The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-09-10

workers. lney are never luIe Wnen
conditions are favorable for them TO
gather and prepare food materials for
young plants from natures store.
How rapidly and successfully they are
able to do this work is shown by the
rapidity with which they seize upon
and convert the food materials in
cover crop into available plant food
when it is plowed under early in the
spring.
1t is not possible in all cases to
have a growing crop on all the land
during the winter. In some cases it
might not be the policy to do SO if it
were possible, But as a general rule
the aim should be 10 keep growing
crop on the soil as nearly all OF the
time as possible. OF course, in the
preparation Of the land for certain
regular crops there will be short peri,
DDS when the land must be lelt bare,
but these periods should be as short as
practicable.
The choice OF winter cover crop
is a matter Of Importance, Whenever
a winter or early spring growing legume
can be used it should by all means
have preference; for it is just as help
iul to add nitrogen gathered from the
air as to retain that which has become
soluble in the soil,
In more northern localities the win
ter growing legumes- crimson clover
and the vetches have two objection
able features as winter cover crops
First, they do not usually make sufi-
cient fall growth 10 cover the land we'll
during the winter, and, second, they
do not mature sufficiently early to
permit the best preparation Of the land
ior such crops as corn and potatoes,
The first objection to legume crops
may be partially overcome by early
seeding, if sufficient moisture is in the
soil, during the fall, but early seeding
With the legume crops is risky how
ever early they may be sown, unless
there is ample moisture.
There is another class Of cover crops
which do not gather nitrogen from the
air and hense their use does not i'm,
prove the soil so much as does the
growth Of legume crop. But some
Of these crops make better fall, winter
and early spring growth, hence form
better cover for the land. They also
thrive on all kinds OF tillable land, the
seed is cheap, and stand is practical
ly certain.
The cost OF a bushel Of rye, which
fair seeding, is so low that the
certainty that it will make a good
fall growth, makes it suitable for use
everywhere and under all conditions.
1t makes a good fall growth, and be-
sides making a good cover, supplies
considerable humus forming material
to be plowed under in time for salts
factory preparation Tor any summer crop
such as corn OF potatoes.
The successful and profitable use Of
cover crops requires that the rotation
of crops be so arranged as to keep the
land occupied with a growing crop as
much Of the time as possible. This
constant covering Of the soil prevents
losses Of fertility which occur by
washing or blowing, and by teaching
during fall and early spring. It pre-
vents 10 some extent, the drying out
OF soils which lie bare during the hot
and dry season, which results in check
ing the development Of, if not actual
ly destroying soil bacteria.
A soil that has a growing crop on it
is constantly improving, because nat
tural agencies are more active. The
plant food in it is broken down, and
vegetable matter accumulated in roots
and stubble, which will improve the
soil in every way. These advantages
have been very markad, more especial
ly on our heavier soils, so much so
that, with the use Of the same fertiliz-
er and the same method Of treatment
from Is to As per cent more Of crop
is obtained with the same expense
for labor and seed when cover crops
are grown. The soil has materially
improved in its physical character
and its content Of readily available
plant food.
All Of these benefits are possible b.
adopting a rotation Of crops that vii
5 keep the soil covered most Of thI
, vear In the well known three yea