The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-05-15
ORGANIC MANURES.
The Kind of Fertilization Indica ted BY
Experience.

The Kind of Fertilization 1ndicat TED y
Experience.
Organic manures consist OF vegetable
manures, animal manures and mixtures
of both animal and vegetable manures,
which is the composition of most COM
post heaps. Vegetable manures con-
sist of green crops, seaweed. straw, re-
fuse hay, leaves, grains, etc. Green
manures or green crops are such grow
ing crops as are plowed into the soil,
and usually-consist of clover. buck
wheat, rye. etc, some of which are bet
ter adapted to one kind of soil than
another. To be suited to this purpose
the plants should be of rapid growth.
and such as borrow their sustenance
largely from the atmosphere, for the
reason that such plants bestow more
upon the soil than is extracted from it
in their growth. Upon light, sandy
soil buckwheat aud clover are especial
" suited as green crops. Cabbage,
radishes and mustard are mentioned az
good green manures, but they are Sell
dom employed as such, unless it is the
latter, which in some sections has firm
hold of the soil, and is considered
nuisance that should be abated.
For stiff, clayey soils, peas. beans and
clover are desirable for the reason OF
the mechanical effects that are pro-
duced, but when plowed we should have
a proiuse scattering of lime strewn over
them to aid in their decomposition. In
calcareous soils the additional use of
lime is unnecessary. because of the lime
which the soil contains. An advantage
of green manures upon dry soils is the
addition of vegetable matter which
aids in retaining moisture in the soil for
the use of the growing crop. Green
manuring is well adapted to fields that
are so situated As to render it difficult
to fertilize in the ordinary manner. In
mountainous districts, where it would
be difficult TO adopt other modes of fer
tilizing green manSring may pro6tably
lie resOrte.i to with comparative success
For the purpose of fertilizing for tobac-
CO, after the crop of tobacco was har-
vested in the fall, a crop of rye has
been sown that, by the time Of blowing
the next spring. would be of heavy
2rS"tl, dul WHICH,, piO"OI III. "ouAu
90 long way towards fertiGz:ng the
succeeding crop.
In fields that are infested with weeds.
green manuring crops may be grown.
and serve an excellent purpose in the
destruction Of the weed pests; aud this
is especially true if two green crops
could be grown in one season and
plowed in, as then both the early and
late weed seeds would be likely to
terminate and so be compelled to aid
in the general service of fertilization.
This would be in exact accord with the
idea of Prof johnson. who saws that the
soil should not lie idle. but should be
employed in the production of some
thing, and then this plowed in. and so
aid in the general work Of fertilization
The process of decomposition of green
crops plowed into the soil aids very
much the general work OF pulverization.
Not only do the roots. by penetrating
the soil, furnish plant ntriment in their
decay, but in addition open the avenues
for the roots Of the coming plants. The
same rule also applies to every stalk OF
grass or clover. every stem or every leaf
that is plowed into a tenacious soil
Thousands of avenues for the passage
of roots are opened in every direction.
besides providing therein a means for
their nourishment and future growth
Nature herself is liberal in her means OF
fertilization If farmers will but make use
of the opportunities offered--6ostoa
Globe.