The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-06
WINTER FORAGE CROPS.
Farmers of State Urged tn Plant
Oats and Vctch.

rived frOm planting provender crops
are very great at present. according
to a. q. Smith OF tho United States
farm demonstration bureau OF the
department Of agriculture. These
crols are very valuable. owing 10 the
dry season. and the Southern farm
ors VINO have neglected 10 plant
them may find themselves in a difh-
cult situation before the year is out.
Mr.. Smith in a speech In Darlington
Saturday. on the occasion OF the
visit OF the South Carolina depart
ment OF agriculture automobile party,
stressed the Importance of planting
such crops. lie strongly urged that
the farmers OF this state begin work
DOW and prepare for the exigencies
OF the winter and spring. The situa-
ton can be partially relieved by
growing oats and vetch.
THE drought in the Middle West
and West" says MIR. Smith, has
been just as severe II not worse than
In South Carolina. The hay crop Is
the poorest II has been in years, and
In many sections the corn crop is u
failure. Hay has never been worth
more on the Western farm than !.
Is today. and the prce of corn Is how
ering around the maximum figure.
This condition Is reflected In South
Carolina. Hay Is retailing al! over
the State at $50 per ton. and In
some places at s35. Corn Is ar~dnd
the dollar mark and in some sections
over 1t. There Is no possibility for
these prices TO so lower; I'm fact'
with the shortened supply in the
West and Middle West we can ex-
pect to see them higher. The
man who has his own hay and corn
Is ali right: he will not need to buy.
nnd Z he has surplus he can sell
Il at a good profit. But the unpro-
gressve farmer. who has failed to
improve his methods and diversity
his crops. Is In an unfortunate posi-
tion. The drain upon his cotton crop
Tor home supplies will be heavy. and
...hould then Yield and price of cotton
tell TO hold II up. II will In many
cases be more than he can bear.
ITO meet this emergency. every
farmer should at this season OF the
year consider the growing Of winter
cover crops. More oa's should be
rlsnted for hay and grains. " moth
ing better can be used. rye should be
sown for pasture and hay. The legu-
mious winter cover crops should
find a place on many farms. These
VII not only furnish pasture and hay
but they will add nitrogen TO the
soil. as does COW peas. and thereby
reduce the necessity for buying 50
m uch ammoniated fertilizers. Red
clover. bur clover. crimson clover
alad vetch are all grown in South
Carolina. Although In many cases
the clovers have given good results
for all types of soil and conditions,
vetch has proved the mos; success
full. Last year there were approxi-
mately 1000 fields Of vetca sown in
South Carolina Many OF these were
failures. due to lack of knowledge
OF proper methods of culture on the
part OF the farmer. but where the
principles involved i'm vetch growing
were carefully followed success was
uniformly obtained. September is
the best month for sowing. Hairy
yetch Is the best variety 10 use.
Thirty pounds OF vetch seed and
from one To Two bushels of oats, or
from a half TO a bushel of rye or
wheat. per acre make good mix
ture. No one should attempt to SOW
yetch on land for the first time with
out inOculatng for II. More failures
In vetch growing have been due to
lack Of inOcula,ion tnGn from any
other casue. a good yield Of vetch
will make from oGe TO three tons of
hay per acre and II will come oft the
land Ia the spring I'm time To plant a
crop Of corn or COW peas and some-
times cotton"
Mr. Smith urged the farmers To- try
at least one acre OF vetch. and then
after they had lear II more about IL
and had soil for lnoculation. the area
should bo extended "a Is seen ~. Mr..
Smith also stated tina, anyone desir-
INK specific directions for planting
vetch could obtain them by wrl ing
him at Columbia