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the introduction of free trade, and tlie consequent reduction in the price of agricultural 

 products, it is asserted that this "high farming" is attended with low profits. Be that 

 as it may, if the use of guano and the consumption of oilcake docs not abate, it will be 

 pretty good evidence that it is found profitable with prices but little higher than our own. 



The reader will wonder what this has to do with plowing in green crops. Much, 

 every way. The -reason of the" benefit of a crop of clover plowed in for a crop of wheat, 

 is rather a difficult thing to see if we adopt the mineral theory ; for there is no evidence 

 to show but what the wheat plant can extract the mineral elements from the soil as 

 well as the clover plant; and therefore, if there is inorganic matter for the clover, 

 there is for the wheat : for both plants require precisely the same elements. It is said 

 that clover roots descend further into the subsoil, and bring up these fertilizers from 

 below, and thus supply the following wheat crop. But why will not the wheat roots 

 obtain this? — we have seen several wheat roots six feet long, and one nine feet ; and 

 believe when the wheat plant is strong and healthy, that its roots descend as low as do 

 those of clover. 



Abandoning the mineral theory and adopting the amm.oniacal one, we have at once a 

 satisfactory reason for the benefit of clover and other green crops plowed in as a manure 

 for wheat. To increase our crop of wheat, we must supply ammonia. Now, when we 

 plow in a crop of clover, this is -just what we do supply. We do not gain minerals by 

 the operation, as they already existed in the soil, and some have perhaps been removed 

 by a crop of hay the previous summer ; but the clover obtains ammonia from the atmos- 

 phere, which becomes organized in the roots, stems, and leaves of the plant ; and when 

 they are plowed in, they decompose, and furnish ammonia for the v/hcat crop. A crop 

 of red clover that would make a ton and a half of hay, would contain 60 lbs. of nif^ogen, 

 and according to the- results of Mr. Lawes' experiments, would, if plowed in, increase 

 the following wheiifecrop twelve bushels per acre ; and this without taking the roots into 

 consideration, which would probably contain half as much nitrogen as the \mt crop of 

 clover. This would make an increase of eighteen bushels per acre, as the benefit of 

 growing clover and plowing it in. ;^. . 



The proper time to turn in the clover, is just before flowering; it is then £^ of '^h 

 nitrogenous fluids : whereas, .in the act of flowering, nitrogen is evolved, ana tli6 cloter 

 is not so good either for hay or manure. This fact will also indicate the proper time for 

 cutting clover for hay. If allowed to stand until after it has flowered, not only will 

 there be a loss of nitrogen, but the soluble saccharine matter will be converted into 

 insoluble starch and innutritions woody fibre. 



In deciding on the economy of plowing in clover for manure, or converting it into 

 hay, we have to consider its effect on the wheat crop, the price of the wheat, the value 

 of the hay, and what it would cost to obtain manure in some other way. We have just 

 purchased guano in New York, for experimental purposes ; it cost us there $50 per ton; 

 and if it contains 16 per cent, of ammonia, we shall consider it a first rate article. . This 

 is paying 15 cents per pound for ammonia. Now, we have said that a crop of clover 

 which would make a ton of hay, would contain about 40 lbs. of nitrogen, equal to about 

 48 lbs. of ammonia. This at 15 cents per pound w'ould be 87.20, as the value of a ton 

 of clover hay for manuring purposes ; and if plowed in, it would increase the wheat crop 

 8 bushels. But there is another view of the subject. Besides nitrogen, clover contains 

 a large amount of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, so united with each other and nitro- 

 gen as to form valuable food for animals, though the first three elements are not neces- 

 sary as food for the wheat plant, as has been before shown. Now, if this clover is 

 consumed at home by horses, sheep, &c., these elements will be used in the animal 

 economy, and nearly all the nitrogen will be voided in the liquid and solid excrements, 

 (principally in the former,) which, if carefully husbanded, can be returiiCd to the field 

 without much loss. 



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