The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-06-07

ton Gives His Views : ! l.'.... - s.
r,,--ssnondsnce of The Progressive Farmer. s
There ia class Of plants which may
~ termed ''soil builders" whose inn
-ortance in the scheme Of modern
Farming it is hardly possible Co overes
innate. All vegetation helps in . way
- transform into arabic ground the
ov,,da rock dust of which all soil liz
formed. But Ieguminous plants have
= snsoiaI Off 20 In the economy Of ma
tnre which experience and scientific
invsatiQstion alike serve every year
20 more and more illustrate and eEa-
nbasixa. These plants are nitrogen
oatherers. This most costly element
IN an complete fertilizers and one
which ia absolutely essential to plant
growth, the pod-bearing family OF
plants, can readily and Cheaply sup
ply. w0E0 Taa .llW 80
One of them, clover, has for ages
been used for the renovation OF ex-
harlsted soils. Its range Of culture 10,
however, somewhat limited, and even
where latitude and climatic conditions
would seem to be favorable to it's sue
cess, it is often found to make an un
satisfactory growth.
OF late years another legumineus
plant has been coming to the front,
and that is the 50 called ''coW pea. " It
is not a pea at all, but q bean, and like
many other members Of the doEichos
family is probably Of semi tropical
origin. South Of the range Of success
full clover culture, this bean has for q
long time been almost without q rival
But it ia coming northWard. It is
found that it's range Of profitable
growth is much wider than has been
supposed. It will succeed In many
cases where clover completely fails. h
will make a fair growth, at least OF
vines, in a soil that is too poor for
clover. Il Is quite indifferent 20 ordi,
nary drouFh. II is Of exceedingly
rapid growth and of course gives quick
returns Even in the extreme North
srn States q large amount Of forage
could in most instances be obtained,
by sowing when all danger Of freezing
has passed and the soil is reasonably
warm land harvesting or plowing un-
der the rank growth Of vines which
the hot summer months are certain to
give ... 80 4-.-r - ,,er
For hay the cow pea is excellent, III
well cured it ia fully equal to the best
mixed timothy and clover. The vine
Is, however, very watery, and there
fore difficult to dry. Especially IS
this the case in the extreme Southern
States where the rainy season usually
covers the harvest period. Further
North, by taking advantage of dry
time, success will be reasonably GER
tain. For forage and green soiling the
COW peas has no superior. --. a-e-|
But for soil Improvement it is doubt.
tul whether even clover at Its best
estate" is superior the cow pea. Like
the former, its benefits to the soil are
partly mechanical and partly chemi
cal. II turned under immediately be-
Iore the coming of autumn frosts. this
legume furnishes rich store both of
humus and available nitrogen. In the
extreme eSouth, this blowing under must
De deferred until the late autumn, and
tne vines have become partially dry,
since deleterious acid formation is
liable to set in if mass of succulent
vegetation is buried under the surface
SOL while the average daily tempera
sure still ranges above the 40 mark. =
The day will come-if it Is not al
ready here-When no farmer can afford
" Ouy nitrogen as q fertilizer. He
must raise it" as he does other crops,
" means OF clover, COW peas and other
Ugumes. He can obtain it in this way
~a quarter the cost for which he can
Ouy 1t Of the fertilizer agent. Even
S'aOle and barnyard manure, valuable
% they are, and carefully as they
should be husbanded, should be looked
upon rather as adjunets than as
the main source OF supply Of these
two most essential elements o. fertility
and profitable crop production, humus
and nitrogen. 2-'a. - Z 1.'-.- 80. ,..''
one caution, however, cannot be too
often repeated ana that ID this, while
COW peas can get all the nitrogen they.
need from the air, neyeerthelss they
must depend upon the son for their
supply Of mineral food, phosphoEiic