74 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



suits have been entirely successful, when steadily pursued, and 

 with a due consideration of the objects sought and the 'means 

 by which they are to be accomplished. Lands in many of our 

 eastern States, which have been worn out by improvident 

 cultivation, and unsalaeble at $10 an acre, have by this 

 system, while steadily remunerating their proprietors by their 

 returning crops, for all the outlay of labor and expense, 

 been brought up in value to $50 per acre. 



The full benefit of green crops as manures, seems only to 

 oe realized where there is sufficient lime in the soil. Cal- 

 careous soils, or such as have a large proportion of lime, 

 however they may have become exhausted, when put under 

 a thorough course of treatment, in which green, crops at 

 proper intervals are returned to them, are soon restored to 

 fertility ; and when lime does not exist in the soil, the appli- 

 cation of it in the proper manner and quantity, will produce 

 the same effect. Gypsum and ashes are the best substitutes, 

 when lime or marl is difficult to be procured. 



This system of improvement, varies with almost every indi- 

 vidual who practices it, according to the quality of his land, 

 the kind of crops to be raised, the facility of procuring ma- 

 nures, the luxuriance of particular crops, and other conside- 

 rations. We shall state merely, the general principles in 

 this, as in most other subjects, and leave to the farmer's judg- 

 ment, to apply them according to his circumstances. It is 

 always better to commence this system, while the land is in 

 good condition, as a luxuriant growth of vegetation is as 

 profitable for turning in, as for cropping. Buckwheat, oats, 

 rye, and some of the grasses, have been used for this purpose 

 in this country ; and spurry, the white lupine, the vetch and 

 rape in Europe ; but for the northern portion of the Union, 

 nothing has been hitherto tried, which is so well fitted for 

 the object, as red clover. 



CLOVER FOR GREEN MANURES. 



This is suited to all soils, that will grow anything profita- 

 bly, from sand, if possessing an adequate amount of fertility, 

 to the heaviest clay, if drained of its superfluous water. 

 The seed is not expensive, its growth certain and rapid, and 

 the expense of its cultivation trifling ; while the return, on a 

 kindly soil, and with proper treatment, is large. Added to 

 this, and very much increasing its merits, is the abundance 

 of its long tap roots, which penetrate the ground to a great 

 depth, and break up the stiff soils, in a manner peculiarly bene- 



