SECRETARY'S REPORT. 75 



roots striking wide and deep assist in hastening the decomposition of 

 soils, gather all they can reach of what is needed to build up their 

 oro-anisms, while at the same time the leaves draw from the air 

 and from moisture. They deposit annually a considerable portion 

 of what is thus obtained, and the ultimate result is that the soil 

 attains a great degree of richness and fertility — when the forests are 

 felled, we call such, our virgin soils, our very best. 



It would appear then, that such plants as present the greatest 

 surface of leaves wherewith to obtain atmospheric food, and send 

 down the deepest roots to levy contributions from the subsoil, would 

 be those best adapted for this purpose, and perhaps there is no plant 

 which better combines both of these than the clover, and it is found 

 to be in actual experience one of the very best. A closely calcu- 

 lating and very successful farmer remarked to me last summer, in 

 speaking of this subject, that "clover seed was the only manure he 

 could buy and use at a good profit." Buckwheat and oats are also 

 favorite crops for green manuring. The former succeeds on poorer 

 soils than either of the others, and on light sands it is said to give 

 an improved consistency to the soil as marked in its way, as is the 

 loosening and mellowing of heavy clays by the action of clover. 

 Whatever crop is used, it should be plowed under when in full 

 flower. It is at this period that it most readily decays, and also 

 yields more enriching elements to the soil as the luxuriance of 

 foliage is greater, and the leaves contain more soluble matter to 

 afford nutrition to the succeeding crop. The process may be repeated 

 several times in the season, and in practice it is found that the crops 

 will be more effectually covered if a roller be first passed over them. 

 It is sometimes objected to as a waste of time and labor to grow one 

 crop merely that it may decay and give place to another ; that we 

 may just as well grow the crop we intend to take off, and let that 

 one do its own work of collecting from the air and from the subsoil, 

 or wherever it can get its food, as to spend time and labor to induce 

 vegetation in one form with the intent to take off the same elements 

 in another. 



If a sufficient answer to such objection is not indicated in the 

 foregoing remarks, we would like to have the objector explain why, 

 and how, we may feed our cattle directly upon the elements of 

 fertility in the soil, instead of being at so much trouble as we now 



