The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-11

When man IN his ignorance or reck-
lessress robs tie land of its avail-ble plant
food and then abandOns 1t, nature begins
the work OF restoration. From its meth
DDS we can learn much. In fact, success
In farming comes only IN harmonious
working with nature, our duty being to
assist and direct the forces The first Ell
fort made by nature when a field is aban-
doned is to cover the surface with some
kind OF growth. This covering may be
briers or bushes, or some Wild grass that
thrives On poor soils. In our Efforts to
restore or maintain the fertility of our
lands, the value OF projection for the
coil cannot be over-estimated. II promotes
the formation of the nitrates from the
nitrogen Of the cir that are most valuable
a. plant foods. In this consists one OF the
advantages of q mulch. Farmers are
learnin. TO keep their fields covered with
some growing crop all the time-with
clover or rye or other grasses or with regu-
lar crops.
But covering is not all that is needed.
II helps the formation OF some plant food.
but in insufficient quantities to keep up
fertility when We yearly remove a crop.
Nature leaves tie crop on the land when
ii IS abaudOn3d 20 her care, and thus has
tens 70 restore fertility Ii we remove
the crop we must increase natures power
TO gather plant food This : the purpose
OF mans endowment with intelligence.
VIVA, have We learned? Simply this:
That there IS . number Of plants that are
p-cu.driv LI-ed for gathering the eie-
N rts thgc pTOIUce vegetation. They
have tkc peculiar power OF gathering the
nitrogen dIrsct from tha air. Nitrogen Is
tie mos costly and desirable cement Of
plant food. Ia the roots OF q lev plants.
OF wiiiei. clover is chief, there Is q proyis-
ion Tor Gathering from the air that per-
n.e4ics lEc soil Iarge store Of nitrogen.
a part o: this nitrogen Is stored II the
tops Of lie clover. hut an equally large
part is stored IL the roots, where il Is sale
from the danger Ct removal By ma2.
" hen clover is cut Tor hay not half the
n anuriai yalue 81 the crop Is removed.
TIE lands deserve both roots and tops. but
IL : sure OF h1lf the new store of plant
food. The value OF clover however. does
not consist wholly in its power to gather
nitrogen lis roots are deep feeders and
OF the subsOi. They are grand fOrasers
in the interest OF future crops. It Is clso
tr9e that they exert n beneficial effect on
the mechanical condition OF the soil. but
we s-e now considering the isr..,ity.
Some have argued that no green tro
could add 70 the fertility OF the az
it could onig render available thas .s..lch
the earth already cOnjsiaed. Ti:is We
know to be Incorrect. Clover, peas. beans,
etc, feed upon tie air in a considerable
degree. and thus add directly to the
amount OF fertility. There Is IN most SUBJ
soils q sufficient store OF tie more common
elem ents for present Use, at least, and
clover brings it within reach OF common
crops. We assist nature in restoring Ter
tiity BY seeding with plants having this
power OF gathering from the ar and sub
soil.
We have already SPOKEN OF the mecEan-
tcal advantages OF green nianuring; now.
the point IS pressed that clover can add to
soil ier.IIlty-nOt only renders ava.able
its present stores. hut gathers and IN
creasee the store from which = MAJ draw
in the future. Ii is wise to aid is growth
By tile app ieltion OF "a. the manure that
can be saved Ca Cemcuted floors and In
covered sheds. but the chief dependence
OF agriculture iCT maintenance OF soil Ter
=
Fairview Fsrr, Ptp,FS-Sa. 2-By David.
When land Is adapted to potato-growing
and market IS within reasonable dis
tance. | kGow Of 10 better paving crop
than potatoes. They require = rich soil.
and II should be lOany and vel drained.
Clover makes the preparation for the crop,
a II Is very rich in potash, an element
potatoes require. I believe IN pretty
thOroHgh preparation of the ground for
pota-ocs. as the pants come up more
eTta.y IN cry spring, and are usually
NOR thrifty. Tn. disc harrow il a good
iTnP.e-oent Tor preparing q fresh turned
clover sod Tor Planting, although COM
mon drag harrow we'll weighted does
very good work. The top five inches of
the SOL should be thoroughly pulverizsd.
The sod underneath that can be torn TO
pieces later.
One hears mich 2rgumept among farm
ers a. 70 the relative merits OF large and
small seed. The small seed costs much
less, and il Is claiued that, NOT being true
seet at ali, bat only tuOeTs, the small pO-
tadOes are gOosi a. the large that thcy are
not lacking IN vitality, but having been
formed late IL the season, lacked time for
fuli growth. l have one serious objection
for sussll potatoes for seed: II they are
CT. sufficiently small to leave tie right
number OF eyes for hall. there u not
enough potato to nourIsh the stalks until
they become rooted in the ground. II
planted Waoie there are too mauv eyes,
and 100 many small stalks in the hill l
fad that whole seed are best for rae.
3Io-e potatoes can be raised In drills
than checks but tlse cultivation required
is greater. In rich land ] think drilling
viii usually paw, bus the difference il net
profit Is not great ii the checks are not
over thirty-tsO inches. One advantage in
checking potatoes Ia compact soils is that
q thorough and deep cultivation can be
given On al sidys OF hill. when potatoes
first snow above the ground, and that is
an important point when heavy spring
Vains have followed the planting. After