72 ON TURNING IN CROPS AS A MANURE. 



observations, Avbich they hopo may not be altogether without in- 

 terest. 



Josiab Little, Esq. of Belleville, a careful observer, a few years 

 since ploughed in a large green crop upon a piece of land containing 

 about five acres, and next year thinks he obtained fifteen bushels of 

 corn to the acre more than he otherwise would. 



Several gentlemen have answered, upon enquiry, that the only 

 experience which they have on this subject, is the ploughing in of 

 the stubble upon English grain fields, after the weeds had got some 

 growth, and most or all who have tried it have supposed it a profitable 

 culture. 



Moses Newell, Esq., thinks there is much to bo gained by plough- 

 ing green sward late in the spring after the grass has had time to 

 acquire some growth. He recommends that corn on such land, 

 should be planted as soon as it is broken up. 



The Hon. D. P. King made a successful experiment in turning in 

 crops, a few years since. He used buckwheat. His report is not 

 at hand, or we Avould gladly present his statement. 



Another gentleman in the County has for a period of some fifteen 



rapid growth; six weeks in Massachusetts being long enough to bring it in full blossom, 

 when it should be ploughed in. — Albany Cultivator. 



The practice of turning in green crops dates as far back as the time of the ancient 

 Romans; and is still continued throughout Italy, even in places where the dung of ani- 

 mals can be procured in abundance: and it is there thought that nothing tends more to 

 the improvement of the land than ploughing them in. — Library of Useful Knowledgt. 



Plants, while growing, derive a portion of their food from the air, and being turned 

 in, so fur at least, add manure to the soil. But this is not all the benefit: weeds spring 

 up with the sown green crops, and are ploughed in with them, thus increasing the ma- 

 nure, and, at the same time, cleansing the ground for a harvest crop. But besides the 

 growing plants, the soil itself, under their shade, made light by the ploughing and har- 

 rowing, is also receiving a portion of the same fertilizing airs. — Fic/icring's Address, 

 Oct. 9, 1822. 



The mode of enriching land by ploughing in green crops was practised by the Romans 

 eighteen hundred years ago, and is now in use in England, Italy and other parts of Eu- 

 rope. In this country the practice is very limited, though highly recommended by somo 

 of our agricultural writers. In this vicinity, the few attempts to recruit worn-out lands 

 in this way, which have come to our knowledge, have not been very successful and 

 have tended to discourage the practice. — Hamp. Gazette. 



Ploughing in green crops is in fact only an improved method of hastening the process 

 pursued by nature herself, in the renovation of exhausted soils. By ploughing in a heavy 

 crop of clover, buckwheat or other grc(!ii substances, we return as much to the soil in 

 a single year as it would otherwise receive in many: and hence the practice of allow- 



