The Forrest City times., 1891-08-21
THE FARM AND HOME.
A DISCUSSION CONCERNING
 CLOVER AS A MANURE,
Will Glover without Manure Maintain the Fertility of the Soil -Stlos for Poor Men-Poultry and
 Farm Notes.
Clover as a Man ure.

The opinion Is very general among observing farmers that clover obtains large portion of its sustenance or material for it's growth from some other source than the soil. or through its roots.
 The opinions of large number of persons Is entitled to great respect but opinions are not evidence. The in- habitants of whole continents may be- lieve in the gross superstitions and abominable ceremonies of hoathenism, but that does not make their beliefs true. As stated in a previous paper, Sir J. R. Lawes. one of the most care full and scientific investigators iu the world, after many experiments extend ing through a large number of years, decided that he was unable to prove that clover obtained particle of its nitrogen from the atmosphere. No other learned man that ever beard of has been able to prove it says writer in the National Stockman and Farmer.
 MT. Waldo r. Brown, who has been tireless reader of agricultural litera- tY2e. in answer to the question. Where does clover get all it's fertility replied. Il neither know nor care; it gets it." It Is easy for us when pressed for the reason for the faith that is in us to say Il know it. because know it.
 If clover has the power to capture and appropriate fertility from the at- mosphere. then why will it not grow in pure sand, if supplied with sui ficient water. If you say 1t needs some other ingredients for growth be- sides nitrogen. the answer is that all these, except nitrogen, have been SUD- piled in the proper proportions and still 1t would not grow. Clover is good trap to catch nitrogen. but its traps are set deep down in the earth where the boys set their traps for wood chucks. II there is none to be found there it will thrive no better than wheat or corn. If clover would grow luxuriantly on poor land. then it would aAswer in the place of manure. then iHieed it wonld be 'the philosophers stone" but this it will not do Hale. who Is an old authority on English Agriculture, says: 1t is bad and ignorant practice to SOW clover on poor ground for 1t will never come to good He does not take much stock in the popular notion that clover leaves catch and devour the free nitro gen floating in the passing wind. and store it up in it's stems and roots to furnish food for succeeding crops. He ssys: "A crop of clover improves the ground by sheltering the superficial part and drawing its nourishment from some depth.
 Prof. Wm. Frear, of Pennsylvania State College. says: Contrary to a general supposition. we have no evil denoe that any plants are able to take nitrogen, except In very inconsiderable quantity. direct from the atmosphere" and that wherever agriculture has been ,practiced without the addition to the soil of fertilizing materials from without the limits of the farm. fertility in spite of the most thorough tillage hns slowly but not less certainly di- unfinished. until the land no longer yielded a profitable crop"
 In regard to maintaining the fertil- ity of the farm. Thomas J. Edge, secretary Of the Pennsylvana board of agriculture. in his report for 1888. which may be considered as the com- biued and concentrated knowledge and understanding of the whole board. snys: We may by the growing of doop rooted plants to be turned under obtain from the sub-soil this reserve of plant food; or we may by the use of lime render soluble and available tho inert mineral matter already in our soil; or we may by the purchase and feeding of grain transfer the for tiliiy of other farms to our own; or by tpe purchase Of commercial fer tilizers we mas accomplish the same result in more direct way No hint of raiding the heavens and stealing fertility from the summer clouds.
 Mr. T. Greiner in his book How to Mako the GarSen Pay. published by Wm. Henry Mauls Philadelphia. hxs this motto: 'Ot nothing. nothing cehes.n and in his chapter on manure says: Manure good manure. and plenty of it is the corner Stone of slic- cess!ul market gaTdening;n and he might also have added of successful fo