Sharp County record., 1915-09-17
MAKING CHOICE OF
FALLSEEDEDCROPS
Legunes, Crimson Clover, Spotted
Burr Glover and Hairy Vetch Are
Better Soil Improvers Than the
Small Grains.

its. Fall seeded crops come in two
classes, namely, winter legumes and
winter small grains. Each class bears
an important relation to any system
OF successful farming that may be
practiced
The fall seeded legumes, such as
crimson clover, spotted burr clover
and hairy vetch are better soil i'm
provers than the small grains, since
by the means of the bacteria living in
nodules on the roots they are able to
take free nitrogen from the air and
transfer 1t in the plant tissues.
Time of Seeding,
These crops are best seeded in late
August or early September over the
greater part of the state though the
time may be safely extended until Oc-
tober in southern districts. Such a
seeding will depend largely on the
amount of soil mixture present, the
earlier seedlings are, however, prefer
able In order to secure increased hard
mess during winter and this, in turn,
results in greater yields in the spring
crops
Crimson clover Is especially desira-
BILE where quick growing annual le'
gume is desired to follow corn or cot
ton in rotation. The crop, If used
for hay, will be ready to cut in late
April and can then be followed with
other crops, such as corn, cowpeas
and sorghum. Crimson clover seed
can be purchased comparatively cheap
upon the market Seeding the crop
between rows of corn or after cow
peas is frequently practiced. Crimson
clover makes very desirable winter
cover crop, especially when it is plant
ed upon properly prepared ground.
Care should be taken not to cover the
seed too deep.
A Good Combination.
Burr clover is reseeding in habit
and consequently is especially adapt
ed to land which Is to remain In pas.
ture or meadow for few years. With
Bermuda and Lespedeza, burr clover
makes one of the best possible combi.
nations. Seed can be secured from
most any Of the seed companies.
| Usually the hulled seed is imported.
This seed is high priced for extensive
| planting A small acreage should,
however, be planted from which seed
can be secured for the following sea,
son. Burr clover, as rule, contains
| large per cent Of hard seed, which
| do not absorb moisture and germinate
the first year planted, consequently 1t
is necessary to resort to boiling the
seed for one minute before seeding.
Where boiling is attempted and the
crop Is being grown for the first time,
attention should be given TO securing
inoculation in some other way When
the crop is seeded for the first time
In the burr incubation is said TO he
| quite certain
European Veteh Is Scarce.
Winter vetch is q product of the
war zone, and the seed according to
report is rather high In price and can
not be- obtained In large quantities.
Such seed as is obtained Is likely TO
be old and should be thoroughly test
ed for termination. This crop Is one
that Is very desirable, especially in
combination with winter rye or winter
oats,
Winter small grain should not be
forgotten In seeding fall crops. Win
ter rye for fall, winter and early
spring pasture Is especially desirable
because Of the ability Of the crop to
grow In cool weather. Winter oats,
whom drilled upon a we'll prepared
seed bed on land with fair drainage,
is safe. The oats mature later than
the rye, and usually can be depended
upon to produce as large yield Of
| bLIuW anu liu'l bDNN'i JlNib va
grain For hay the crop is much to be
preferred 10 rye Winter wheat Is
harder than winter oats, especially
where the ground IA subject to freez.
ing and thawing However. in view
Of tho susceptibility OF winter wheat
10 rust, the oat crop Ia TO be preferred,
especially whore grain production Ia
the main object For best results
winter wheat should be seeded on
land Of fairly good fertility II good
grain crop Ia desired, Winter barley
has not shown up In trials at the Ex'
pertinent station, There Ia chance
that II may be recommended for win
ter pasturing In south Arkansas, but
present information concerning the
crop Is indefinite.
Small Grains Economical.
Undoubtedly under present prices
winter small grains are more eoonomi.
cal on large scale for winter cover