The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-23
Restoring Worn Out Land.

Philadelphia Record.
Land that has been cultivated for a series Of
years with special grain crops will sooner later
lose its fertility and in order restore it quite
an outlay is required of both time and money.
1t IS not difficult matter to secure good yields
worn ont soils provided special fertilizers be
used, but when the soil reaches such condition
it does not pay to attempt to recuperate it and
compel it to produce a crop at the same time
The greatest difficulty with farmers in such
eases is that while they are willing to invest in
fertilizers they hesitate at the loss of time and
the products that would necessarily be expected
from the land. And, therefore, while the proper
plan for recuperating the soil is to omit cropping
IT. Tor ..oIau season ns., the os method is
be rested from labor, as is done under the
fallow system. but such a plan is two slow
Something should be added to it, i'll order to
assist In the process OF recuperation. AS an i'm
poverished soil is supposed to be too poor to
produce anything it is not an easy matter to
resort to green Danuring. but green manurug
(the turning under of some special crop for that
purpose) is the only lasting and permanent
method of improvement.
AS beginning, lime, which is the cheapest
fertilizer, should be used as !. IL ossing in the
fall, broadcasting it the ground after
blowing it. Then rye should be thickly sown
and the ground narrowed There will be but
little benefit derived from the lime before
spring, its action being slow, nor will the rye
make much progress; but when the spring
opens the lime will have liberated sufficient
nourlshment from the soil to induce moderate
growth of the rye. AS the rye may be plowed
under at any time. 1t should be turned under as
as it shows signs of failure. beginning
will have been made, for the young green rye
will quickly decompose, while the lime will still
continue to be beneficial. The rye may be followed
by mixture of oats and field peas which will
derive their nourishment from the lime and de-
caylng rye, and d fair growth may be expected.
AS 1t is not necessary to mature the crop it
should also be turned under in time for a crop of
buckwheat or millet the former being prefer
able, which will make ST. icient pros ress to
thckly cover the ground By ial, when it should
also be plowed under, the land again broadcasted
and reseeded to rye. 1t will not require a large
quantity OF lime. Ten bushels Of air Stacked
lime per acre, in a fine condition, at each appH
cation, Will be sufficient d aiOrity of soils.
The rye will make sufficient growth to be
turned under when the season for planting corn
arrives. and. as years time will have been lost
IN growing the manurial crops, the farmer will
be deslrous Of securing something to recompense
him for his loss. If however, instead of SO
doing, he will hurdle sheep upon the land,
thereby deriving the benefit of their droppings,
and also turning under the ground as fast as the
hurdles are moved, other crops may be seeded
down for the use of the sheep, and the land may
De sown to wheat In the fall and clover in the
spring. By thus devotng the first wear to the
erov3hg of manurial crops, and pasturng sheep
with hurdles the second year. the land will be
permanently restored to fertility, and may be