Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-07-29
fart1 aud firsside.
LETTING LAND LIE IDLE,

advantage of occupying their grain
fields with some growing crop after the
grain is harvested. Land in state of
nature is occupied the season through.
There is no "rest," as is held necessary
by some, with cultivated soil, for the
reason that no effort is required fol-
growth. Practice has demonstrated
this long ago, where land has been
titled annually for generations, bearing
as good crops now as at first, and bet
ter where the land has been properly
taken care of. The practice of keep
Jig the ground unoccupied the latter
part of the season from the time the
grain crop is removed, has nothing at
Sll to recommend it, and much to op-
rose. The land is not only idle, but
here is chance for weeds and coarse
grasses to grow and ripen their seeds
especially in moist weather, which
sometimes occurs in the latter part of
the season. This, in large proportion
of land, is great source of evil, as our
fields abundantly attest. To have the
ground exposed during the heat and
drouth of August and September, is
not likely to benefit it. On the other
hand, to cultivate and harrow it is a
benefit, no doubt more than paying for
the triAing expense of the work, which
is soon accomplished. If the plow is
needed on account of grass and weeds,
all the greater will be the benefit.
Immediately after the ground is
worked when yet moist, sow it to some
crop so as to get it started in case OF
drouth. During the rest of the season
the growth will be drawing fertility
from the atmosphere, and shading the
ground no doubt further favors fertili-
|ty. This crop turned down in the fall p,
rather lightly, will afford an excellent
seed bed in the spring, with the GER
tainty of an increased yield in the
crop, and the land will be cleaner and
in better condition. This practice con-
tinued yearly will be constant bene-
fit, requiring less manure and the veg
etable material thus added will fur
ther favor fertility by retention and
the chemical effect upon the mineral
matter of the soil. Clay soil will also
be less tenacious and hard. The effect
is somewhat like yearly turning down
sod, with the advantage of more speedy
decomposition, and benefit to the crop
that follows.
The advantage here over green ma
nuring proper is that it does not inter-
fere with the regular cropping of the
season. The earlier crops, like wheat
and rye, being removed, a large mass
of vegetable material may be grown
and turned down in time for the fall
sowing of winter grain. For this pur-
pose there is probably nothing better
than the pea, which will readily rot
and afford psbulum for good growth
of the grain by winter, the ground be-
coming sufficiently compact by spring
for this grain, especially in clay soils.
One of my neighbors raised % bushels
per acre of wheat on sod turned down
few weeks before sowing. The sea-
son was favorable for wheat. The
next year wheat on the same ground,
well worked without manure, was a
failure. 1 have known stubble ground
bearing coarse grass and weeds turned
down with success for wheat, and this
without manure, the soil not over rich,
and for years cropped and reduced.
The point of Importance to be al
ways kept in view is the amount OF
vegetable matter in the soil. In old
worn out land it is always more or less
wanting, and here it has the greatest
effect, and a comparatively small
amount doing much to increase the
growth. I have seen this done in not
few cases, and it has always been
satisfactory. Rye and peas are the
plants mostly used, and millet where
the ground is not pooris recommended.
Any quick growing rich plant will do.
With rye and peas no mistake can be
made, as they are of quick growth and
rich in fertilizing material. The pea
is best adapted to summer growth, to
follow after wheat or rye. AS it is q
faster grower a large amount of mater
ial is secured to be turned down in the
fall or spring. Another thing with
this grain is ofspecial value tits adap-
ted to poor or run down soil with the
aid of plaster which, where it has its
full effect, more than doubles the
growth. and hence should always be
used for this purpose. In such case
nothing approaches it for fertilizing
land cheaply in short time, and no
time is better than after a grain crop,
to fill the idle gap.
Where the time of growth is shorter,
as after late crops, rye is the plant,
growing on till winter, and early and
rapidly in the spring, affording a rich
and abundant mass of matter to turn
down on land not too much impover-
ished, otherwise manure must be used,
and it is paying operation where the
time will allow of its application; the
manure, instead of being frittered away,
is retained in the soil. 1t should be
the study of the farmer how best be
may fill up this gap of the season-a
great advantage long neglected.
Much can be done, and in various
ways, and it should be made regular
work on the farm. There is wide
range of treatment, from simple har-
rowing the land and sowing the seed,
as on sandy soil, to the more elaborate
working and manuring which clay
requires. For experiment take light
soil, harrow we'll, weighting the har-
row if necessary; sow peas, using
pypsum for manure. This is soon
done with little cost. Omit the ex-
neriment on mart of the field so as OF