West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-12-19
GREEN MASuRrNa.

Tho necessity for restoring somo OF
the fertility TO our soils which arc
cropped each year is apparent even to
the most casual thinker. IL the soil il
not 10 bc absolutely impoverished, there
must be returning TO as we'll as taxi
ing from II OF the elements OF fertility.
This is self-evidcnt truth, and requires
no proof or illustration TO make it's estab-
lishmcnt complete. Green crop feeding
is the most natural, most feasible and
most economical method 10y which to re.
turn the plant food that is taken from
our fields 10y continual cropping. Barn
yard manure will always, of course, re-
main the farmers chief reliance for en-
riching this land, but green manurial
crops will bo found to bc a valuable and
inexpensive adjunct TO this.
Their effects upon the soil are rcmarka-
bic, their vegetable or organic matter
rendering it at once friablc, active and
fruitful The grecu crops most profita-
bile to be employed for this purpose are
those dcnominatcd "air-feeders," those
possessed OF the power 60 absorb the cle-
ments of organic life from the air, such
nS clover, buCkwheat rye, peas, beans,
etc. Glover undoubtedly stands at tho
head of the list. lt contains large pro-
portion of potash, limo, magncsia, nitro
gen, chlorine, and carbonic, phosporic
and sulphuric acid. It's great value ~ a
manurial plant lies in the fact that it's
leaves and stems absorb the largest part
of its fcrtliHing gOSscs from the air, aud
take only comparatively small portion
from the soil IL is voracious ''air-
feeder Moreover, its long, thick roots
draw the fcrtilzing saline and mineral
clements of the sub soil up into the sur
face soil, and render them available as
plant food. IL is u cheap and most avail
able agent to supply soils with necessary
nitrogen, which has been well dcnomi-
mated one of the "scarcest and dearest of
mOnurial elements"
Buckwhcat is also valuable manurinI
green crop. 1t is u rapid and hardy
grower, and can be successfully grown
on the same plot year after year, without
materially cxhausting the soil. Two
crops of it can bc grown and plowed
under on the same ground in one season,
aud the ground seeded down with grass
or grain crop in September. II should
bc grown far more extensively than IL is,
it's grain making "A complete poultry food,
while its cultivation is strongly recon-
mcnded as an cradicator Of Canada this
ties, witchgrass and other foul and OBJ
noxious weeds. IL also has a high hy-
gienic value as a purifier of the air, TAX.
ing up the ellluvia and miasma rising I'm
the air from foul sink spouts and other
slovcnly spots about the farm or out
buildings. Let us raise more buclxwhcat.
Tho seed costs but little; il will grow
upon any kind of land, from drifting
sand TO impact clay; IL gives good crop;
its straw contain1 considerable quantities
of potash, soda, lime, magncsa, phos-
phoric ana sulphuric acid, and when
plowcd under 1t decomposes rapidly.
loosens the soil and makes first class
manure.
The pea is of great value as manur.
ial crop, even after the fruit has been
gathered and the vines are fully ripened.
They contain a very large proportion of
potash, lime, magncsia, soda, carbonic
acid and chloride of sodium Besides sui
phuric and phosphoric acid and when
plowed under, it puts the soil in the best
possible condition for other crops, cs-
pccially wheat and grass
Rye is also most valuable manurial
crop, but on the score OF economy is not
so prolitably used for this purpose, it's
grain being too valuable to be economi-
cally sacrificed ns manure.
European ngriculturists also employ
turnips, corn, vetCh and mustard as green
manurial crops, the turnIp being rated as
the best, as il grows in tho cool and
moist climate Of England TO the greatest
perfection. But this, like the vetch, is
a prccarious plant in the hotter and
dryer climate Of New England.
Tie proper time TO plow down green
crops, 20 rcnovato the soil, is in the
whrU weather Of summer, when they
are just coming into flower. They
then take on quick decay from their
immatured condition when the sun has
It's greatest power 10 aid in tho process
Of fermentation and decay. Let our
farmers try the practice Of green manur-
ing, and the results achieved will be sure
10 induce them to continue IL as set
tied policy in their farm operations.-
AmcricdH CUitir0tor.