Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-08-02

and store it In nodules formed on the
roots for use as food for the plant
and bacteria alike. But these tiny bac-
terra have big esz and little stomachs.
and much nItregs1 is left when the
crop is plowed under and the soil turn
ed. Practically all crops of this group
have distinct preference for sweet
soils, and even though the bacteria
which work with them are of a diff
ferent species than the nitrifying bac-
terra above referred to, they do not
thrive in acid soils. It is not uncom-
mon among farmers to apply lime to
insure success with leguminous, cover,
and green manure crops. Orchardists
of New Jersey are rapidly adopting the
practice Of applying 1000 to 1900 lbs.
of hydrated lime once in three years.
to make certain of getting a success
full crop of crimson clover or winter
vetch to furnish organic matter. Coun-
ty demonstrators in touch with the sit
uation advise that very few, if any,
failures occur where this practice is
adopted. 1t is quite as important to
make certain that the necessary bac-
terra are present in the soil A le-
guminous crop is not any better than
any other crop if there are no bacter-
la in the soil to work with it in secur-
ing nitrogen from the air. The use of
the commercial culture is the most sat-
isfactory and economical way to intro
duce these little fellows" into the soil.
The second group is composed of such
crops as wheat, rye, oats, barley, rape,
sorghum, kaffir corn, and the like.
They have no such ability to take nj
trogen from the air, but act similarly
In all other respects.
The Use of Mixtures.
There is an old saying, DO not put
all of your eggs in one basket" The
same principle applies to the seeding
of green manures, and it has been rec
Ognized by thousands Of farmers who
are using mixtures seed. Rye or wheat
or winter vetch. in the proportion of
) or a to |, is an excellent mixture for
the northern states. In southern New
Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, s or
10 pounds of crimson clover added to
bushel of the mixture and mixed with
it improves it very greatly.
Soy beans and compeas mix well to-
'gether, the former tending to hold the
latter up, but they are still better when
grown with an erect growing plant
such as kaffir corn, sorghum or millet.
Equal parts of kaffir corn and cowpeas
or soy beans sowed at the rate of three
bushels to the acre, make an excellent
mixture for summer. There are many
other combinations quite as good.
Green manures fit into farm prac-.
tees. The most systematic manage
ment and well planned rotations in
clude places for green manure crops.
80 valuable are these crops that no,
land should be allowed to remain bare
over winter unless it is a fall pIowed
timothy sod, which is purposely left
bare.
Soy beans and cowpeas may be
planted between the corn rows in late,
June or July. Still better is a mixture
Of rye, winter vetch, and crimson cIo-
yer, sown before the last cultivation of
corn. The orchard should be sown
during July or August to some suitable
crop or combination of crops. Odd
fields and land used for special crops
may be kept busy growing green man
ure crops. Failure to utilize every OPP
portunity to grow crops for turning
under and mixing with the soil means
. the loss of valuable asset. The farm
er should grasp every means of In
creasing the supply of the organic mat
ter in his SOIL ,Barnyard manure is
: never enough to maintain it efficiently
: in spite of its most valuable character
) istics. Fertilization by top dressing
: winter crops sown broadcast can. at
} best, be done only once or twice in
+ rotation of five years, and green man
ures must wait their turn. The best
: effort consists of a combination of
f these practices. which should be part
r of the plan of operation on everf farm.