Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-04-17
HOW TO MANURE CHEApLY.

The question how the farmer, and
especially the eastern farmer, can
most easily and cheaply increase the
fertility Of his land is much the
most important problem that he has
to deal with. We hear great
dell about concentrating farm work
on few acres instead of spreading
it over many. But before this can
be successfully done the few acres
must be made as rich as possible
Intensive farming cannot be made
to ply on poor laai. Nor is it
wise to plant the kinds of crops
that require a great deal Of labor,
unless the land has before been
bro lght into such condition that a
maximum crop can be grown. Here
is what American CuItiyator has to
say in this connection:
Without doubt the growing of
clover to be plowed nnder the third
year, after taking a hay crop from
it the previous year, makes the best
preparation for the potato crop for
all land that has fair amount Of
mineral plant food. Glover is the
cheapest means of supplying nj
trogen to the soil. If to this are
added good dressings for each crop
of phosphate and potash, the land
will rtinuc to increase in fertility
so long as the clover rotation is k pit
up. But there is a great deal Of
land in which mineral plant food
has to supplied before anything can
be grown on it with plo6t. Most
san ly s)is are Of this character.
They are always deficient in potash
for they were not the sand itself
would be decomposed and make o
true soil. With clover to supply
vegetable matter and with potash in
some form TO make clover grow on
it sandy soil can very soon be
brought to a high condition Of
productiyeness. But it requires
continued good management to keep
sandy soil in this condition of fer
tility.
Heavy coils, especially if wet,
reverse these conditions. The
heavy soil is apt to have large
amount Of vegetable matter. because
it ID not easily permeable to air, and
being kept wet most Of the time
what vegetable matter it has decays
very slowly. This in course Of
time accumnlates vegetable matter
50 that the clay, soil is lightcned,
and when well cultivated will be
very productive. But the effect Of
cultivation is to let in light, air and
warmth. This, in a few years,
Gecompo,es what vegetable matter
the soil has, and, its elayey parts
become too compact for profitable
cultivation. The soils will not
produce paying crops and yet they
show by analysis that they are by
no means exhausted.
The thing that most Of these clay
soils need first is to be underdrained,
so as to remove surplus water.
Clover is also the best specific for
such soils. 1t mellows and lightens
the subsoil, while thorough cultiva.
ton helps to make the surface soil
available for crops. After thorough
undertaking it will be found Of
great advantage to use mineral ferti-
lizers freely on heavy soil, for though
analysis may still show the mineral
plant food present in the soil most
of these will be reverted and cannot
be used by plants, except as vegC-
table matter is decaying and giving
off carbonic acid gas in contact with
them. This fact explains the good
effects Of vegetable matter. in soils,
even when it contains little real
plant food. 1t is we'll known to
those who use commercial manur,
that their best effect Is produced on
moist soil, well hIl-d with vegetable
matter. while on pure sands and
gravel they do little good. But if
stable manure is used with the
fertilizer this makes the mineral
available and will do goo even on
sandy or gravelly soils.
DOMESTIC RECIPES.
T.. Al. 49,. Z. r -. -. -