The San Saba weekly news. (San Saba, Tex.) 18??-1???, 1891-08-21
THE FARM AND HOME.
A DISCUSSION CONCERNING
CLOVER AS A MANURE.
VIII Glover without Manure Maintain
the Fertility of the SoiI-Slio5 Tor
Poor Men-Poultry and
Farm Notes.


The opinion is very general among
observing farmers that clover obtains
a large portion of its susteuance or
material for its growth from some other
source than the soil or through It's
roots.
The opinions of a large number of
persons is entitled to great respect but
opinions are not evidence. The in
habitants of whole continents may be-
leve in the gross superstitions and
abominable ceremonies OF heathenism.
but that does not make their beliefs
true. As stated in a previous paper.
Sir j. b. Lawes. one OF the most care
full and scientific investigators in the
world, after many experiments extend
Ing through a large number of years
decided that he was unable to prove
that clover obtained a particle of its
nitrogen from the atmosphere. No
other learned man that / ever heard of
has been able to prove it. says a writer
IN the National Stockman and Farmer
Mr. Waldo F. Brown. who has been
a tireless reader OF agricultural litera-
ture, in answer to the question, Where
does clover get all its fertility? replied,
Il neither know nor care; it gets it.
1t Is easy for us when pressed for the
reason for the faith that is in us to say
Il know it because know it"
II 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 suf-
ficient water. II you say it needs
some other ingredients for growth be
sides nitrogen, the answer is that all
these, except nitrogen, have been sup (
piled in the proper proportions and /
still 1t would not grow. Clover is a I
good trap tc catch nitrogen, but its I
traps are set deep down in the earth /
where the boys set their traps for wood I
chucks. II there is none to be found /
there it VIII thrive no better than /
wheat or corn. II clover would grow /
luxuriaRtly on poor land then it would /
answer in the place of manure, then /
indeed il wenld be 1.-The philosophers I
stone;" but this it will not do. Hale, [
who is an old authority on English (
agriculture, SAYS: 1T is a bad and .
ignorant practice TO SOW clover on
poor ground, for it will never come 10
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 its stems and roots to
furnish food for succeeding crops He
says: "a crop Of clover improves the
ground by sheltering the superficial
part and drawing its nourishment from
some depth.
Prof. VIM. Frear OF Pennsylvania
State College. says: Contrary to a
general supposition, we have no evil
dence that any plants are able to take
nitrogen, except in very inconsiderahle
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
has slowly but not less certainly di-
until the land no longer
yielded a profitable crop.
In regard TO maintaining the fcrtil-
ity Of the farm. Thomas J. Edge
OF the Pennsylvania board Of
agriculture, in his report Tor 1888,
which may be considered rs the COM
lined and concentrated knowledge and
TH1CTs1'T11JiiI = on T1-y. noe 5ITT7r--T,
says: I'VE may by the growing of
leep rooted plants TO be turned under
obtain from the sub-soil this reserve
If plant food; or We may by the use
If lime render soluble and available ,
he inert mineral matter already in
,ur soil; or we may by the purchase
md feeding Of grain transfer the fer
ility of other farms to our own: or
" the purchase of commercial fer
ilizers we may accomplish the same
esult in a moro direct way No hint
II raiding the heavens and stealing {
ertility from the summer clouds.
Mr.. I. Greiner in his book How I
o Mako the Garden Pay, published
y Vim. Henry Maule. Philadelphia, 1
las this motto: ''Of nothing. rothing c
ones, and in his chapter on manure
avs: Manure good manure. and l.
lenty of it il the corner stone of sue !
essful market gardening;n and he
light also have added OF successful .
lrming. .