134 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



sisted by plaster derives a still greater portion than 

 it could if left unaided by this mineral, whose pe- 

 culiar province it is to attract nitrogenous matter 

 from the atmosphere, thus increasing the growth 

 of this fertilizing grass. No land can be preserved 

 in a condition of fertility unless the system of cul- 

 ture observed embraces clover, for it benefits the 

 land by its shade while growing, as well as by the 

 valuable matter it contains when turned under by 

 the plough. Without clover it is impossible to carry 

 on economically a progressive state of improve- 

 ment, but with clover and lime, marl or ashes, any 

 soil capable of growing it may be brought to a 

 most desirable state of fertility. Without clover 

 or other grasses lime confers but temporary benefit, 

 as it must have the materials to work up into ma- 

 nure, and these can only be secured to the soil by a 

 liberal cultivation of clover or other grasses. There 

 are but few, if any, farms which supply a sufficient 

 quantity of vegetable and animal manures through 

 the ordinary process of accumulation to counteract 

 the exhaustion of the soil, consequent upon the 

 annual removal of crops. My preference has long 

 been given to clover as the cheapest means of sup- 

 plying this deficiency, being the best of all the 

 grasses for the purposes of food for stock, as well 

 as for the improvement of the soil, and in conjunc- 

 tion with lime, marl or ashes, it forms a sure basis 

 upon which rests the solid improvement of land. 



Peas. — The use of peas for the improvement of 

 land is extensively used by farmers, especially upon 

 light soils where clover does not flourish. Peas 

 bear many branches and a luxuriant foliage, which 

 qualify them to absorb the fertilizing gases of the 

 air, and hence when turned under in a green state, 

 will restore to the earth not only all they have 

 gained from it, but all they have extracted from 

 the atmosphere. The ploughing in of green vege- 

 table matter on the spot where it have grown 

 may be followed successfully as a method of ma- 

 nuring and enriching all lands where other manures 

 are less abundant. It is in the tide water region 

 of our State practised by some of the most suc- 

 cessful and scientific farmers, who have adopted it 

 in their regular system of rotation for the purpose of 

 manuring for the wheat crop. There are two modes 

 adopted in sowing peas, especially after an appli- 

 cation of lime or marl. The first mode is to fallow 

 up the land in the spring of the year, and about 

 the last of May or first of June sow a bushel of 

 either Clay, black or Shinney peas to the acre and 

 rake them in the land, and in the month of Sep- 

 tember plough them in the land in the green state 

 for the benefit of the wheat crop. The other, and 

 more extensively used mode, is to sow the peas in 

 the corn fields while working the corn the last time, 

 (say from the 25th of June to the 10th of July.) 

 They are sown as soon as the corn is worked and 

 cultivators or rakes follow, which both cover the 

 pea and prepare the land for the better growth of 

 the corn, and in the fall they are turned in with 

 the wheat. The turning in of green crops demands 

 the attention of all farmers desirous of " improving 

 and enriching poor land," as they impart to the land 

 all they have drawn from the earth and atmosphere, 

 and, of course, increase organic matter in the soil. 



Wheat Straw.- -This is a most valuable manure, 

 and one not sufficiently attended to by the. farmer. 

 Where large crops of wheat are made and the whole 

 of the straw cannot be carried through the stables 

 and cattle yards, what remains is often left for 

 years to decay, and thereby lose much of the va- 

 luable properties contained in it before it is applied 



to the land. It is within the scope of my recollection 

 when straw was but slightly regarded by the far- 

 mer, and frequently sold or given away from the 

 farm, and never used unless it had undergone a 

 process of decomposition ; but there is now an adage 

 frequently used, " that the fai mer who sells straw 

 becomes poor, but he who buys it becomes rich." 

 An experience in the use of straw for a number of 

 years induces me to believe that applied upon clo- 

 ver fields the year previous to their cultivation it 

 will greatly enhance the value of the crops and 

 land. Wheat straw contains all the inorganic mat- 

 ter required for its production, with the exception 

 of what has been required for the grain, as well as 

 a large' portion of the vegetable matter contained 

 in its structure ; it therefore follows if it is returned 

 to the earth it must impart all the valuable sub- 

 stances it contains back to the soil. If straw is 

 applied and remains upon the land until ploughed, 

 its benefit will be great from the shade it imparts, 

 and when ploughed in, decomposition takes place, 

 which, of course, promotes an increase of produc- 

 tion, as well as improvement to the land. 



Bam Yard and Stable Manures. — This is the main 

 stay of the farmer, and he who does not act upon 

 the principle that the accumulation of manure is 

 the business of his calling will find, to his sorrow, 

 that before he can calculate upon success he must 

 make it the first article of his faith. The barn 

 yard may be called the farmer's laboratory, from 

 which he may draw his supplies for the improve- 

 ment of his land, and he should have a constant 

 eye to the accumulation of not only all the offal 

 from his stock, but all the decaying vegetable mat- 

 ter from his farm. When his barn yard and stables 

 fail to afford him supplies he should go to the 

 woods, to the ditches, to the marshes and the fence 

 corners, cart and wagon the resources there to be 

 found into the cattle yard, spread them and strew 

 plaster over the surface, and the excrement and 

 the liquid voidings from the stock will convert 

 these substances into good manure. The greatest 

 negliglence prevails amongst farmers in relation to 

 the manner in which they attend to their barn yard 

 and stable manures, for how frequently can it be 

 seen that the location of the yards are upon hill 

 sides, and the manure when saturated With water, 

 running down to an adjacent stream, by which 

 process they lose one-half of their value; or if 

 not thus wasted, the evaporation which is con- 

 stantly going on in the nutritive portions of ma- 

 nure is almost equally as great, which, if saved by 

 proper arrangements, would render the manure 

 doubly efficacious. To prevent the evaporation of 

 the valuable properties of manure, plaster should 

 be used as suggested in the foregoing part of this 

 essay. The mixture of plaster with manure fixes 

 the ammonia in like manner as it does in guano. 

 There is nothing which the farmer can use so judi- 

 ciously as plaster over the manure heap. It is es- 

 sential in well regulated and ventilated stables and 

 cow sheds in preserving the health as well as the 

 eyes of the animals from the exhalations of the 

 noxious, if not poisonous gases, which are con- 

 stantly escaping from the manures. Much could 

 be added upon this important subject, but this 

 essay having already transcended the limits In- 

 tended for it, I shall conclude with advising a more 

 careful accumulation and preservation of bam yard 

 and stable manures. 



III. ROTATION OF CROPS AND DIVISION OF LAND. 



The true secret of all successful agriculture is 



J 



