Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1868 — Agricultural and Domestic. [ARTICLE]

Agricultural and Domestic.

'MWu k Rfnovator of the ha* not yet developed one ofito greatest benefit*) bat it is fast approaching li, namely, the benefit of; grass, l)6th as a forage plant, and os * renovator of the soil. We have a twofold benefit here nmdmdh is. important. It is this, more than anything else, that improves onr soil. Dairying and use of clover do thHjL' W great is this ad van* tßCfitfge that it is fa9t becoming Universal, so far at least as it is practicable. Dairies are being ihultiplied, and rapidly, not only from the benefit which remits from their product— is equal, perhaps, to ; tfu|t of grain, and supfcnor in many localities—but for the effect upon the soil; this is nfcver uncertain, but may be relied upon at at all times.— Ana it is the right kind of improvement; it is what the soil ‘fiaa grown, and will grow again; and it is readily coverted into plant food; a season will do it effectually—half a season prepare it (the roots) for use. How readily we change a sod for the reception of seed .in the fall. It is but simply plowing, and then waiting but a months and the work is done, the soil is improved. — There has been no saving of manure, no drawing, no spreading, etc. All is in the soil already,* and needs bnt attention qs a soil. We thus readily and in the easiest manner improve iind keep up onr land. For many years continued (and with profit meanwhile) the im- - movement is almost miraculous, and mogt delightful to witness. And we may grow our ■'grasses as strong as we please; tfse what manure we please. It will but thicken the sod; and fertility, both in the manure whd fn the sod, so that-accor-ding to the benefit (and not the loss) of the one will l>e the improvement of the other. — This is the beauty of the oper--getting first the good, ana then the improvement, a good also, and in proportion to tjhe first. A very heavy, old .sod, that has received more or less manhre, is perhaps unexcelled for most crops—perhaps for all crops —for we have 3»frer seen any ill effects, bnt only good, from the use of the sod. It is particularly grateful to fruit trees, the smaller fruit, grapevines, etc., and ranks with leaf mould, chip manure, weed ings of the garden, etc. For .com we think; there is no manure equal to it in a good season. We think so because we have seen it. Now, /auk manure, strong manure of any kind will benefit corn; corn is a strong feeder-. -But still -sod is the reliance—in the old settled portions of the country practiced largely. It is curious that vegetable —bonaeeous — manure should have such an influence —an influence great in proportion to what it seems to possess. Thus a few leaves nave a perceptible effect upon the grape-vine. A good coat of leaves applied in the fell —covered slightly with soil—will give a yield the ensuing Reason that can hardly be credited to the leaves alone. Yet such is the fact. Let vegetable manure be applied to the Wilson strawberry, and a similar effept will take place. Now, a sod has depth, and therefore quantity and richness. There is much more of it than of the thickest coat of manure we apply. It would pay to raise sod, aside from its benefit a 3 a grass, merely to enrich. It is ence that sod is becoming so general- But sod sliould be treated properly. You v can bury it too deeply. For grain or for grass no one would turn it in desp, but plow shallow, just turning the sward well, with some mellow soil to cover the roots. This will keep the richness the top where it is wanted. For com, there is a deeper furrow; the sod is put wflere the roots of the com, which extend downward, will appropriate it, and at the time when it is fermented, the fermenting process heating the soil, ana extending its effect upwfml towards the roots as if to They soon reach —

this bed «f rotted vegetation; this,; when sod is plowed in the spring, is the most successful practice. For fruit trees sod has a high reputation—and it deserves it. Here it nfey be nut in as far as the plow will admit, or may be worked through the soil; cither w ill do, only let there be a stiff old soil. Bod loosens the soil, mellows it. It is just the reverse of clogging and compacting. The long tan root of clover will loosen; and roots of the grasses will do the same, the one above the other below and above. Hence one advantage of using the two in connection, practice universal in New York and other places. If on such a soil, thoroughly penetrated with roots, and for years, with additions of topdressings, and a coat of rich, fermenting manures added, as is sometimes done, the yreatest results are effected. The soil is thoroughly mellow*—if drained, either artificially or otherwise —well enriched with the right kind of pabulum, and will grow anything. Such soils are the soils that are needed; and we can make them, and with profit in the making.— Journal of Agriculture.