The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1911-09-07
WINTER Cover Crops

II
The unprecedented drought which
prevails in some sections of the state
IS an object lesson as to the value IF
organic matter o. humus in the soil
as It is a well known fact that in adj
dition to other desirable qualities de-
caying organic matter Or humua in
creases the water holding capacity
of all soils.
For the protection OF the soil and
to provide against the disastrous e.
forts of a possible drough next s,,m
mer farmers should put in winfor-
cover crops. The best crops for tbia
purpose are the cIovers. yetcbea an5
small grain crops. On land wba+a
une cIoVers and vetches will crow
successfully they are better than rva
or other small grain crops, but whare
{ney Will not grow it will be adyisahIe
to sow rye.
For best results these crops sbo,,ld
pe put IN as quickly as possible. esnec-
clalIy IN the western part of the state
Prepare the land by d1sking and bar-
rowing and SOW Is pounds clean Grim
son cloVer seed per acre, and II con-
venlent, SOW also 500 pounds Acid
per acre, as that will helm
20 insure a stand of clover. Sane
SOW IN addition to this one pounu Of
eurnlp seed per acre, preferable
variety cIai. ming t.
Iurn1p leaves Protect n younx
er pants IN Leir early St.
can 90 no harm to SOW the tn,
SEED as these crops are intenoed -
ploW under next spring to im1.a
the soil.
Inc seed should be covered with a
cu1tiFator or with a harrow about
q inch deep. In the western part
OF In9r State these should be Il in
at once SO as to make sufficient growth
TO Withstand the winter. In the CEN
traI part OF the State they should be
put IN not later than the last IF
september, while in the eastern and
warmer sections of the State thew
can be put in as late as the middle
of October.
In the Coastal Plain section Bur
clover is also fine for a winter v
crop. The seed of this is usually pur-
CHASED IN the rough or bur and should
De planted at the rate of from three
70 TOUR bushels of the burs per acre.
and covered about one. inch deem
THESE should go in at once. Acid
phosphate can be used with these to
advantage.
Hairy vetch also makes a-fne win
ter-coYeF crop, and will succeed in
almost any part of the State on wei
drained land, especially where par
tr1de or Mountain peas grow. IF
alone SOW at the rate of "a
pounds of seed per acre, and if with
Or other small grain. enc busheI
of small grain and 20 pounds1of vetch
per acre. They should. be sown AFT
b same time as crimson Glow
er n covered from enc to two inches
leep.
Where none of these crops viii
successfully SOW rye at the rate
n and n half bushels per acre
You want a heavy growth to protect
he land and to add a great GUAM
ty OF vegetable matter when turned
lnder next spring.
Turn under two or three. weeks he
ore you wish to plant the crop which
S to follow. Rye, c-~~ec.aEIy, should
lot be permitted tc It w7ody before
urning under. Be tn n it under
IS soon as the head begin to appear
nan 10 walt until il 3 Gown. If it
'ets full grown and dry weather fol-
ows it would leave the land so open
nd loose that the crop following it
would suffer more than if no rye was
ut en- the land.
All these crops should be disked
veil and thoroughly cut up before
lowing under next spring. Coed
may be expected only when
hey are well mixed with the soil be-
ore the crop is planted.
II any enc doubts the benefits to
e had from these winter-cover crops
him prepare one acre of average
and treat it as described above.
ext spring plant another acre by the
ide of it that has had no winter-cov
r crop and cultivate both alike. One
demonstrations like this will usually
onvince a person of the value of
-inter-cover crops.
Seed for any of the above. mention
4 crops can be had from almost any
equitable seedman, but buy only the
and freshest from impurities.
he best are o n too good.