Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-03
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT.
Winter Cover Crops.

Careful estimates reveal the fact that
uolI erosion carries away more plant food
Into the streams and rivers Of the south
ern states every year than Is utilized in
the growing OF all OF our crops When
we realize that the cotton crop with its
by-products Is worth approximately $Soo,-
co GO. IL viii give some idea Of the
enormous drain on soil fertility which Is
constantly going on. How to remedy In
some measure this condition is a mat
ter OF universal concern. The best means
OF achieving the desired end Is TO utilize
winter cover crops. OF course. the cereals
would be Included under this heading,
but ae they are more or less familiar to
al. Il has been deemed best in this pa
per 90 call specific attention 10 two crops
which may be utilized admirably for clover
IN the winter and made TO enrich the soil
b gathering nitrogen from the air and
furnishing much nedeed pasturage dur
ing the winter. and yielding fine quality
CT hay the next spring Reference is
made especially 10 crimson clover and the
vetches.
There are two varieties of crimson
clOver-the crimson blooming and the
white blooming The white blooming Is
later IN maturing and makes a larger
and more vigorous growth. and Is prob
ably more desirable for hay and forage
son clover IS grown as a cover crop and
turned under the land win be benefited
about as much as from a heavy applica
zion Of farmvard manure Farmers do
not realize this or they would utilize
crimson clover more extensively. especial
" in those sections where live stock
growing is inadequately developed. and
farmyard manure and compost can not
be had Crimson clover should be seeded
at the rate OF Is TO 20 pounds per acre in
early August or September. and IL may
often be sown in corn at the last working
though the best results will probably fol-
Tow sowing the crop after the corn has
been cut and shocked. Crimson clover
may be seeded on any land that has been
vel prepared. and the seed should be
covered lightly with a harrow.
As TO fertilizers. but little nitrogen VIII
De needed. not over TO per cent TO start
the crop. but phosphates and potash
should be used literally: at least DO
pounds Of acid phosphate and loo TO $50
pounds OF rilfffate OF potash. or 400 10 800
hounds OF kainit Where the mineral ele-
ments are applied 20 this crop in abund-
ance good results viii generally follow.
and II II Is desired TO cut the crop for
hay. q yield Of from Is 20 % tons may
b expected. A mixed fertilizer used on
crimson clover should generally contain
about I per cent Of nitrogen. to per
cent OF phosphoric acid and s TO 10 per
cent Of potash
The vetch Is admirably adapted for
growth in practically all sections Of the
south and may be seeded any time after
August l. II Is best sown on land that
has been well prepared. II may not al
ways be necessary 20 break the land: that
aepends much on the crop which Is TO
follow. II can. ~ course. come after
rowpeas or any other legume grown dur
lnx the summer. or n may be used on
stubbie land or seeded in corn OF cot
ton. This crop may often be sown 10
advantage with oats or rye and forms an
admirable pasture during the summer.
and enriches the soil materially when
pIowed under In the early spring or makes
3 fine quality OF hay. The advantage of
sowing with cereals r. found In the fact
that the vetch climbs readily on the stalks
ard can be cut with greater ease on that
account At least - pounds Of well clean
ed vetch seed should be used per acre
with one hushel % oats.
There are two kinds Of vetch-the win
ter or hairy vetch. which Is hardy and
satisfactory IN most localities. II is. slow
growing. however. In the fall and winter.
The English or Oregon vetch. which also