they
imagine they make sacrifice Of clio
yer crop simply to grow another per-
haps of less value. II they will make
a careful comparison of the expense of
material and labor required for manur-
ing with that from the barnyard and
that from the grass crop the advantage
is largely in favor of green manuring.
To properly manure an acre of land
not less than eighty-two horse wagon
loads are required for each inch thick
ness of material placed upon the land,
and in estimating its value there must
be considered the cost of the manure
itself, the labor of the driver and hor-
ses, and the time expended in going
from the barnyard to the field (oi
course, the greater the distance the
longer the time), the loading of the
wagon and the spreading of the ma
nure after it reaches the field These
items of expense are naturally expected,
and are necessary but though the
practice is common, few farmers are
willing to derive tho same results ex-
pccted from the manure by the appar-
cnt sacrifice of a grass crop. They
content themselves with the fact that
they frequently turn under sod,
which is equivalent, in their opinion, to
green manuring,
Flowing under crop, however, is
different matter from turning over q
sod. A sod leaves a mellow, fine soil,
which is always desirable, but crop
not only carries with it all that may be
derived from turning under the sod,
but lightens the soil, aud adds double
the amount of fertiliziug matter, as
compared with that carried under with
the sod. Another point to be observed
is that sod land is never plowed until
the crop has matured--that is, borne
seed, and taken everything from the
soil required by the leaves, stems and
roots. When green manurial crops are
plowed under, however, the maturity
OF the crop is not necessary, and hence
the land is not deprived Of those sub.
stances which enter into the compost
tion of the seeds, and which are more
exhausting than any other portion of
the crop. If, however, crop is de-
sired, the grass may be cut as soon as
1t flowers, and the second crop may be
allowed to grow up for manure. The
consequence will be that expense is
saved in hauling, loading and materials
but, what is more important, there will
be saving of labor in destroying
weeds, which is equally as arduous as
transporting the manure The grass
crop effectualIy clears the land of all
other intruders
Green manurial crops are not con-
fined to grass alone. Even the weeds
may be utilized, provided they are not
allowed to seed before being plowed
under, and by sowing lime over the
land after each plowing there will be
no acididity of the soil, while the rot
ting process will be performed more
speedily and the benefit increased. 1t
may be inquired in what manner the
grass makes the soil more fertile by
merely restoring the elements it re.
ceives from the SOIL The grass, while
deriving nourishment first operates on
the insoluble mineral substances and
returns them to the sod in an available
condition along with other fertilizing
material appropriated from the rains
and atmosphere. Green manuring not
only increases the fertility of the soil,
but reduces it to mechanical condi-
tion far superior to that effected by i'm
plements and it is safe to assert that
during the period of growth the shad-
ing OF the soil adds largely to the ad-
vantages secured by the land from the
growth of the manurial crops.