The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-09

under before it makes growth enough
to make it's harvesting profitable. A
similar problem is often presented
with winter-growng crops, such as
rye and crimson clover, that while
useful for feed to certain extent
nave also some features that make
their use Objectionable. Rye is an ex-
cellent crop for cutting and feeding
green; but If it must be made into
hay, it will usually pay better to
plow it down. Crimson clover makes
good hay If cut at exactly the right
| stage; but If allowed to get too ripe,
1T may be dangerous feed, especial
ly for horses, and in such cases, is
best plowed under.
Some Points to Observe in Using
Green Manures.
The great value Of green manures
In adding to the humus of the soil
has been spoken of; burt they some
times produce injurious effects also
and, like other fertilizers, must al
ways be used with reference to the
crop that is to follow their applica-
ton.
The plowing under Of a large
amount Of vegetable matter as a
preparation for, or a short time be-
fore, the sowing Of wheat or oats in
the fall, is never to be advised. The
undecayed mass makes the soil "puf-
fy' and unsettled and prevents the
formation Of that fine, firm seed bed
which +he crops so much like. In
deed, 1t Is nearly always better to
have green manures mixed with the
soil in time for them to have partial
ly decayed at least before the sue
ceeding crop Is planted. Tfris is not
always practicable. however, and with
some crops. corn for example, is not
OF great Importance. The prowing
under OF heavy crop Of green vege-
tation often results in too much acid
fty in the soil when it begins to de-
cay. For this reason it is usually
better when a rank crop is to be
turned down to allow it, to fully ma
ture. Soil acidity produced by this
may be corrected. however, by giving
the soil top dressing OF lime after
the crop has been plowed down.
Green manures are most profitably
used as preparation for such gross
feeding and humus-needing crops as
corn, for those, like the Irish Do
tato, and other root crops, that need
plenty Of soil moisture, do not mind
little sourness in the soil, and are
sometimes injured by the application
| Of stable manures.
Cover Crops for Green Manuring.
The crops most generally profitable
| as green manures are those that are
grown during the winter to protect
the soil, and are then turned down in
the spring in time to be followed by
| cotton, corn or other hoed crops.
Rye, for example, is most profltably
used, as rule, by pasturing or soil
Ing In the early spring and then turn
ing under; while it Is often more
profitable to plow a crop Of crimson
clover in for the benefit of the corn
crop that is to follow than to try to
make hay Of it A summer-growing
crop, such as the cowpeas, should, on
the other hand, be first used as a
feed, unless the land is very poor in
deed, or there Is no other chance
Of getting the humus the crop con-
tain into the soil.
TO sum up, then: The most prifit-
able green manuring crops, as a gen.
era1 rule, are those that grow during
/ the spring; it is usually better when
practicable, to let a crop mature thar
to plow it in green; large quantitie.
OF green matter turned under some.
times sour the soil and are always
Objectionable just before seeding
oats or wheat; where a crop can be
profitably saved for feed and the
manure returned to the land this
should always be done.
Next weeks talk will be about
barnyard manures, their composition
| and fulness.-Progressive Farm
er.