The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-09-17

SOuTl mas OnSud Leu InlS. ana lAIdn-
ers in all PARTS of the state are being
urged to axe up the plant Although
the urea Il barren land in Missouri is
very small, as compared with TINT OF
Older states, it Is rapidly growing
larger, anG the necessity of immediate
remedy Is apparent to those who re-
aiIze the situation.
The reason for recommending clover
and COW peas Is because they possess a
power peculiar to this class Of plants,
of gathering nitrogen from the ar.
Nitrogen, ole of the important ele-
mcnts of Plant feed, is required by
all domestic plants, and is the most
expensive part of commercial fertiliz-
. ers.
The other staple farm crops, such as
corn, wheat, timothy, blue grass, rye
ard millet, have not the power OF
gathering nitrogen from the ar, and
must. depend upon the available sup
ply already in the soil. This, in part,
explains why Clover and COW peas, al
/ though producing a hay crop rich in
the elements Of plant food, will leave
the soil ON which this product is grown
more productive than before.
On land that is badly worn the care
fuf saving Of the farm fertilizers and
the proper rotation Of clover and COW
peaSa with the other farm crops, Will
keep UP the fertility Of the soil, and
will avoid the necessity of the purchase
Of any commercial fertilizers.
Unfortunately, there are many fall
ures, often under the very best man
agement, connected with the attempt
to grow clover. The experiment STA
ton atColumtia receives more inN
Quiries as to the best method of seed
ing and caring for the clover crop than
any ether problem in agriculture. AS
a result of these inquiries the station
has undertaken a series Of experiments
to determine the proper season to SOW
clover and the best methods Of pro-
ced9yre.
On the station grounds for the past
two years, once each week, clover has
been sown from the 1st of February
TO the 10th of April. The result of
lIaSSS tADSL IIEAlS Low NCALlOhobA ~
that the best time TO SOW clover ds
about the middle of March. When
sowed earlier than that, an early warm
spell will terminate the seed too early
and leave the young plants tie victims
OF a late frost.
The 10Y pea appears to have the
ability to thrive On land too poor to
grow red or crimson clover. 1t is mo-
affected 50 seriously as clover by x
kcesave heat or drought, and is not
easily smothered out by weeds.
On moist soils in central and south
crn Missouri it yields a larger quantity
of vegetable matter containing a larger
total quantity Of nitrogen than does
red dover. In the sections of the state
where the climate is well adapted t.
the growth of COW peas it is believed
that they will prove more satisfactory
as a green crop than either
rcd or crimson clover, especially or
poor soils, i1Asmuch as tnere IS less
risk III securing a stand, Ind there is
no danger Of the hot weather in the
midsummer killing the young plants.
CcmEared with other fertilizer crops
the COW pea seems to grow especially
we'll on poor land. On q piece of nat
urally poor upland clay, wh-ch has for
the past fifty years been grown In
corn and wheat without fertilizer, the
section began last spring a number of
experiments in methods OF restoring
the soil to productiveness On six OF
these plots cow peas were sown with
out fertilizer. The average yield OF
vines and pools was very large, and
aside from the fertlizing properties OF
the r showed it to have a value OF
$500 an acre.-Missouri University
Correspondence Dispatch.