The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-08-05
GROW WATER LEGUALES.
Department Of agriculture Offers Adj
vice to South Carolina Farmers.

Of agriculture Offers Adj
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. 1t is from
Dr.. B. T. Galloway, chief of the bu-
reau, and follows.
we 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 a plot usually encourages
him to plant more and his neighbors
to follow suit.
I'VE 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. It 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 vetch 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 evi-
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 thar
September Is.
"a common source of failure, both
with vetch and crimson clover, i!
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 bt
fused. We hope to complete arrange
ment with the experiment station, 81
that inoculated soil can be sent t
each co-operator.
kindly let US hear promptly FROM
you in regard to this matter, so tha
We can make the necessary reseTva
ton of seed. It is desirable to hav
the names Of the co-operators at al
,:.:ly daie. aud We shou.l prefa" t
have the whole list by September
=. We shall write fully to each co-opera
tor indicating in the letter that it
ent upon your recommendation.
B. T. Galloway"
I, Speaking of this matter, Mr.. Leve
says: II regard this as most i'm
portant undertaking, perhaps tn
most important ever set on foe
!. by the department Of agriculture i
!. the South. To the practical and OF
! servant farmer it is apparent that
winter cover crop is an absolut
] necessity, both to save the land frol
: washing and to give the land nitrog
en- and humus. The one crop systel
has extracted practically all Of th
6 humus from the soil, while the ~
> cessity for nitrogen, as an elemer
: in crop life, means charge upon th
s South Carolina farmer Of nearl
; tour million dollars each year.
: is the opinion Of scientists that th
;. brunt of this burden may be save
i to the farmer through the CROWN
of legumes, and especially the Winte
legumes. This movement looks
this end and is in line with the othe
l. work being undertaken by the d.
; partment here in the State throug
:. the activities Of he State'sr represent;
: ives in Congress. The main lesso
that we want tc teach is that we ca
grow something besides cotton, an
he second lesson that We wan
teach is that diversifcation in agr
: culture really helps the cotton groE
: er to maks his cotton crop a prof
and that it increases the yield ps
onro O1anta6 in cotton.