The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-22

An Article Fer Farmers sent ouf ID!
the Demonstration Bureau al AZ
ricnifnraf Department.

A winter cover crop i one OF the
most i'm portant factors in southern
farming. especially hill farming a
system of poor farming has 80 great
Iy exhausted the humus in the major
ity of the fields as TO make 1t Wen
nigh impossible to prevent their fur
.ther depletion ny the heavy rams OF
winter and early spring, which carry
of much of the valuable elements left.
onto the bottoms. and into the
streams. Nature, always resourceful,
has furnished certain plants which
may be used 10 restore the depleted
soils. These winter crops Will hold
our loose soils in place. and where
sufficient growth is obtained, can be
turned under to add humus 10 the
soil. The sand hills and other lose
soils can largely be prevented from
teaching if heavy cover crops are
turned under for a few years. This
statement may be verified by taking
new land where the plant roots and
vegetable mold are still in ii. or the
Sane may be found in sod land where
run 10 pasture for a series of years
and brought back into cultivation.
No washing occurs here even after
the heaviest rains. A good cover
crop will not only prevent washing
and add humus to the soil, but II
Clovers or vetches are used there Will
be nitrogen collected from the air
and stored in the soil during winter.
as peas and beans do in ummer
Plants most suitable for cover crops
are rye, Netch, crimson and bur GLOW
er. Conditions. Of course must de-
termine which To use.
Rye.
Rye is one of the old standard
winter cover crops and has been used
very extensively in some sections. 1t
has the advantage in that it is gen
orally known, is easily planted, will
grow at almost any season, will grow
on the poorest soils. Seed are usually
cheap, and it does not require extra
care in the way Of incubation as is
the case with the legumes. 1t can be
in the middleS of corn or cotton
at last cultivation or if not convenient
to SOW at this time 1t al he done a
little later in the fall. When sown
early it gives a better owe for the
soil and also some good grazing for
the stock. Whore practicable, how
ever, as Would be on the corn land, 1t
is better to turn under stalks and
other growth and plant rye on good
seed bed. 1t is also a good plan where
the soil will grow it, to mix vetch
one-fourth of vetch, using a bushel
of h mixture per acre. 1t is better
to drill seed, especially where
planted in middles of corr or cotton.
1t is claimed that the variety known
as Abruzzes, which was imported by
the agricultural department, is best
suited to South Carolina and ada
cent States. There are other good
varieties which a be had at a fair
price.
Oats may be used instead Of rye in
many instances, and the same gem
eral rule for preparation, planting,
and after treatment, may be followed
as for rye. lie to 215 bushels of
seed should be used per acre when
planted alone; IL bushels and one
fourth bushel Of vetch when combin-
ed. F;ust-proof oat seed gives the
best results in nearly every part of
the South. Unless the lands are fairly
good. ii will be necessary to fertiliZe
the rye and Oat crop to get sufficient
growth for the most valuable cover
crop. Stable n applied broad
cast at the time Of planting is good
J for this, or the following per acre:
acid phosphate $50 pounds; cotton
seed meal 80 pounds: and muriate
Of potash 90 pounds. thoroughly mix
ed and applied at time Of planting.
CIoyers and Vetch.
Until lands. become more fertile
and adapted to these crops, the best
satisfaction with them can be OBJ
tanned only by making a good p
alton and by giving some special are
in seeding and inocuiating the soil.
Preparation.
Turn a few inche deeper than it
has been previously ploved. If there
is no rain. after this. before time Of
planting, a roller should be run to
firm the seed bed. These crops
lands can be put in fine condition by
midGles where clean by scattering
| seed broadcast and running sweep or
c~ultivator lightly to cover. Entire
success. however. need not be look ed
for by this method of seeding.
though some splendid results We're re-
ported from it last season. The corn
lands ca be put in fine coalition by
using a cut-aWay or disc harrow to
cut stalks and turn top soil. Sow
seed and cover with tooth harrow