The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-14
WHY YOU SHOULD GROW GRIM
son CLOVER, BUR CLOVER
AND VETCH.
Only by Growing Winter Lcgumcs
That Occupy and Put Nitrogen into
Land That Would Otherwise BE
Idle, can We Hope for Rich Land
mt Small EXpcnsc-POints OH In.
OculatiOn and Seeding.

! livery IOOt or we'll drained soil i'm
the South will successfully grow
crimson clover, bur clover and vetch
when acid phosphate and potash and
the proper inoculating bacteria are
present in the soil, or if properly ap-
piled, provided the soil is not very
acid. which is not likely to be true of
well drained soils.
| "A three-year rotation, even if in
practice. and if all summer legumes
in such q system were turned under
instead of being cut for hay Gas is
generally the case), would not restore
to the soil as much fertility as is re-
moved by the ordinary soil-robbing
crops-cotton, corn, grain, etc.
z. Enriching the South through
livestock production is impossible.
even though all crops be fed; for live
stock utilize one-tenth to one-fourth
the plant food contained in the crops
they consume, leaving only nine
tenths to three-fourths for returning
to the soil. Usually large part Of
this is lost before it reaches the fields
Livestock is a factor in farm econo-
my and Is an important factor in the
conservation Of soil fertility, but live
stock can't be depended upon for in
creasing the fertility Of soils over the
whole South.
3. Commercial fertilizers may be
applied in sufficient quantities to aud
fertility to the soils, but it is unbus-
ness-like to purchase that which ma
ture could be made to supply at prac-
tically no expense. Besides, such fer
tility exists without the ability of the
soil to use such fertility, especially
during droughts, which usually occur
when the plant is developing fruit
and needs the greatest amount of
both food and water neither of which
can be had unless the soil is we'll fill
ed with humus to hold moisture for
use during such dry weather.
a. The winter legumes; vetch.
crimson clover and bur clover, VIII
grow during fall. winter and early
spring on all otherwise idle lands,
thus conserving fertility which would
oherwise waste by washing and
teaching; besides, these crops when
turned before planting cotton and
corn supply the soil with both fcrtil-
ity and ability 10 use such fertility.
About two-thrds of the nitrogen
which they contain is taken from the
air. and when turned under they add
this in addition to what they have
saved from wasting.
The acreage in such winter legumes
may, in any ordinary economic rota-
ton, be such that more fertility will
be added than the soil robbing crops
remove. They supply humus which
gives the soil double ability to use
fertility. and the soils Of the South
are built up most cheaply and most
readily.
Unless land has in recent years sue
cessfully grown the legumes requir-
ing the necessary inOculating bacteria,
be certain to carefully and thoroughly
inoculate leguRle seed with CONNER
cial or soil bacteria. Inoculated soil
Is the very best incubation obtain
able. Legume bacteria run in groups,
and soil from land which has recently
grown one member of the group to
which that legume belongs will supply
incubation for ans legume in that
group.
The following shows the groups
having the same bacteria:
1. Vetch, English peas. Canada
field peas, and sweet peas.
2. Crimson clover, alsike clover,
little white clover and red clover, in
cluding mammoth red, or "sapling
clover"
3. Bur clover, sweet clover (melilo-
tus) and alfalfa.
Bur clover should be sown only in
the bur If possible, and while some
inoculation is contained in this form,
yet the best results will be obtained
by inoculating the burs. Wet the seed
with solution of equal parts Of mo-
lasses or sugar and water and apply
as much inOculated soil as will adhere
to the seed or burs. Sow at once
while damp, and cover only one
fourth inch deep Immediately. Use
five to six bushels of burs (50 to GO
pounds) per acre if good stand is
expected the first year. Seed may be
scWn almost any time from July / to
October l, the earlier the better.
Crimson clover should be sOwn at