GREEN CROPS AS MANURE. It 



mittee of the last year, dated Sept. 1832, says, " I have this 

 season commenced the experiment of ploughing in a green crop 

 for manure, the details of which, I beg leave to communicate. I 

 have been encouraged to make the attempt by favorable results 

 in turning in Roman wormwood and other weeds, after harvest- 

 ing crops of rye, and I have been, besides, actuated by a desire 

 of answering, so far as I might be able, the w^ishes of your Socie- 

 ty, which has, for several years, offered a liberal premium for 

 the " most satisfactory experiment of turning in green crops as a 

 manure," and which has never within my knowledge been claim- 

 ed. 



Buckwheat has been recommended by foreign as well as A-^ 

 merican farmers, as the most economical and convenient plant 

 for this purpose. The cost of seed is trifling, it thrives on ster- 

 ile ground, requires but a short season for its growth, produces a 

 heavy crop, which, when burled, readily decomposes. 



July 10th. One acre of level ground, the soil of which is a 

 sandy loam, almost exhausted, for it had been in grass five years, 

 without dressing, and from which a crop of less than five hun- 

 dred weight of hay had just been taken, was ploughed, and the 

 sward well turned under. The next day one bushel and a half 

 of buckwheat. Polygonum Tartaricum, was sown on the ground, 

 broad cast, and well harrowed and rolled. I used no manure, as 

 I understand the object of the experiment to be to ascertain 

 whether, under some circumstances, a green dressing may not 

 be substituted for other fertilizing substances. The season, al- 

 though cold, has not been very unfavourable for the growth of 

 plants of this description. In less than a month from the time of 

 sowing, the buckwheat began to bloom ; it was particularly exu- 

 berant, wherever by accident, a small quantity of manure was 

 dropped, which has satisfied me and others who have seen the 

 crop, that a moderate dressing would have greatly increased the 

 product. Till the sward had begun to decompose, and thus af- 

 forded more food for the plants, the prospect was not very prom- 

 ising: three quarters of the growth was in the second month. 



Sept. Cth. The buckwheat white with its flowers, and still 

 growing, but getting into tlie milk, and to anticipate the ripen- 



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