Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-28
BEST METHOD TO IMPROVE
THE FERTILITY OF THE SOIL

SAFE COLLEGE OF AGRICUL-
TIRE. ATHENS. Ca. Feb. 1.-THE
r~asntanance OF fertility Is a subject OF
universal concern for the protection OF
the soil- determines the degree OF a ma
tons prosperity. II Il were possible to
maintain on every farm a large enough
number OF live stock 10 feed all that the
land was capable OF growing. and in ad-
dition purchase and feed large quantities
OF rich concentration. yard manure alone
might be made to supply the soil with
most OF its nitrogen AID large part OF
the vegetable matter needed 10 keep II
N proper mechanical condition.
Even II this practice were possible. II
must OF necessity result In some sections
or the country producing concentrates at
the expense OF depicting their soil and
selling them 10 other sections for the en-
richment OF their lands. This character OF
practice could hardly be regarded as in
the interest Of a system Of permanent
fertility.
MUST SUPPLY.
Some other means must. therefore, be
found Of supplying one OF the greatest de-
flciencies in our soils. namely. the lack
OF vegetable matter and nitrogen which
Is derived therefrom- Nitrogen Is the ele-
menf first exhausted from most agricul-
tural lands and Is most costly 10 pur-
on the farm tends to reduce the quantity
Of this essential element 1t Is perfectly
clear. therefore. that TO keep a soil In
ideal condition large quantities Of vegeta-
BILE matter must be secured. and that
while II Is desirable TO supply this def
cheney from yard manure. il Is impracti-
cable on thousands OF farms 10 achieve
this end. Fortunately nature has provid-
ed a means BY which this difficulty may
blowing under of green crops
Two classes OF crops may be used for
this purpose-the legumes and the nom
iegumes. The first Is much to be prefer
red for under certain conditions they
have the power OF gathering nitrogen out
OF the air and can thus enrich the soil
much more rapidly than the non-legumi-
nous crops. OF the leguminous crops. the
hairy vetch. the cow pea. the velvet bean.
the soy bean. al Of the ciovers. and field
and garden peas and beans may be util-
iEed- The crops chiefly used. however.
because OF their wide adaptability. are red
clover. crimson clover. COW peas. retch
and velvet beans. OF the non-leguminous
crops winter oats barley. wheat and rye
may all be used successfully. These crops
are hardy in about the order named. and
though not supplying nitrogen from the
air. they viii improve the condition Of
<he soil materially BY keeping it well COW
cred during the winter and furnishing a
PLANTING OF COWPEAS-
When planting cowpeas Intended for
green manure the land should be as
carefully broken and prepared as though
the crop were to be harvested for hay
or grain. Many seem to think that a
sell improving crop may be put in the
ground in any sort Of Indifferent fash
lon, that ut best they are sinking some
-
least EFFORT expended the better. A more
erroneous conclusion could not be
drawn. FOR green crop properly ham
dled for the enrichment OF the soil con-
stitutes q species OF investment just as
certainly as the buying Of bond. What
one Is seeking IN a crop for green ma
nuring Is 20 secure the largest possible
growth In a short period OF time 1t is
important that this growth be secured
as early in the spring as possible so
that II may be turned under and still
leave q long growing season It is de-
slrable that a perfect stand be secured.
and this can not be hoped for where the
crop has been broadcastsd on badly pre-
pared ground. and this is particularly
true in the south where the autumn is
often unusually dry and a stand DIM
cult to secure unless the grain be sown
with a drfll and uniformly covered
The cereals ana clovers constitute the
hest cover crops for the winter season
when teaching and erosion do the great
est damage These crops should, as q
rule. be fortified with a 2-S-4 formula
on clay lands. and with Z-s-S formula
on sandy lands An application OF 500
TO 500 pounds per acre viii be about
right or course, where the land is in
fairly good mechanical condition. IL is
probable that NJ nitrogen may be needed
on these crops Where the fertilizer Is
used. however. the growth is likely TO be
more vigorous and the crop be in condi-
ton TO pillow under from two weeks 10
so days earlier than II it is not properly
planted and fertilized- The legttminous
crops grown for green manuring in the
summer time will all need TO be fertil-
lied with a i0-4 on clay lands. and prob
ably n 17-6 on sandy lands. Not less
than 800 to 500 pounds should be used
en- these crops
HOW TO Pillow CROP DOWN.
The next matter TO consider Is how
and when to piow down a green crop.
Cereals should be turned under early in
the spring when they have not made