The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-01
GIlt 6aruler.
Green Crops as Manure.


That blowing 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 a clover crop simply to
grow another, perhaps of less value If
they will make careful comparison of the
expense Of material and labor required for
manuring 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 re-
CURED for each inch thickness of material
placed upon the land, and in estimating its
value there must be considered the cost of
the manure itself, the labor of Che driver
and horses, and the time expended in going
from the barnyard to the field (of course,
the greater the distance the longer the
time), the loading Of the wagon and the
spreading of the manure after it reaches
the field. These items of expense are
naturally expected, and are necessary; but
though the practice is common, few farm
ers are willing to derive the same results
expected from the manure by the apparent
sacrifice of a grass crop. They content
themselves with the fact that they fire.
quently turn under sod, which is equiv
alent, in their opinion. to green manuring.
Flowing under crop, however, is
different matter from turning over a sod.
A sod leaves mellow, fine soil, which is
always desirable; but crop not only car
ries with it all that may be derived from
turning under the sod, but lightens the
soil, and adds double the amount of fer
tilizing matter, as compared with that car
ried 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 substances
which enter into composition of the seeds,
and which are more exhausting than any
other portion of the crop. If, however,
crop is desired, the grass may be cut as
soon as it flowers, and the second crop may
be allowed to grow up for manure. The
consequence viii be that expense is saved
in hauling, loading and material; 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 effectually clears
the land of all other intruders.
Green manurial crops are not confined
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 pillow
ing there will be no aeidity of the soil,
while the rotting process viii be performed
more speedily and the benefit increased
It may be inquired in what manner the
grass makes the soil more fertile by merely
restoring the elements it receives from the
soil. The grass, while deriving nourish-
ment, first operates ON the insoluble min
eral substances and returns them to the
soil in an available condition along with
other fertilizing material appropriated from
the rains and atmosphere Green manur-
ing not only increases the fertility of the
soil, but reduces it to mechanical condi-
ton far superior 70 that effected by imple-
ments; and it is safe to assert that during
the period of growth the shading of the
soil adds largely to the advantage secured
by the land from the growth of the manu-
rial crops.