The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-06-24
Leguminous Crops for Soil I'm
nroYement,

One OF the urgent 3eeds OF nearly all farm
lands Is bumus and It's resultant element, nj
trogen. Without II, no soil can be very pro.
ductive. although 1t may be weu suppnea
with the necessary mineral elements that all
plants need. Under the system OF COTTON
culture pursued in the South, the land has
lost large part OF It's humus, and 30 lts nj
trogen. In many fields the soil has become
hard and does not respond readily TO cultiva-
tiop. In many cases the yield OF crops Is
scarcely enough TO pay for the cultlva!ion;
This is true particularly Of the older, settled
parts OF the country, but al SECTIONS nave
some land OF this kind.
In travelling on a railway train, II one will
observe the fields that whirl past the car win
have become somewhat depleted o: their
vegetable matter. Soil washing, TOO, has aid
ed in the process OF depletion. and the BARE
washed bills are painfully numerous.
dwell in these older sections, Is 10 restore.
partly at least, the original fertility OF their
farms, so that the good crops formerly pro
duced may again be secured. There are
many things that help 10 this end, but IT VIII
be possible to discuss only one here-the
planting Of leguminous crops. Under TINS
head are included all kinds OF beans and
peas, clovers, legumins, and some othef
plants. Even some OF the forest trees are ie-
gumes, and many wild plants. such as the
crimson beggnr lice, are OF this family. Ihty
are oy the iast shst tney are
with small nodules supporting bacterial
life that enables them TO extract the free nj
trogen from the atmosphere, and store II In
mains, and becomes available for the crops
that are planted there the succeeding year.
This, then, is the secret OF the fertilzlng value
OF the legumes II Is the verdict OF SCIENCE,
based on obser vation and experiment. We
cannot doubt the great value Of this class OF
plants as nitrogen gatherers. 1t ID Indeed
true that vegetable gIoWtn OF any ny knd hn even @
cay, but 1t seems to be on ~ the ltgumes that
gives the nitrogen-gathering power. Aud
herein lies their great value az SOIL reviewers
This fact being recognized, then the question
arises as to VI which particular one the southern
farmer shall use Tor the restoral OF his soil.
While there are many tpat are unquestlona-
bly, good. perhaps COW peas are pest ior gen, gen,
eral planting on mort farms. Tney are well
known everywhere, and will grow on any
soil, even the red clay. They will come up
and grow where many other plants would dle
OF sheer discouragement. Being perfectly
adapted TO this soil and climate, It 1s doubt.
ful If another crop can be found equal to
them for general planting. The soil every
where seems 10 be supplied with the necee-
sary bacteria, so that no lnocnlatlon is neces.
sary. They may be planted In the corn, nd
in the stubble after grain; or they may be
planted, as we would cotton, in the spring or
them. In any OF these ways they will prove
of great value. Besides producing valuable
crop OF peas or hay, for which they are very
fine, the soil will be left with very material
increase in It's nitrogen content, even WheD
the vines have been taken OIL Tor hay. AS
rule. 1t will be best to NOW the vines for hay,
although II Is undoubtedly true that acrop OF
vines plowed under In the fall Will ada great
ly to the crop planted the succeeding year.
Some OF the nitrogen will probably be lost
before spring arrives, but not ALL There will
be q large part left to feed the spring planted
While cow peas rank first as soil improv-
ers, there are other kinds Of legumlnous
crops that are very useful: Wild clover Qes-
pedezs) Is one OF these. 1t Is also called ia
pan clover, having been Introduced, II IL sald,
from that country. SprlDging up in out OF
the way places. and in pastures, II makes
good grazing and arrests the soil In It's course
TO the streams All are familiar with this
small leafed, low-sIowing clover that clings
close to mother earth. II needs no planting.
as 1t grows on all farms, In abandoned piac as,
in pastures, and wherever else II can nnd
place, doing much in It's humble way TO re-
gain the waste wrought by man. On rich
land 1t will grow hign enough TO make hay.
Some times IT is sown in the grain fields In
winter or spring, where IT comes up after the
grain is cut, making good growth duripg
the summer, which may be pastured II de-
sired. Here then We find something that will
make q crop with even less work than COW
peas. 1t needs only TO be soWn on the surface
and the rain will cover the seed sutticient tly
to make them come up after the grain har-
vest. II would be difficult to say 100 M uch
bidden and without planting. However. T.
we wish 1t TO take possession OF q field very
quickly, 1t will be best TO SOW the seed, which
may be purchased from the large seed houses
Alfalfa, or lucerne, is said 10 be well adapt
ed to the South, II the soil Is made ricf
enough. But II requires fertile soil TO make
a satisfactory crop. Beyond the Mississippi
1t is valuable crop for hay and grazing. NIL
ing All important place In the scheme OF croI
rotation. When once established, 1t will las
for years.
Crimson clover does we'll, too, and woult
make q good cover for the soil during th
winter months. Vech and burr clover ar
also valuable for spring grazing, reseedinl
themselves without di fticulty. They furnish
some thing tender ana green at time wheI
the farm stock need something OF this klnt
after the winter IL over.
Soy beans are not much planted as ye
throughout the South, but are well worth
trial by those who are looking for good ha.
and grain plant. They may be az good a
COW peas for these purposes. or even better II
certain respects.
The point is, for all those engaged In farm
ing 10 recognize the value OF the legumet
and then plant them extensively and systt
matically. Each individual will have t
work out the details Of planting and cultlvs
tion, but by all means plant them whereve
possible, selecting whatever suits best. The
will help wonderfully TO restore the farm
It's former state OF productiyeness. AboV
and around us Is q vast store OF atmospher!
nitrogen, but 1t is not In u form 20 be used
growing plants. The ltgumes have the pov
er Of transforming the inert nitrogen OF ID
air into compounds that can be taken up b
the growing crops. We should appreciate u
mpoItapre OF this TACT, and avail oursely,