The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-08-22
IMPROVING LAND WITH PEAS.

The abundant rains that fell in
most sections throughout the month
OF June and early part of July made
it practicable TO Llow the stuble land
and SOW a large area in peas. We
know of no method so cheap and
universally available as the improv-
ing of land by green crops. 1t is
Natures own original method. But
Nature does not pillow under the
vegetation that springs up sponta-
neously in the forests and fields,
but spreads it as mantle over the
otherwise bare and exposed surface.
We initiate the natural process
when we mulch the potato and
strawberry patches with leaves or
straw. The benefit in this case is
not due wholly to the fact that the
covering Of leaves prevents undue
evaporation Of moisture. There is
amysterious chemical action induc-
ed in the soil that seems to he as
fertilizing in effect as the direct ap-
plication ofmanure. Every observ-
ant farmer has noticed the mellow
ness and increased productiyeness
of the soil that is caused by covering
it for a few months with board or
other object that could not of itself
add directly to the plant food in the
soil. So it is argued with good rea-
son that it is not necessary to turn
under the clover, yeas, or orther
green crop, in order to get the full
tertllizing effect. 1t is claimed that
the beneficial effects are even great
er if such coop be permitted to die
and decay on the surface; and we
think with great show of rea-
son, arguing from analogy. 1t
is known that if the entire pro-
ducts of stems and foliage
everything that grows above
the surface-in crop of clover of
peas be converted into hay, or 9TH
erwise entirely removed, the latter
will still have been greatly improved
in productiveness. Of course in
this case the roots, which form a
large percentage of the whole plant,
are left in soil and this fact is as
signed as the explanation of the APP
parantly anomalous result. But it
does not fully account for it, and
we are almost forced to the conclu-
sion that the increased productive.
ness which follows the growth of a
crop Of peas or clover, whether the
crop be removed entirely or plowed
under, is due to changes brought
about in the soil, during the period
of growing of the crop and its shad-
ing the soil.
Without any further or extended
discussion of the subject, we are led
to conclude that the best DISPOSE
ton of a crop of peas or clover, now
growing in land, is first to convert
into hay, as much, as may be need
ed to supply stock with winter for
age, and secondly to permit the crop
to die and decay On the surface.
We believe it is never be advisable
to pillow under such crop, in the
summer time especially, except as
incidental or necessary to putting
in a crop of small grain. Even if
desired to SOW small grain before
the renovating crop shall have died
naturally or destroyed by frost, it
is probably better to trample the
superabundant growth by the tread
of pasturing cattle, and harrow in
the seed, than to completely invert
the soil. If oats are to be sown fol-
lowing such crop, we have no
doubt the debris of the pea crop,
covering the surface more or less,
will greatly aid in protecting the
oats from winter killing.-Southern
Cultivator.