The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-21

Sible and see that they are Tree rom
grass and weed seed. 1t has been the
experience of all that the oat is the
surest grain crop that can be grown in
the south. Especially is this so on
the light iSandy soils. Not only is
this SO, but if planted in time. they
will furnish an abundance of msur-
passed winter grazing for stock. 1t
is well when breaking the land IN
early September to keep close behind
the pillow with harrow. Otherwise
the clods are apt to dry out quickly
and give much trouble in their subse-
quent pulverization and the land must
be well pulverized to insure stand.
After seeding, a roller should be run
over the land to firm it and this fol-
lowed by very light harrow. In the
absence OF the roller d heavy log or
plank dragged over the ground will
do much good.
These remarks are applicable TO the
planting of any fall crop, The use OF
the seed drill is preferable with oats
but if one is not available, the seed
may be sown broadcast by hand.
Where the drill is used one and half
bushels of seed will be sufficient. If
sOWn by hand it is safer to SOW not
less than two bushels. This grazing
of winter oats, if on good land, will
actually improve their yielG.
Wheat, if anything, furnishes a bet
ter winter pasture than oats, especial
ly on good land or if we'll fertiliZed.
While the yield of grain is not as
generally reliable in all sections Of
the south, yet the grazing obtained
from them viii more than pay for the
cost. Another winter cover crop that
is especially valuable as soil build
er and preseryer is Crimson clover.
Crimson clover, unless Sown early,
does not furnish very much winter
grazing but comes in in early spring.
AS hay crop it is not to be much
recommended asst becomes too woody.
But it is a legume hence very Yalu-
able as soil builder. The land
should be we'll prepared as for tur-
nips and about 70 pounds OF seed
sown per acre. Hairy yetch is anOth-
er leguminOus crop that succeeds ad-
mirabIy during Southern winters on
light sandy loan soils. The land is
best fertilized for this crop with four
or five loads of well rotted stable ma
nure per acre. This is not SO neces-
sary as fertilizer but more to supply
it with the nitrifying bacteria. An
other winter cover or catch crop not
we'll known and to which much atten-
ton should be given is Dwarf Essex
Rape. Sown in September on .good
land it grows rapidly all winter and
will furnish very large amount of
winter grazing. 1t belongs to the
cabbage family and is eaten greedily
by all animals even including the
farmer and his family.
SO much for brief review of winter
cover crops. Wherever possible they
should be sown upon the land because
they prevent the land from washing
and they catch and hold tie plant food
that is rendered soluble ia the soil
during winter and That otherwise
might be leached cut by rains. And
because they more than pay for them
selves in the quantity of excellent
winter grazing they furnish.
If the land is wanted for summer
crop before they mature the farmer
may turn them into his soil in the
green stage in February, thus getting
an additional profit in the vegetable
matter they supply.