The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-09-29
Winter Cover Crops.

The unprecedented drouth which
prevails in some sections of the State
is an object lesson as to the value
of organic matter or humuS in the
soil, as it is we'll known fact that
in addition to other desirable quail
tiles decaying organic matter or hui
mus increases the water holding ca
pacity of all soils.
For the protection of the soil and
to provide against the disastrous eff
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 SUI
ccessfully they are better than rye
or other small grain crops, but where
they will not grow. 1t will be adyisaz
BILE to SOW rye. sz.sss-.s
For best results these crops should
be put in as quickly as possible, es-
peeially in the wetern 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 800 lbs.
Acid Phosphate per acre, as that
will help to insure a stand of clov-
er Some SOW in addition to this one
pound of turnip seed per acre, pre-
feredly the Cowhorn variety, claim
ing 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 under next spring
to improve the soil.
The seed should be covered with
a cultivator or with 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 cas-
tern and warmer section OF the
State they can be put in as late as
the middle of October.
In the Coastal Plain section Bur
Glover is also fine for winter COW
er crop. The seed of this is usually
purchased in the rought 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 useu
with these to advantage.
Hairy vetch also makes tine win
ter cover crop, and will succeed in
almost any part of the State on
well drained land, especially where
Partridge or Mountain peas grow. IL
sown alone SOW at the rate OF 81
pounds of seed per acre, and II with
rye or ether small grain, one bushel
of small grain and 20 pounds OF
yetch per acre. They should be soWn
at about the 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 a heavy growth to
nrotect the land and to add 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 II
-rn9e-1 as soon. as. the heads begin 70
appear than to wait until it is
grown. IF it gets full grown and dry
weather follows it. would leave the
Hand SO open and loose that the crop
frHowing it would suffer more than
lif no rye was put on the land.
All these crops should be dIskeo
well and thoroughly cut up before
plowing under next spring. Goood re
suits maV be expected only when
they are well naked with the sol
before the crop ID planted.