The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1911-09-14
WINTER COVER CROPS.
Nj. Parker Urges the Sowing Of Glover,
VetCh and Small Grain.

: is an object lesson as to the value OF
/ organic matter or humus in the soil
; as it is a well known fact that in ad.
dition to other desirable qualities
decaying organic matter or humus
increases the water holding capacity
Of all soils.
For the protection of the soil and
to provide against the disastrous
effects of a possible drought next
summer farmers should put in win
ter-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 successfully they are better
than rye or other small grain crops,
but where they will not grow it will
be advisable to SOW rye.
For the best results these crops
should be put in as quickly as posi-
Bile, especially in the western part
Of the State. Prepare the land by
disking and narrowing and sow Is
pounds clean crimson clover seed
per acre, and if convenient, sow also
300 pounds Acid Phosphate per acre.
as that will help to insure stand of
clover. Some sow in addition to this
one pound of turnip seed per acre,
preferably the Cowhorn variety,
claiming that the turnip leaves pro-
tect 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 under next
spring to improve the soil.
The seed should be covered with a
cultivator 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 September, while in the east
ern and warmer sections Of the
State they can be put in as late as
the middle Of Cctctc~.
In the Coastal Plain section Bur
clover is also fine for a winter-cover
crop. The seed of this is usually
purchased in the rough cor bur and
should be planted at the rate 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 WIZ
ter-cover crop, and will succeed in
almost any part OF the State on well
drained land, especially where Part
ridge or Mountain peas grow. If
sown alone SOW at the rate of 80
pounds Of seed per acre, and if with
rye or other small grain, one bushel
Of small grain and 20 pounds of
vetch per acre. They should be sown
at about TIE same time as crimson
clover 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 3 great
quantity Of vegetable matter when
turned under next spring.
Turn under two or three weeks
before 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
is grown. If it gets full grown and
dry weather follows it would leave
the land so open and loose that the
crop following it would suffer more
than if no rye was put on the land
All trese crops should be disked
well and thoroughly cut up before
p!owing under next spring. Good
results may be expected only when
they are we'll mixed with the soil
before the crop is planted.
If any one doubts the benefits to
be had from these winter-cover crops
let him prepare one acre Of average
land and treat it as described above
Next spring plant another acre by
the side Of it that has had no Win
ter-cover crop and cultivate both
alike. One demonstration like this
will usually convince person of the
value of winter-cover crops.
Seed for any of the above men-
toned crops can be had from almost
any reputable seedman, but buy
only the best and freest from inn
purities. The best are none too
good.
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