Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-10-04


of especial value TO those who are in-
terested in the reclamation and devel-
opment Of tbs vast area of "PlaIns
Land" 10 the northern section Of the
lower pensnsuIa Of Michigan.
On the establishment of the sub-ex-
pertinent station, at Grayling. by the
Stare Board of Agriculture. the first
question presenting itself was, III
any, what class of. or individual plant,
would restore this light soil, from
which all vegetable mold or humus
had been removed by successive fires,
to q. fertile condition." Scores of
plants have been introduced for the
attempted solution. of this problem.
but it is the provence of this article to
notice but the single one, Spurry.
Prof. r. g. Kedzie had made thor
ough analysis of the soil of the Jack
Pine land from different localities. aud
therefore had definite knowledge of iss
requirements, and of the several Sc
lections made for the experiments pro-
posed, Spurry was given first place,
and experience has proven that it was
right. Tie first seed was obtained
from Germany, through the reliable
house of Thorburn & Co., of New
York, since which time the seed has
been secured from the crops sown
here.
This plant, of the genus Spergula.
is used in many parts OF Germany as
forage plant. and more often as II
manniial plant for the reclamation Of
Shore sands or of worn out land. It's
chemical analysis shows: Water, 7.32 ;
organic matter. SO. 10; ash, go; albu.
II, lnoids, 1926; carbohydrates. 1897;
crude fiber, rs. 05; fat 3. 90.
The tendency OF all the grasses nat
ural to this section of light soil, is TO
grow in punches, instead of forming
All even sward, and this is true of
nearly every plant introduced in the
line OF experiment. Spurry was u
grand exception To the rule. Every
seed seemed To Rernninate, and the
fields presented perfectly even
growth of this why like plant, 80 thor
onghly entwined that in walking
through it. the foot had 10 be lifted
entirely over it. or sufficient force us
I'd to break the way for each succeed
ing step. It's average growt b has been
from IL to IA inches in height. on the
natural soil, but reaching over feet
on some of the surrounding farms
that had been enriched to II greater or
less extent, aud cutting from one to
two tons of forage per acre, except
that the extreme drouth of the present
year reduced the average about one
half. When ripe there is mt the end
OF each stalk IL seed pod about the size
of IL No. & shot, each containing 4 or 8
seeds. 80 that the yield of seed is from
s to IL bushels per acre. The grow
ing crop forms excellent pasturage for
cattle, though they often refuse 1t at
first, but after once eating IL, will
leave clover field for it. Sheep seem
to prefer it above all forage, and all
stock thrive upon it, when cut and
cured, even eating every particle OF
the dry straw that has been threshed.
after ripening. The introduction of
Spnrry to this section as a forage crop
alone. will prove of immense benefit,
but its use as II manurial crop il Of
much greater value. Its effect On the
physical condition of the soil is 40
marked as To be almost beyond belief.
The soil in its natural state is 80 po.
rons that in passing over plowed
field OH. sinks into il as in a heap oi
dry ashes. but after blowing under "a
single crop of Spurry, the land be-
comes so compact that the difference
would be noticed by the least careful
observer, and its effect on succeeding
S'oP oiS no sh"' ncu, III comparison
with the same crop succeeding any
other plants used. This may be la part
due to the changed condition of the
soil giving a more compact seed bed,
and enabling the new plant TO better
resist drouth. The Spurry itself seems
specially adapted to dry soils, doing
even better than where there Is All ex-
cess of moisture. As before remarked
there is Il tendency for all grasses to
grow in lunches, i'm this soil, and it Is
true of each here mentioned, but the
condition is so changed after a crop of
Spurry has been plowed under that
this difficulty is removed. and there
now plate Ut the following grasses very
even in growth and forming "A uniform
sward. Viz: Timothy and Clover;
Timothy aud Red Top; Tall Meadow
Oat Grass; Red Fescue Meadow FEES
cue; Sleeps Fescue and Alsike Clover
There has not been sufficient time,
nor extended experiment enough to
state definitely, the relative increased
production. following Spurry, but
am satisfied that it is far superior on