Advantages of Green Manuring.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2048, 22 August 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Advantages of Green Manuring.

At tLo rc-n-t m'ctli.K pf fl>e ensilage eonpje*n, <"n X-.v Yi^k, Mr. A.. N. Cule, of \Vel!»vil'e, m t'-at t-'i c, t \d some remarkable ctoric.-i of hU sccrcfai in farming. Ho ignores phosphoric; a.,ul, p.jiukodjb, potnub, und other ntandara ft xUlr/crs, and regard^ pure water as a cuie for every agricultural ill. Cole has constructed a lnko on top cf a hill, and the water is conducted from this by means of subterranean pipes to the roots of his plants. It is eaid that tha world never saw such pkntH as this system of irrigation produces. Strawberries tbs of peaches, and peas the sizo of frost crapes in potts six and seven inches long are among the wnnUs. It is o'ojectt-d that vegetables produced by Mr. Colo's pyatem will be laeking^m snbslpnce, and of a coarse, watery flavor, caused by too much acid and too little aun, but thero seems to be no doubt that great siza ccn be attained by the proauets of this Jibei al irrigation. As big vegetables are in demand, and bring fi»e pricea, it is likely tb.it many farmers will follow Cole's method: 1 . — Atlanta Constitution. Is the last issue of Our Country /fame is tho following advice : "We feel sure we are right when wo advise Jarrcprs, in planting for next spnion'scnrnpaigu, to arrango for afull amount of labour. Practice rigid economy at all poepibls points, but let it be economy of the economical port. Etracmber that "There is that which withholdeth more than 13 meet, but it trndrth to poverty." On the farm this may well be applied to tbe item of labour. All farm prr (it comes directly from work well donp, and done at' the right time." A Nfv\da ranchman baa a herd of hybrid cattle, a crosi between the Buffalo and the domeFtio cow. They are very hardy and thrive where other cattlo would starve. Their beef is said to be excellent, and yarn has been spun from their hair. A tracticl farmer pays : " Yet with long years of experience, observation, and experiment, I believe I have karnt pome of the ways ot success in apnculturc. One ii good eeed ; the ether thorru^h. cultivation."

To manure oar tillable lands scams the only alternative left ior keeping up their fertility, while tho crop 3 tbey annually produce are being ta'<pn from them. Nature's own way of both keeping up and increasing thi3 fertility is to give back to the fUM ouch year's product of ite soil for the benefit of the one that is to follow. Where tho crop is to ba removed something like an equivalent must be returned, or nature will rebe', and barrenness will be the consequence. There are three ways open to the farmer by which to supply his productive soils with the^e fertilizing" ingredients. Ono I would call the scientific way, by applying such comrcPtcial fertilizers as the requirements of the soil and of the crop to bo giown v/onld eeem to need. Another is the practical one of app!j;ng the barnyard manure, which la in fact only returning to tho coil again merely tho refuses of its crop product, while the former taken tbc cream of it for other purposes. The third way ia by green manuring, which is nearest like nature's own way of renewing its fertility. OJ these three wave, while tbo first often proves to be very beneficial when the conditions arid the season all are favorable, Btill it will never prove a3 rclhblo as the b.vnyard manure, which, compared with fh^ former, ii aaid to be alwiys reliable; but occasionally, owing to unforeseen pecnliaxititrf of fbe season, or other conditions, it Ecmehmefl 'nils of benefiting the first crop afier appljicg it, aa in tbe ense of using light, strawy man hip, ploughedin rather late in the season on old ctubb'.a land, and not roiled down. If tho crop of this land had to ensouoter a severe drought, it would affect it inorp than it thiss manure had not been there ; alt'iouph with a very wet season, tho result would bp just the reverse, and both the fertilizing awl mechanical cfleeta from it bo good for the crop. Now, in i,ho practice of preen manuring, it is filwajß found to do weli in any oondition of Reason, or of soil, if it were needing any fertilizing agent. This will in all cises* prove good for it, and in most cases will do more good, compared with the cost of applying it, than either of the others. Applying the whole crop is better than only returning ft part of it, and using tbat in a live and green state, is better than to have it dead and dry before using. For some very dry seaeona, and for some crops, the turning undtr of a heavy-growing crop in green manuring p, field, will help the coil to retain moisture enouf/'« to curry its crop through such a season better than with any other conditions of manuring or tillage for euch a year. A noted instance occurred a few years ago, whea the potato crop was very much affected by ecvere drought ; the best pieces and yields were grown where a heavy crop of ryohadbeenplouqhed under, just before planting. — Country Gentleman,