The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-02-23

How can plants Increase the fertil,
sity Of the soil ~ In two ways. One
by adding to it that part Of themselves
which they obtain from the, air. and
the other by searching many feet into
the ground with their roots, and bring
ing to the surface the chemicals and
fertilizing material stored there and
filtered from the surface for ages.
This Is. Lucernels method of benefit
ing the soil, and the illustration show
ing the roots searching for new food,
explains, as nothing else can, It's value,
and why it has it. This letter, from
q practical farmer 40 completely ex-
plains and answers every point and.
question, that we cannot add to it. 8
In September l wrote short ar
ticle about Lucerne. T have received
letters concerning it from all parts of
the country, and ct the request of my
friends all over the Union, I will talk
little more about Lucerne, its habits,
uses, and culture. Lucerne viii grow.
on any land that will prosance wheats
corn, or potatoes, and vii thrive on
many lands that none of these will
grow on, especially very light sand or
gravel, though it does well on clay.
). But it will not grow on any land that
the water stands within one foot of
the surface, and there is no use in
sowing it in an salkali that is strong
enough to keep wheat from growing.
Though particular about wet land, it
will stand any amount Of wet in the
summer, as long as there is plenty of
drainage. twill also stand all of the
water in the winter that may fall in
shape of rain, or snow that may melt.
1t is very quick grower, and will
mature the first crop in about two
months from the time that growth
commences. j The second crop viii
mature in about six weeks from the
cutting, and the third in about FIVE
weeks from cutting Of the second.
The second crop is the heaviest, but
the first is q little the best feed, as it
grows aAlittle longer than the others
It will yield about on an average of
six tons per acre, and I have known
it to double that quantity. It is
perennial Of the clover tribe, but will
outyield it two to one, makes just as
good feed, and has 8 great advantage
over the clover, for it never falls down,
but stands up straight
Sowing The best method is to
SOW broadcast about fifteen pounds
per. acre where the land is in good
condition, but on very weedy land or
clear gravel or sand that is very poor,
put about three pounds more. You
cannot get any crop from it the first
year, but do not get discouraged If
the plants are on an average Of ten
inches apart, little, slim single stems
about four or. six inches high. Your
prospect is good that you will get four
IONS per acre next year, and the next
it will be as good as ever it will, and
stand that way for ten years. It is
best to snow with grain Oats are the
best; thus you will lose DO time, but
can have crop from yopr land every
year In fact it does better to have II
shaded when young Sow at the same
time that you do spring grain.
4 Cultivation. =. w here there is
splentyof grain, there is no cultivation
needed for il would be unwise to ma
nure it, as it thrives fully as well on
washed sand. IS it VIII on the best
gard but IN ) few years it will
make clear sand : rich land, owing to-
the decayof the root. The roofs win
sink themselves for distance Of ten
IL turenfu feet straight dawn They