Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-27
Epitome Of the Best Scion.
tifie Thought and Practice.

By means OF green manure, land
which is practically barren may be
brought up to a state of fertility where
it will produce profitable crops. There
is one record of such an instance In
Michigan, where on the Jack pine
pla ms of that state in 1888 expert
ments were undertaken on the light,
sandy. almost barren soil Of these
plains. Green manuring was practiced,
supplemented by cheap fertilizers, and
I'm three years marked improvement
was evident in the physical character
istics and the increased yield of crops
But the method of green manure
perhaps finds it's widest application by
taking the place Of the more expensive
fertilizers and manureS upon soils of
already medium to poor fertility.
These leguminous crops secure their
phosphorus and potassium from the soil.
but II is one of the most valuable and i'm
portant discoveries OF agricultural science
that they obtain the greater part of the
necessary nitrogen for use of the crop
from the air, which in commercial form
would cost from Il to 20 cents per pound.
DR.. Morris of llney, H.. when address
ing us at this time and place. last season
told us that by his own estimate every
owner of 100 acres of land also possessed,
over it, above ii ana resting upon it nitro
gen 20 the SaIue OF
All attempts to render this nitrogen of
the air available by chemical ms have
been unsuccessful. AS has been men,
toned before. nitrogen is very valuable
| fertilizer; this Is so from the fact that it is
contained In the soil in comparatively
small quantities, and is so extremely eS-
| sental to plant growth. Small quantities
of nitrogen are washed down into the soil
by the rains and other small quantities
are obtained from the air in other ways.
1t is known that the air contains about
~ per cent Of nitrogen and Il per cent. OF
oxygen. and it was formerly supposed
this nitIo gen of the air through the
leaves. but some notable experiments have
proved that leguminous plants have no
power to absorb any of it through the
| leaves stem.
1t was also proved later that this family
of plants did secure nitrogen either direct
| ly or indirectly from the air Through the
roots by the aid of tubercleS or nodules
| formed upon the roots by bacteria OF
| fungus which enter the roots through the
| finer hairlike roots.
| The tubercles are formed by the plant
\ through the action of the bacteria. which
| in no way injure the plant. but. on the
contrary. furnish it with all necessary
| nitrogen which the bacteria obtain from
the air and then converting II into com
| of the plant. And in this manner Othel
crops are benefited by what plant food
has remained in the roots and the sol
| WIFI Tic tIONcI VI OtiItI Nlop has DccI
plowed up so that other crops may be
grown.
The bacteria may live without heing ir
connection with the plant. And also The
different legumnous plants possess bdc'
terra peculiar to each of the different
plants. DR.. Hopkins tells MS that We ma.
obtain the nitrogen contained in the ali
| In this manner at cost OF l cent pei
pound.
Yet i almost am persuaded that the
most rational methods are employed il
growing and afterward in utilizing som:
of these crops of hay or forage that il
need cost us nothing whatever.
And while We have considered clover a.
useful for green maAuring i; seems &
: Wasteful practice upon our better and me
dunn class of soils. but We may feed then
to better advantage, thus producing
; more and richer manure for use upon III.
land.
Farmers differ widely as to methods o.
: sowing clover seed. and every thinking
| peculiar conditions and adopt method:
which in his own judgment seem bes
suited to his conditions.
Where wheat and I'VE are grown clover
seed may be sowed in the spring upon fal
seeding of these crops. But where neithc
Is grown perhaps oats are most larscl!
= employed q nurse crop. sowing then
: rather thin. Very thorough preparation
should be given the ground before sowing
and really the season has the creates in
3 nuence as to whether a stand IS secured.
In case of only partial stand. We ma!
, SOW upon the same field timothy seed il
the fall. and perhaps secure mixed pas
ture or meadow as the case may he.