The farmer and mechanic., 1911-10-03
WINTER COVER CROPS

The unprecedented drouth which
prevails in some sections of the State
is an object lesson as to the value or
organic matter or humus in the soil,
as it is a we'll known fact that in ad-
dition to other desirable qualities de-
caying organic matter Or hunuS IN
creases the water holding capacity OF
all soils.
For the protection of the soil and
to provide against the disastrous ef-
fects of a possible drouth next sum-
mer farmers should put in winter
cover crops. The best crops for this
purpose are the clOverS, vetcheS and
small grain crops. On land where the
clovers and vetches will grow success
fully they are better than rye or other
small grain crops, but where they Will
not grow it will be advisable to SOW
rye.
For best results these crops should
be put in as quickly as possible, espe-
cially in the western part Of the State.
Prepare the land by disi1ing and har-
rowing and SOW Is pounds clean
crimson clover seed per acre. and if
convenient, SOW also 500 pounds acid
phosphate per acre, as that Will help
to insure a stand of clover. Some
SOW in addition to this one pound of
turnip seed per acre, preferably the
COWhOrn Naiety, claiming that the
turnip leaves protect the young clover
plants IN their early stages. 1t can
do no harm to SOW the turnip seed as
these crops are intended to plow un
der next spring to improve the soil.
The seed should be covered with a
cultivatCr or with a harrow about one
inch deep. In the western part Of the
State these should be put in at once
so as to make sufficient growth to
Withstand the winter. In the central
part Of the State they should be put
in not later than the last OF Septem-
ber, while in the eastern and warm
er sections of the State they can be
put In as late as the middle Of Octo-
Der.
In the Coastal Plain section bur
clover is also fine for a winter cover
crop. The seed Of this is usually pur-
chased in the rough or bur and should
be planted at the rate of from three
to four bushels of the burs per acre,
and covered about one inch deep.
These should go in at once Acid
phosphate can be used with these to
advantage
Hairy vetch also makes a fine win
ter cover crop, and will succeed in al
most any part OF the State on we'll
drained land, especially where par
trldge or mountain peas grow. If
sewn alone, SOW at the rate of 80
pounds Of seed per acre. and if with
rye Or other small grain, one bushel
or small grain and 20 pounds of yetch
per acre They should be sown at
about the same time as crimson Glow
er and covered from one to two
inches deep.
Where none Of these crops will
grow successfully SOW rye at the rate
of one and half bushels per acre
You want heavy growth to protect
the land and to add a great quantity
Of vegetable matter when turned
under next spring.
Turn under two or three weeks be-
fore You wish to plant the crop which
is to follow. Rye, especially, should
not be permitted to get woody before
turning under. Better turn it under
as soon as the heads begin to appear
than to wait until it il grown. II it
gets full grown and dry weather fol-
lows il would leave the land SO open
and loose that the crop following II
would suffer more than il no rva Wa.
put on the land.
All these crops should be disked
we'll and thoroughly cut up before
plowing under next spring Good re-
suits may be expected only when they
are we'll mixed with the soil before
the crop is planted.
II any one doubts the benefits TO he
had from these winter cover crons
let him prepare one acre of average ]
land and treat 1t as described aboT>
Next spring plant another acre nv The
side or II thaf has had no winter cover
crop and cultivate both alike One
demonstration like this will usuaIIy
convince a person Of the value Of win /
ter cover crops