Five Minute Freewrite: Acid Bath

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There is this piece of farmland at the back of Jenny's compound. It has remained uncultivated for some years now. Jenny decided to make use of it this farming season. She hired some labourers who cleared it for her.

After about two weeks, the grasses had dried under the intensity of the sun. She set fire on it and everything got burnt. She then cleared the debris and engaged some youths to make ridges and mounds for her. It took the youths about three days to complete the job.

Now everything is set for planting. Jenny went to a nearby research centre and bought improved variety of maize and planted in the farm. She also bought some yam seedlings and planted as well.

In about five days the maize sprouted it. Jenny went to tht farm to check how the crops were doing. What she saw never gave her some joy. First the maize all germinated and growing out of the ground. But the colour of their leaves was discouraging. Instead of greenish in colour the crops look like they've had some acid bath. They look malnourished.

Jenny went home sad. She now understands why that piece of land has remained fallow and uncultivated. The soil is not fertile at all.

A Five Minute Freewrite: Acid Bath.