Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-19

to cover all the fields, and many years
not enough to adequately cover all the
poor spots of each field. He could use
twice as much and often five times as
much as he makes in the stables
Those who realize the value and I'M
portanee of stable manure never can
make or secure enough for all needs.
A few purchase from towns and cities,
hut the supply from this source is linn
tied.
Manure from animals is partially
digested organic matter mixed with
other dead organic matter as bedding
TIE bedding itself without the drop
pings from the animals is a good fer
tilizer when mixed with the soil. The
mixture, of course, is better If we
could produce enough of it every year
to cover all the fields. But it is posi-
bic to fertilize all the fields every year,
or almost every year, with green ma
nuring crops. BY such crops is meant
any vegetation, green or dry, that is
grown on the land and plowed under.
A progressive farmer with strong
views on green manuring took charge
of a very sandy and infertile farm Il
few years ago. So poor was this land
that he purchased it for a mere song,
but now the land is worth more than
800 an acre. and on It the owner pro-
duces from two to three tons of hay
per acre, 60 to 100 bushels of corn and
other crops in proportion His secret,
if it is secret, of making barren
sand produce bountiful harvests is in
green manuring. He plans his crops
so that every field is working to its
firIlg 10. hnt
cry season he plans for cover crop
to be plowed under. Cowpeas are sown
in corn to be hogged down with the
corn in the fall or to be plowed under
with stalks and stubble later. Hairy
vetch follows potatoes and other truck
crops Clover and rye are grown in the
same manner, the catch crop taking
possession of the soil as soon as
regular crop is laid, by or taken from
the land.
Vetch, clover, cowpeas and some OF
the other legumes are not only good
as a general cover crop, but their
roots loosen the soil and supply nitro
gen. The farmer who understands and
uses these legume crops can alrn bar
rem clay and cheap sand into fields
that will smile with bountiful harry
t-tc. N.Y. 10 SOOh anu 81 etIt Ntfdf7'
stubble, stalks and trash of all kinds.
If the field is TO be made fertile and
kept increasing in fertility. organic
matter of some kind must be turned
under and mixed with the soil every
year. This organic matter will supply
PHOSPHORUS. nitrogen and potash, and
it will gradually make the stiff clay
loose, friable, easy to work and re-
Al. .1tstr
weather.
Perhaps the greatest value of green
fnanuring is that the organic matter
supplied quickly decays i'll the soil,
giving up its plant foods, and through
decomposition and chemical changes
inert minerals are dissolved and made
available plant foods. Even pure sand
soils ere made productive by yearly
green manuring. and although pure
sand is highly insoluble, yet green or
ganic matter, decomposing in the soil,
liberates acids that readily react and
dissolve very refractory soil minerals
Lime and organic matter worked into
the average soil have beneficial effect
upon both the chemical and physical
condition. making the soil ideal for
tillage and large crop growth.
Stable manure and commercial ferti-
lizers are limited and expensive. Green
crops and lime are practically limit
less and both are inexpensive, rela-
lively Any farmer with small out
lay of cash, and frequently with none,
can keep his fields covered with catch
crops when other crops have been laid
by or removed. Constantly working
organic matter into the soil will con-
stantlv increase its fertility and value.
by II. II. S.