Charlevoix county herald., 1914-05-16
depend more than anything else upon

IL SnOulu De simple ana snort, some
thing like this:
% Clover, one or two years,
blowing under as much of the after
growth as is possible when preparing
for the succeeding crop; (2) a culti-
waited crop-potatoes, corn or possibly
beans, and (3) grain of some kind,
seeding again to clover with grain.
This is not the only rotation that
could be followed, but the important
thing is to introduce clover into the
rotation as frequently as possible.
No grain or cultivated crop should be
planted twice in succession.
The blowing should be shallow,
probably never to exceed five inches,
and this with view to keeping the
organic matter as near the surface as
possible where it will accomplish the
most good, particularly in protecting
the soils from the ravages of the
winds. 1t is good practice not to use
mers use the pillow only in breaking
used at all other times in preparing
soil for crops.
When cultivated crops occupy the
land, the cultivation should be fire.
quent and shallow. Only those who
have practiced persistent shallow Gull
tivation can appreciate the import
ance of thus stirring the soil in pre-
serving the moisture and insuring
profitable crops.
Use "catch" crops where possible.
If regular crop has been removed
fairly early in the fall and the sue
ceeding crop is not to be planted until
the following spring, it is always
worth while to seed the land to oats
or rye or vetch. Frequently it will be
found desirable and profitable just be-
fore the last cultivation of the corn
to seed the corn field to winter vetch
seed at the rate of 80 pounds per acre
The field may be seeded to oats or rye
instead. The benefits to be derived
from the catch crop are at least three:
l. In the fall and early spring the
soil is protected from the winds.
2. During the winter these crops
catch and retain the snow upon the
ground, from which fact the soil bene-
fits not only from the blanket of snow
during the winter, but, also, from the
melting of the snow in place in the
spring.
3. The discing in of the crop in
the spring adds to the soil organic
matter, and in the case of vetch,
nitrogen as well.
Green Manuring.
Green manuring is the practice of
growing a crop to pillow under before
it natures. This is done to increase
the amount of organic matter in the
oil l, &c,
purpose.
Rye is perhaps the most commonly
used, and probably chiefly because it
can be planted in the fall and makes
a considerable growth before the
growing season closes. 1t takes up
the growth again early in spring and
continues until the farmer is ready to
pillow it under. 1t is sown at the rate
of y bushels to bushels per acre.
Of the spring grown crops oats or
rye are frequently used, and are sown
at the regular rates of seeding.
Sometimes Indian corn is sown at
the rate of 1 bushel to 1 u bushels
per acre for this purpose. 1t may be
sown in drills or broadcast.
Oats and peas are sometimes used,
sown at the rate of 1 bushel of oats
and 2 bushels of peas to the acre.
Sand vetch is also used, the seeding
being at the rate of 80 to so pounds
per acre The seeding in all cases is
done as early as conditions of soil
and air are suitable for the planting
| of the crop.
The sand, hairy or winter vetch
seems to be rapidly growing in favor
both as q catch crop plant and as a
green manuring plant. It's value rests
upon three things, viz:
! 1. Because of the size of the seed
it may be planted as deep as two
inches, thus increasing its chances for
moisture supply, and thus insuring
termination. The clovers and alfalfa
| frequently suffer because they may
not be planted deep enough to insure
moisture and anchorage to preserve
the plant from blowing away.
2. The plant makes a very rapid
and vigorous growth, producing a
| large amount of material to pillow I'M
der or disc in.
8. 1t is much more valuable than
| the grains for this purpose because
of the amount of nitrogen which it
gathers during its growth and leaves
for the use of future crops. .
On the Miami sandy soils of south
ern Michigan the COW pea is being
much used as a green manuring crop
Peas are sown at the rate of pecks
per acre, about the first week of June
and the crop is plowed under from the
first to the middle of September
When wheat is sown after COW peas
thus plowed under, the yields OF
wheat are greatly increased; and
when clover is seeded with the wheat
the following spring, it seldom fails
to make an excellent catch.
Live Stock.
The keeping of live stock on these
lands is very important: First, be
cause much of the material that woulC
otherwise be sold from. the farm is
retained for feed. and from $50 tC
e II 4 4 L