The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-10-18
Green Manurial Crops.

From July to October gives three
months Tor the growth of n crop, but
even the month of August will afford
ample time for growing green material
for plowing under just before winter
begins. Even corn will answer as a
green crop, if nothing else is conven-
lent, for it is not necessary to manure
the crop in order to plow 1t under, and
should frost strike it let 1t go at once,
without regard to age. If 1t is sown
broadcast or planted in rows, it not
only makes quite mass of green vege-
table matter, but shades the soil so
completely that a benefit Is impaired
to the soil from that source alone,
through the formation of humus and
nitrates. 1t cannot make a drain on
the fertility of the soil, as the young
corn will be returned at the proper
time for decomposition. The greatest
tax on the soil is when crop natures
its seed. The leaves and stalks of
young crop are composed largely of
water, which induces rapid decomposi-
ton after the crop is plowed under,
but the shading of the soil and the
prevention of loss of fertility by leach
ing Is largely in favor of planting some
kind of crop during the late summer
that may be of advantage as green
manure. All soils should be covered
with some growth in summer, even
weeds being serviceable if they are
plowed under and are not allowed to
produce seed.
There are also other crops than corn.
ATillet is a rapid-growing crop, and will
reach a good height in time for plowing
under before frost. 1t can be cut for
hay in sixty days after seeding, but as
full maturity is not desired in green
manuring farmers will be under 10
obligations to the frost or rains for help
in that respect. Buckwheat also does
well for the purpose, and 4 mixture Of
oats and peas, sown very thicky to-
gether, creates n dense mass Of green
material for mHnuring. Even mustard,
! radishes or turnips will answer if the
expense of seed is not too costly. The
cowpea is an excellent plant fOr pl0W-
| ing under, and is extensively used in
the South. The sofa bean is recon-
mended by some, and Hungarian grass
grows so rapidly as to even prevent
weeds from getting start One ad-
vantage of green manurial crop is
that the seed should cost but little, and
outside of the preparation of the soil
for the seed but little labor is required.
as such crops can be grown without
cultivation, and may be plowed under
at any stage of growth, which permits
of avoiding loss late in the fall, when
the weather begins to get cold
The cost to the land is not in the
production of stalks, but in allowing
crop to mature, and in sowing the
crops for plowing under, therefore, they
should never be allowed to produce
seed. Dense shade is an object TO be
sought, and thick growth should also
be desired. In turning the materials
under with the plow it is well TO then
harrow just enough to seed the land
to rye or crimson clover, as a winter
crop. to be plowed under the next
spring. An application of from ten to
twenty bushels of lime on lands that
have been supplied with green matter
Is highly beneficial, as the action OF
the caustic lime on the vegetable sab
stances causes chemical decomposition
to take place in the soil, through the
action of vegetable acids, and the rains
assist in the processes by bringing
down and adding the stronger nitric
acid Altogether the benefits to be de-
rived from the green manuring depends
not alone on the amount Of material
added. but also to the various changes
effected from the mutual union and de-
composition of vegetable and mineral
substances. August is an excellent
time of seeding down all kinds of grass
crops on sandy soils, even clover not
being exempt. Land that has been
given a green manurial crop always
responds we'll the next season.-Phila-
delphia Record.