The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-01-01

according to the schedule of fertilizer
valuation, the value of nitrogen ex-
ceeded the cost of ton of ordinary
complete fertilizer. The nitrogen was
equivalent in amount to that con-
famed in from 1850 pounds to more
IMAM one ton of cottonseed meal.
!, Inc question is often asked, whe-
ther 1t is necessary to pillow under le-
guminous crops in order to increase
the nitrogen in the soil Of course the
Iefti!lzlng value of the fallen leaves,
Stems and roots of leguminous crous
lett IN the field at harvesting time,
varies: These usually contain from
ohe-f1th to one-third of the manurial
value of the entire plants of such
crops. This being true, | am in
position to assert positively that the
nitrogen in the soil will be increased
by the growing of leguminous crop,
even though it is grazed off or cut for
nay; provided the hay is fed to live
STOCK and the manure returned to the
land. The live stock farmer should
seldom place under a leguminous
crop. The stock should Craze it off. or
1t should be harvested and fed as
above Indicated 1t will often nav
the all-tobacco, the a]l-truck. or the
ali-corn farmer to plow under legu-
mlnous crops, but it is not necessary
Tor the live stock farmer to pillow un-
der such valuable grazing or hay
crops.
The fact should be emphasized that
the mere growing of legumes or their
introduction into the farm rotation
will not indefinitely increase the pro-
ductivity of the soil. Legumes add
only nitrogen and remove large guam
titles of potash and phosphorus. espec-
lallv when cut for hay and the hay
sold or when the manure resulting
therefrom is not returned to the land.
IN an experiment conducted at the
Alabama Station crop of COW peas
grown on one acre contained 45 lbs.
OF phosphorus and l0l lbs. of potash.
ms experiment, as well as numerous
others, shows that liberal applications
of phosphoric acid and potash must
be made by the grower of legumes
where the soil does not contain an
abundance of these elements.
Numerous reasons are given for lib
eral applications of lime in connection
with the growing of legumes. The
long continued use of some CONNER
cial fertilizers. and the Incorporation
OF large amounts of vegetable matter
In hot, dry weather. sometimes seems
to produce an acid condition of the
SOIL. This may be corrected by the use
OF lime. The presence of the right
kind of bacteria is absolutely necas-
Sarv. The presence of the right kind
OF bacteria is absolutely necessary. If
the soil is well supplied with lime and
humrS, it will be full of bacteria Of
this kind. The application of lime us
ually helps the physical condition of
the soil very much. Such an app'ica-
ton to very tough. tenacious CLAW.
or to sandy soil usually improves its
mechanical condition and increases
productiveness.
Legumes used as winter cover crops
not only transfer nitrogen from the
air to the soil, but at the same time
out of the plant food already contain.
cd therein. More humus and nitrogen
in the soil and more winter and early
spring grazing are among the greatest
needs of Marv'and These needs can
he fully satisfied bv planting winter
'"~UmnS as a winter cover crOD DR.
TAFT Butler saws: "For MANY wears
to come the blowing under of rron1
crown IS Writer cover crons will he
The most practical and profitable me-
thod Of increasing the fertility Of orr
coils and rand increase is not Likely
TO occur until this method of farmir"
becomes pene~al as a frequent and
co~etant rractice"
e~uminouS crons are especially
rich in protein. which furnishes mate
rial for the production of lean meat.
muscle nerves. skin, blood. rasein in
milk, etc. This makes them especially
valuable for feeding farm animals in
connection with fat producing foods,
such as corn and sorghum.
Near the large cities most of the
live stock farmers are rapidly chang
ing from cattle growing to dairv
farms. The dairymen soon find that it
is absolutely necessary to feed lih-
eral supply of protein feeds in order
to obtain the most satisfactory re-
suits. Furthermore, many Of them
learn that when they purchase protein
in the form of cottonseed meal, linsecd
meal and bran. thew have verv little
money left to put in the hank. OF
Course. the onlv common sense thine
to do is to grow practically all of the