Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-03-19
COUNTY FARM
AGENT ADVICE
Best Method Of Handling
Green Cover Crops


YOU have used a green cover
crop to improve your soil. We
therefore wish to call your at
tention to few important points
regarding the best method of
handling your iand for the sue
cerding crop.
The state at which a cover
crop should be turned under de-
penGS upon the soil, weather
conditions and the crop that is
% follow. Where corn is to be
planted ON crimson clover land,
the clover should be turned un-
der lust when the blooms begins
to appear. The crop at this
stare will contain about the
maximum amount of plant food.
Besides, it will decay much more
readily than if permitted to reach
full maturity. 1t may be neces-
sary to turn the clover under a
little earlier in order to get the
corn planted at the proper time.
Ii is sometimes advisable to turn
under earlier on account of the
soil being in good condition,
whereas to put it off a few days
or a week, dry weather might
prevent doing the work as it
should be. When the land is to
be planted to cotton it will be
necessary to turn the cover crop
earlier regardless of the stage of
roWt1. This will allow a few
days for the land to settle and
to be gotten in proper condition
for a good seed bed. The ploW
should be followed closely with
the harrow to puIverize the soil
before the wind and sunshine
dries it out. Unless the soil is
full of moisture. or there are
prospects of an early rain it is
best to run a roller over the land
% firm it, which will aid in hold
ng the moisture. The roller
ihouId always be followed with
the Weeder or light smoothing
harrow to mulch the top soil.
When the cover crop consists
Of rye or other small grain, it
should be turned under when
about knee high. If the condi-
tion Of the soil prevents plowing
at this time, double dice the crop
a couple Of times and this will
prevent the further drying out
Of the soil, and frequently the
soil will be mellow enough in a
few days to blow even if it does
not rain. This, of course, is true
when clover is to be followed by
corn aIso.
Never turn the clover or other
crop under without first through
NJ cutting up with a dice harrow,
Us the material pIowed under in
q layer seriously interferes with
the capillary action Of the mois-
tWe In the soil. The effect of
turning under in a layer is what
is sometimes called souring the
soil with green manuring crops.
Double dice the cover crop two
or three times with a sharp dice
harrow before plowing, plow
we'll by taking a narrow furrow
and edging rather than inverting
the fUroW; then double dice the
land again rather deeply, and no
injurious effect will result how
ever I&rge the growth may be.
This is the important point |
wish to impress upon you: The
thorough incorporation of the
vegetable matter with the soil.
DouJt get in a hurry and neglect
this important part Of the work
if you expect good results from
your cover crop. Use the dice
and smoothing harrow until you
have the soil we'll pulverized and
the vegetable matter mixed
throughout the soil.
If You are in doubt about the
fertilizer ingreients dto use on
soil thus prepared, communicate
with me.
Very truly yours,
| DArpTncnM