The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-06
FARM AND
GARDEN
INTERESTS
Green ManuriaI Crops.


Philadelphia Record.
The best time to begin with green ma
nurial crops for blowing under is as soon
as the ground can be worked, as il is then
possible to grow two crops during the year.
1t is customary with some TO sow rye or
crimson clover in the fan, to be turned
under in spring. but the mistake made is
in not GLOWING with another green ma
nurial crop, whenever possible. by which
method three crops can pc proved under
in twelve months. though the rule is only
two crops. Farmers, however, are not
partial TO losing a years time without
some return in the form of a crop that
can be harvested, for which reason they
plow the crimson clover under and plant
corn, or follow the rye with a potato crop.
As crimson clover adds a large amount
or nitrogen TO the soil when plowed under
IL Is really a SaIable crop, the farmer pro-
Vldlng a home market therefor, as II saves
him the cost of the same amount of nitro
gen In commercial fertilizers that he might
De compelled TO purchase, and although the
corn crop brings cash, yet the crop takes
from the soil the fertility thereof, and the
gain may not really be as large as sup
posed Wnen the receipts and expenses are
compared. especially if the soil is not fer
tile, as ii costs more 10 grow corn on poor
soil than on that which is fertile, owing
the cost per bushel of corn, the proper
tionate outlay for labor being less.
Crimson clover should be plowed under
when the plants are in blossom, and just
beginning 10 ripen the seeds, for then the
crop contains the largest amount OF nitro
gen. for the longer it can be continued
blowing II the greater the advantages for
the bacteria TO work on the roots. If
plowed under, and the ground seeded to
cow peas, another nltrogen-gatherlng crop
can be plowed under, and if the cow peas
grow rapidly there may yet be another;
but as the land should again be seeded TO
crimson clover in August. il is better TO
turn under a single heavy growth of cow
peas, though if crimson clover is not de-
sired there may be a second crop of cow
peas. which should be followed by rye in
late fall.
The decomposition of so much green ma
terial in the soil will result in the olsen
gagement of considerable carbonic acid,
which will also exert some chemical effect
on the inert plant foods of the soil, thus
increasing the proportion of available min
eTal matter, but some soils may be rem
dered sour; hence the use of lime, late in
the fall, when narrowing for the latest crop
seeded; will be an advantage. as ii will
neutralizs the acid of the soil and assist
in putting it in better condition for the
work of bacteria the following summer.
In some experiments made 1t was found
that lime did not increase the yield of seeds
or vines of cow peas, but such results may
be due to the fact that lime acts slowly
and that where such soils were lined better
results will be obtained another season.
Some of the advantages gained are the &C
cumulation OF nitrogen in the soil, the rem
dering soluble of unavailable mineral mat
ter, the protection of the soil with COW
cred crops. the addition of large amounts
of humus-forming material TO the land and
the mechanical changes in the soil. The
only disadvantage is the loss of the land
upon which a marketable crop can be
grown during the year, its value depend
ing upon the kind of crop and the ca
pacity of the soil.
Among the other green crops that are sell
dom used may be mentioned corn, millet,
turnips, rape, sorghum, soy beans, etc, but
the crimson clover and cow pea crops are
preferred. 1t is claimed that turnips, by
reason of their deep penetrating roots, ap-
propriate q large proportion of the mineral
elements of the subsoil, which are brought
to the surface when they are plowed under,
thus following cow peas as an aid in in
creasing the amount of available mineral
matter, but the nitrogen from the cow peas
is a clear gain to the farmer, being de-
rived from the atmosphere, while the min
eral matter is taken from the lower por-
tions of the land and brought within his
rea ch. Any method, however, that renders
the plant foods in the soil more available
should be adopted.