The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-07-31
GROW WnJTER LEGUMEs.
Department of Agriculture Offers Ad-
vice to South Carolina Farmers.

Department of Agriculture Offers Ad-
vice to South Carolina Farmers.
Congressman Lever is in receipt
of a letter from the department Of
agriculture, which should be of par
ticular interest to farmers. It is from
Dr.. B. T. Galloway, chief Of the bu-
reau, and follows.
I'VE are endeavoring to bring
about the greater use Of the winter
legumes in the South, especially the
vetches and crimson clover. We are
sure that these crops, wherever they
can be grown successfully, will be Of
enormous benefit, both on account
Of their value for. hay or pasturage,
and because Of their ability to add
nitrogen to the soil. One method
that we find very satisfactory is to
conduct demonstration acre plots
with reliable farmers. The success
of such plot usually encourages
him to plant more and his neighbors
to follow suit
"We would be glad if you would
recommend fifty farmers in your dis
trict to conduct such experimental
plots, each of one acre, the depart
ment to furnish both the seed and the
inoculation material 1t is prefer
able that these co-operators be far
mers who are not already growing
the crop. Also that they be located
in easily accessible places so that
our field men can visit as many as
possible in the spring. We, can fur
nish either the yetch or the crimson
clover alone for one acre, or one
half acre of each. Where vetch alone
is sent, we shall usually send both
hairy vetch and common vetch. For
most of the South the present evil
dence Is that vetch Is much more
widely adapted than crimson clover.
Vetch may be sown any time from
September to December. Crimson
clover should not be sown later than
September Is.
"a common source of failure, both
with vetch and crimson clover, is
due to lack of incubation. We are
finding much difficulty in the South
in inoculating vetch and crimson
clover with pure cultures, and are,
therefore recommending that soil be
used. We hope to complete arrange
ment with the experiment station, so
that inoculated soil can be sent to
each co-operator.
Kindly let US hear promptly from
you in regard to this matter, so that
we can make the necessary reserva-
ton Of seed. 1t is desirable to have
the names of the co-operators at an
sarly date. aud we shonl prefer to
have the whole list by September l..
we shall write fully to each co-opera-
tor indicating in the letter that 1t Is
sent upon your recommendation.
"B. T. Galloway"
Speaking of this matter, Mr.. Lever
says: II regard this as most i'm
portant undertaking, perhaps the
most important ever set on foot
by the department Of agriculture in
the South. To the practical and OBJ
servant farmer it is apparent that a
winter cover crop Is an absolute
necessity, both to save the land from
washing and to give the land nitrog-
en- and humus. The one crop system
has extracted practically all of the
humus from the soil, while the ne
cessity for nitrogen, as an element
in crop life, means charge upon the
South Carolina farmer Of nearly
four million dollars each year. 1t
is the opinion Of scientists that the
brunt of this burden may be saved
to the farmer through the growing
Of legumes, and especially the winter
legumes. This movement looks to
this end and Is in line with the other
work being undertaken by the de-
partment here In the State through
the activities Of he State e'srepresenta-
tives in Congress. The main lesson
that we want to teach is that we can
grow something besides cotton, and
the second lesson that we wan to
teach is that diversif1cation in agri-
culture really helps the cotton grow
er to maks his cotton crop a profit,
and that it increases the yield per
acre planted in cotton