Green Manuring

Green’ manuring, is best done in August. After clearing the ground of perennial weeds, it is thickly sown with rape seed. This will germinate quickly and be ready to dig into the soil during October. By then, a thick mat of fibrous roots and green top growth will have l’ormed and should the rape have grown tall, it is cut down with shears or a scythe before digging it in to as great a depth as possible. Heavy land will also be improved by ‘green’ manuring and the soil should be left rough to enable the weather to improve further its structure.

There are several chemical compounds which are able to improve the condition of a heavy soil. One is Colinasnus which is fortified by plant food and a 28 pound bag will treat about 400 square feet of ground. Another is Krillium. They are applied to the soil when in a reasonably dry condition, being sprinkled over the surface and dug in. Immediately, the compounds begin to break up the colloid matter in the soil which causes the clay particles to bind together. Thus a more friable condition is produced which is made more so by incorporating peat or composted straw or sonic other humus forming material.

Into a heavy soil, drainage materials may he incorporated at the same time, using crushed brick or mortar (with its valuable lime content), shingle or coarse sand. If the ground is low lying, an area of top soil should be removed to a depth of 3 feet and a base of crushed brick provided. Over this, drainage pipes should be laid of sufficient ‘fall’ to enable the water to be carried away to a ditch. The soil is then replaced, at the same time incorporating additional drainage and humus forming materials.

Acrosil, a product of British Gypsum Ltd. will also help to bring a heavy soil into a more workable condition. It will help to flocculate the colloid matter of a clay soil and will bind a sandy soil to enable it to retain moisture. It also provides valuable mineral foods such as calcium, magnesium and sulphur whilst it is inexpensive to use.