The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-28


atmospheric nitrogen and the retention
OF the same in available form in the
soil.
The adaptations of each of these
three crops and the methods by which
the greatest fertilizing benefits are to
be secured from their growth are the
important considerations.
Red clover does not thrive IN the
Southern portion of the cotton States.
It's chief field of usefulness as green
manuring crop lies in the great winter
wheat belt, where the first crop is cut
for hay and the second crop and sod
are turned under as the chief source OF
nutriment for the crop Of wheat soWed
in August or September.
Crimson clover is we'll adapted to
most of the South. It may be sown in
August, September or October in orch
ards or between cotton rows. 1t makes
most of it's growth during the late
autumn and early spring, it being
essentially a cool weather grower, and
is then plowed in before the spring
crops are planted, which are supplied
with nitrogen extracted from the air
It makes an excellent forage crop,
though hardly equal to red clover.
The field pea, or ''cow pea, how
ever, remains the Southern crop por
eccelEence for the purpose under con
sideration. 1t is seldom grown as the
sole crop Of the soil it occupies, but
may follow an earlier crop of corn,
cabbage, Irish potatoes or other prod
uct. The more common practice is to
SOW between the rows Of corn at the
last cultivation, and after the fodder is
pulled it will occupy the land.
1t produces two different crops, peas
and forage, either or both Of which
may be harvested. In the latter case
roots only remain to be ploWed under
and fertilize the next crop, and the
nanuriaI value OF the crop is then only
about one-quarter what it would be II
the entire plant was turned under.
Prevention of loss of the nitrogen taken
from the air before it can be utilized
by a spring crop is easily effected by
sowing winter rye or oats after the pea
crop is plowed under. Excellent early
pasture is thus provided and by plow
ing the grain crop in before the spring
drops are planted, the full value OF the
green manuring is secured.
Recognizing the fact that the chief
value of the leguminous green manur
ing crops lie in their ability to take
nitrogen from the air, the point oi
most practical Importance is, how car
this nitrogen absorption be made great
est7
Nitrogen is extracted from the all
only in the event of a dearth OF thl'
element from other sources. The sol
must, therefore, be deficient nitrogen
and above all things nitrogenous fer
tilizers must not be applied, if the crol
is to secure the greatest possible amour
of this essential from the free supply
in the atmosphere.
In this same connection, another con
sideration is all important. Nitrogen
, however supplied, is but one OF tn
three constituents Of the crop whlcl
, must be artificially provided. Whel
. the supply of either of these material
: becomes exhausted or is deficient, plan
development is at an end and GRO
production stops. It therefore appear
that the exhaustless supplies of nitro
gren of the air are unavailable and use
, less to the crop unless both phosphorI
= acid and potash are present In sutt
! cient quantities to unite with the nitro
gen to meet the requirements OF tn
crop. It therefore follows that, up t
the maximum demand of the crop L
question, the more of the two minera
essentials is available, the more nitro
> gen will be taken from the air to unit
with them, and the greater will be tn
: crop production.
Potash is the soil and plant constitC
= ent most frequently lacking and mos
difficult of supply. Soils as rule com
far nearer furnishing the phosphorI
acid than the potash required for al
: similation with atmospheric nitrogen
: It therefore becomes evident that al
suring the potash supply is the tra
requisite toward nitrogen absorptlo
and full benefits from green manurlne
BRYAN TYSON.
> Long Leaf, N. @.
A few weeks ago we referred to Prof
D T-L-o, GCJoto A0ric11ItI1Fiat of tn