Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-06-21

method. Some crops do not thrive
when sown on lam into which a green
crop has recently been plowed. This.
is particularly true of those crops that
like a solid seed bed. or which are sem
sitive to acids. When IL heavy green
crop Is plowed under. ii goes through Il
fermentation not unlike that which oc-,
ours in "A barrel Of kraut. resulting in
the formation OF q considerable amount
OF acid.
Alfalfa Is particularly sensitive to
acids. and 1t also requires II compact
seed bed. 1t is unwise. therefore. tor
green manure the land just before seed
ing to alfalfa. The cereals. particular
ly wheat and rye. do not do we'll after
a green manure. On the other hand.
potatoes and corn are not seriously in
jured by green manures. In fact. po-
tatoes are benefited by them. since the
resulting acid condition of the soil pre-
vents the development OF potato scab.
Generally speaking. when II is de-
sirable to pillow In Il green crop before
fall-sown crops. 1t should be done IL
month or six weeks before planting
time. and the soil should be narrowed
frequently or otherwise compacted. A
few good rains will wash out most OF
the acids and aid in compacting the
soil. The acid may also be counteract-
ed by adding lime.
Crimson Glover.
Along the Atlantic coast as far north
as New Jersey and south at least to
Georgia. crimson clover. frequently
called German clover. thrives as a VIM
ter annual. Like all the legumes it
stores up much nitrogen and greatly
enriches the soil in this element. This
crop deserves u much wider field OF
usefulness than has been accorded IT,.
In the northern part OF its territory 1t
should be sown in July. In the south.
September is supposed to be the best
1 time IN GnW III II iS host cd tN
sowing In corn or cotton. In ss.:.tions
where 1t has not previously beer grown
II frequently fails. apparently from
lack of its proper bacteria. II is there
fore we'll to inoculate the seed when
II is sown the first time.
This crop furnishes valuable winter
pasture. makes gcOd hay If cut when
just coming into full flower. and is
valuable as "A green feed in spring. 1t
helps to MI The gap In the soiling sys-
tenn betw.en green wheat and early
corn. Perhaps its greatest usefulness is
as a green manure. 1t may be plowed
under any time In the spring and be fol-
lowed by corn or potatoes.
In this connection. the practice OF Il
farmer near Hagerstown. Md. is of
interest. Ten years & he began SOW
Ing crimson clover in corn at the last
blowing. covering the seed with the
c%ultivator, and using 10 pounds of seed
to the acre. In the spring the clover
vas plowed under and another crop Vt
corn planted. Ten consecutive crops
of corn have been taken from this field.
n crop of rinse clover being plowed
under each spring. The yield of corn
has increased during that time from
about 30 bushels, In the beginning. TO
about 80 bushels at the present time.
Evidently the practice was Il good one
In this case.
Those who are not familiar with
crimson clover should try II on "A small
scale at first, as there have been many
failures with 1t. The following five
year rotation Is a good one on stock
farms in middle ATTITUDES. and shows
one way of securing The benefits OF
crimson clover as a green manure:
Corn with crimson clOver sOwn at last
cultivation. corn, oats. wheat, clover
Common red).
vetehes.
The vetches can be made to occupy Il
somewhat similar place az a green
manure. at least In the south. Pro-
fessor r.. l.. Lloyd OF the Mississippi
agricultural experiment station. reports
an instance OF "A cotton grower who uses
hairy vetch and cowpeas in a unique
manner. At the beginning he sowed
hairy vetch broadcast In his cotton at
the last blowing. The next spring the
old cotton stalks were left standing. the
new rows of cotton being planted in the
middles. which were bedded up In the
usual manner. When the vetch had
made seed. the stalk cutter was run
over the old rows and they were then
plowed out and cowpeas planted In their
place. Subsequent cultivation was be-
tween the cotton and the cowpea rows.
In the autumn the vetch sprang up
again and grew during the winter. the
cowpeas being left to decay in place.
The following spring the cotton rows
followed the old cowpea rows, and the
of< ,t.nc loft tn canl IN the old gtpllfo
as before. This method requires that
the cotton rows should be about five
feet apart, but the farmer who prac-
tees 1t assured Professor Lloyd that his
yield of cotton had doubled I'm the three
years since the practice was started.
This method Is worth the attention of
farmers who grow cotton continuously
on the same land. and this class in
cludes the vast majority of cotton
Owe
Rye is not half appreciated by the
American farmer. 1t is very hardy, Will
grow on the poorest land. makes good
winter and spring pasture, and II sown
early enough makes good fall pasture.
1t Is a good spring soiling crop. Civ
ing the earliest bit OF green stun. 1t
makes a fair quality OF hay IL cut In
bloom or before. and It's straw always
sells at good prices and makes the best
OF bedding for cattle and horses. 1t Is
also an excellent green manure crop for
turning under in early spring. While
it does not add nitrogen as the clovers
do, 1t makes a deal OF humus. and thus
improves the texture OF wornout soils.
1t will grow in any section that can
grow any OF the small grains. Where
corn or potatoes or cowpeas are grown
after corn. rye may be sown in the
corn at the time of laying by" or may
be sown on the stubble after the corn
is cut. and be plowed under In the
spring for any of the crops mentioned.