The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-10-09
GREEN CROPS.
The Practice Of Flowing Them Under as
Manure.

00S6V SUO6Ss
The Practice OF Flowing Them Under rs
This question commands great deal
of attention at the present time, and the
opinions of writer's on the subject differ
very much. One writer thinks worm
out lands can be restored to their origi-
mai fertility by blowing under certain
crops adapted to the purpose. Another
remarks this cannot aid fertility, for the
reason that all that is plowed under the
soil grew out of it. One thinks the only
benefit of this operation is in the me-
chanical effects. Many years ago it was
customary to pillow under large fields of
clover as preparation for = crop Of
wheat. This operation is mostly discOn-
tinued, not because the clover failed to
enrich the land, but because it is found
to be cheaper to use certain chemical
manures. It is still an unsettled Q,,es-
ton whether we can restore the fertility
of worn-Out land by any kind or any
amount Of green manuring. To settle
tHIS 4ueStiOu Ih lily utuu u0VC UCCu
trying series of experiments on lands
either worn out or naturally exceeding
~ poor. In the States bordering on the
Atlantic there is u great amount of poor
sandy soils. How much these soils have
in common, and to what extent they diff
fer are important points for US to know
in order to give or to get information
that may be generally useful We know
that on large part of this land large
crops can be grown without other ma
nure than a small portion of commercial
fertilizer. and as each Of the chemical
elements in the crop exceeds by many
times the same element in the fertilizer.
it appears that every element required
exists to a considerable extent either in
the soil or atmosphere. To what extent
plant can take from the atmosphere
certain of the elements it needs is
question that excites much controversy.
and he who knows most on this subject
has great need of still more knowledge.
That plants take carbon from the atmOs-
phere is admitted; that they take nitro
gen is claimed and denied. One theory of
green crops appears to be based on the
idea that plant can take from the air
limited amount of the organic ele-
ments it needs, Snd when this is plOwed
in it makes the soil still richer in these
elements, and that certain soils are only
deficient in this class of elements.
Where the want is Of mineral nature
it is plain no amount Of green manuring
will make the land fertile. Now, the
all important point is to know what the
soil requires. We purchase and apply q
half-dOzen different elements where
probably one might answer # we knew
which. To test this matter to GER
tain estent, sowed field of rye, and
when the rye was about two feet high
plOwed it under and sowed corn on one
half and Hungarian grass on the other;
these plowed under in turn, and sOwed
rye again. The crop harvested from
this was not what l expected, and I
concluded some minerals were necessa-
nv. then procured some fertilizers Of
different kinds, and quite \ variety of
different chemicals, and planted crops
with these in such a manner as to give
at least some indication of the wants Of
the soil. am not yet ready to give q
detailed account of these experiments,
but am satisfied that we can improve
our soils much more cheaply by buying
the chemicals than the fertilizers at
present prices. South Carolina rock, or
as it is called South Carolina phosphate.
ground exceedingly fine in the form of
''floats" produces an excellent effect on
this soil. and while it costs less than
one-half that of acid phosphate it con-
tains twice AS much of the elements Of
fertility. The nitrates do not appear to
be of any use to the corn crop. OF all
the chemical elements the floats have
done the best. do not believe this soil
needs nitrogen in any form whatever.
and when we buy the regular fertilli-
zers large part of the expense is for
this. Potash is evidently one of the ne
cesities of the soil, as is shown by the
fact that asnlall quantity on field adds
very much to the yield. I can not
learn that experiments have been made
to test the value of salt on these
soils. In some parts of this State salt is
used very much rs a manure. In Cen
trail New York it is very beneficial on
some soils. while on others in the same
locality it is Of no use whatever. In
IiIdkiuH experiments " lCotu tnC WANTS
of our lands it is very easy to be deceiv-
ed. One man plowed in a crop of corn
as preparation for wheat, and sowed
the wheat soon after. The effect was
what any sensible man might have
foreseen. 1t was damage to the wheat
crop. as it prevented the formation of
proper seed BID. That his wheat was
made worse instead of better was no ar
gument against green manuriDg when
properly done.
l notice many similar experiments
which prove nothing for or against this
practice, as the experiments were not
properly managed. shall continue to
experiment until am perfectly satisfied
of the effects on this kind Of land. Red
clover is without doubt the 0est crop for
this purpose where it can be grown, but
where the land is poor to begin with it
is difficult to get clover started. am
now trying Hungarian grass, and this
appears to be good crop for the pur-
pose. The seed is cheap, and it is good
on most any land, and is also valuable
as hay crop for winter use or for soil
ing. We need larger variety Of plants
for soiling, and can improve our lands
by keeping more stock than we can
keep in any other manner. Rye is valu-
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