The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-07-22
NITROGEN FOR MANURE.
Producing the Needed supply Through
Nitrogen Yielding Plants.

Producing the Needed supply Through
Nitrogen Yielding Plants.
There has been a vast amount of ex
pertinent directed to the problem Of
producing out of the soil the needed
supply of nitrogen through the growth
of nitrogen yielding plants. 1t is well
known that clover peas, beans and 9th
er legumes are especially rich in this
element, nitrogen, and also that, III
some way not yet clearly understood
crops of these plants not only do not ex-
haust the soil of this particular element,
but, III some cases at least, actually leave
the soil which produced the crop richer
in nitrogen than before the crop was
grown
Hence the theory Of growing the le-
guminous plants for their supply of nj
trogen is sound in fact and good in
practice Glover is everywhere recon-
mended for the purpose In comment
ing ON the foregoing the Maine Farmer
says: Farmers among US grow clover to
some extent, and of course secure
measure Of benefit from it A defect OF
our practice, however, Is that 1t is not
introduced often enough on the same
soil In ordinary Maine farming clover
comes into the round Of crops only once
in eight or ten years, and so infrequent-
~ that the effect of its nitrogen supply
is hardly recognized. III the four years
rotation recommended IN an editorial
last week the results would be more
emphatic. BY harvesting first crop of
clover for hay and then turning the
clover sod with its full second crop I'M
der large supply of nitrogen can be
added to the soil for the benefit of the
crops following. The more frequently
this clover and its sod come around in
a rotation the greater the benefit to the
soil
Crimson clover is proving remarkably
successful as a nitrogen furnisher for
the soil down in the middle states 1t is
grown as catch crop after the main
crop of the year is harvested The sea
son in that latitude Is long enough to
secure a rank growth before winter
closes it ill., This turned under in spring
contributes rich supply of nitrogen
laden humus to the soil that has cost
nothing for the making. Crimson clover,
however, cannot be used to so good adj
vantage as nitrogen grower here in
the north. Our seasons are not long
enough to grow it as IA catch crop IN
autumn, and as 1t will not live over
winter it cannot be relied upon for early
spring growth.
Peas are recommended in the north
as an economical crop, not alone for
fodder use, but also at the same time as
a nitrogen grower. The crop certainly
has much to commend it. and its pro
duction is on the increase. Peas, how
ever, cannot be introduced as a catch
crop, but rather as preparatory for the
crop of the year to follow. The southern
cowpea and the vetch are being talked
up at experiment stations as proving
valuable crops as nitrogen catchers and
fodder producers. Some very profitable
crops are reported here in New England.
But it is still question whether as far
north as Maine they will prove any more
successful or valuable than our common
peas.
Through the growing of nitrogen pro-
ducing crops and the feeding of the
same to farm stock, there need not be
any call for the purchase of the costly
nitrogen. Between the clover, the peas
and the barn manures a supply Is with
in reach for continuous cropping. In
the case Of blowing in these nitrogen
bearing crops expressly for fertilizinR
purposes, it is conceded ON all hands
that it never should be done while the
crop is in a green state