The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-10
Glover and Nitrogen.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
Nitrate of soda is extensively used for
it's nitrogen, and, as it is very soluble,
it is at all times available for the use of
plants. 1t contains about 16 per cent. OF
nitrogen, or 800 pounds per ton of 1900
pounds. The cost of the nitrogen, at 10
cents per pound, is s4S per ton of nitrate
of soda. The price of nitrogen is not fixed,
however, and varies according to the
demand and supply. An application of
1000 pounds of nitrate of soda is consid-
cred large one. and 500 pounds is even
far above the average. Estimating 1000
pounds of nitrate of soda at s24. and con-
tanning 100 pounds of nitrogen, it may be
considered a large expenditure for a
farmer to devote to one acre, but when
the nitrogen is grown on the farm the
gain to the farmer may be equal to the
value of crop that is sold in the mar
ket. A yield of four tons of clover hay on a
farm is equivalent to 1000 pounds of
nitrate of soda, in nitrogen, estimating
each ton of hay as containing forty pounds
OF nitrogen. Such crop, therefore, III
mot harvested at all. and allowed to re-
main on the ground to be plowed in. would
be equal to $25 worth of fertilizers pur-
chased for the nitrogen contained. But
farmers are correct in utilizing clover
nay as food for stock as il Is then not
only converted into milk or meat, but that
portion not utilized (undigested) is re-
duced TO more available condition for
plants by being passed through the bodies
of the animals. 1t is claimed, however,
mat the mass of roots and stubble left
over in the ground are nearly equal to
the tops, and the farmer. therefore. en-
riches his soil from that source.
Green clover contains a large proportion
OF water; hence there is difference be-
. OHe1Oh not -ia1 and saln n
A ton or green clover contains about one
half of l per cent of nitrogen, while
clover hay contains 2 per cent, or four
times as much as green clover. The COM
position of clovers differs, as there are sew
eral varities-red, mammoth, alsike, scar
let and whitehall are well-known to
farmers, but the common red kind is most
~ grown. III an acre produced three tons
or clover hay, such clover, when green
and before cured, would weigh twelve tons
nine tons being really water but this de-
ponds largely upon the stage of growth at
which 1t Is moved, the nearer the approach
or maturity the smaller the proportion of
water. This large mass of water in the
green clover causes il TO more quickly de-
compose in the soil than will the cured
hay, and the soil is consequently soured
10 certain extent by the vegetable and
mineral acids resulting from the decom-
position sf the clover. The use of an al
kali, therefore like lime, neutralizes the
acids and assists in the chemical action
occurring in the soil, the lime also serving
..
Potash and phosphoric acid ere also essen
tlal for crops, but the farmer can purchas Sc
those substances at one-third the cost of
nitrogen, and should, therefore aim to
produce as much nitrogen as possible on
the farm by the use of the leguminOus
plants-clover beans, peas etc.
If there is q farm on which clover will
not grow use lime, and then procure earth
from field on which clover has been
grown successfully, in order that the soil
may be inoculated with the microbes that
assist clover in deriving nitrogen from the
atmosphere. That such can be accomplished
has been demonstrated by NJ. Grandeau in
spector general of the French agricultural
experiment station, and Herr Fruhweh of
Germany. They secured 134 pounds of nj
trogen per acre with clover and soil inocu-
lation, M. Grandeur sowing 500 pounds of
lmpregnated earth per acre on one plot
1000 pounds on second plot and none on
the third field, the first crop producing
twice as much as the third and the second
three times as much. In Germany the
Lupitz" method is largely used II is to
employ substance known as ''nitragen -
which is culture OF the required microbe
but the other elements of fertility such as
lime and potash, are also added by which
method all kinds of crops were made to
cent in the cost of fertilizers Not only
should clover be a staple crop on all farms.
but farmers can grow quick-maturing crops,
such as rye, oats, COW peas, millet and
buckwheat for turning under which. with
the aid of lime or wood ashes will largely
increase the fertility of the soil at a small
cost proportionately, but farmers should
not neglect the use of manure and fer
tilizers while growing green materials.