The weekly Iberian., 1920-08-07
COLLEGE URGES
COVER CROPS FOR LOUISIANA

Department of Agriculture and
State Agricultural Colleges, which
are CO. operating in the movement,
according to advlces from the New
Iberia Chamber of Commerce
Following Is the bulletin issued to
farmers, bankers and business
men in the Southern States:
Before tie great war progress
had been made toward getting
some kind of cover crops sown
each fall on Southern farms.
County agents and other extension
VOL kers stressed their importance
and each year Thousands of demon
stratlons gave proof of their value.
Following the outbreak of the war,
however, there was great
decrease in the acreage sown to
such crops. This was due to
labor shortage, bigh-priced seed,
unsettled conditions, and partico-
larly to the stress OF food produc.
ton.
We should now endeav0r to
regain the lost ground aud again
stress suitable cover crops - part
| of the farm system for the South
Let us try to make the early
slogan of the Farmers Cooperative
Demonstration WoIk,"Cover Crops
on Every Farm, reality ia every
county III the South this year.
Winter cover crops have q
special value on Southern Farms.
They protect the land from wash
ing, prevent loss of plant food by
teaching, furnish grazing for live
stock during the winter months,
and in the spring may be plowed
under to the great benefit of the
soil, or left for harvest Tor hay,
grain or seeds.
CROPS TO CONSIDER.
The small grains and the clovers
are the most satisfactory crops for
this purpose. They are all adaptt d
to Southern conditions aud soils.
In most of the Southern states
OATS is the most important small
grain. No, over 70 per cent OF
the amount needed for homo con
sumption is now grown. The
acreage in fall oats should be
greatly increased. They can be
produced cheaply, mature early,
and can be followed in most Of the
States by corn and cowpeaa, COW
peas for hay, sweet potatoes, or
other fall crops. RYE ia better
than fall sown oats in The northern
tier of States of the southern
group.
OATS,RYE. WHEAT, BUR GLOVER,
CRIMSON and he WITCHES,
SOwN WITH OATS, are all valuable
az cover crops. The choice will
depend on your soil and location,
ana the County Agent or the
Agricultoral College will advise
you.
PLAN A COVER CROP CAMPAIGN
THIS FALL.
The severe drain GU soil fertility
from growing emergency food
crops during the war makes il
more than ever important to now
grow restorative crops. We must
oot only msintai0 but increase our
soil fertility II profitable prodoc
ti0n of our money crops can be
continued under the new condl
tions. A concerted campaign
engaged 10 by extension workers,
the press, bankers, business men,
and farm organizations could
arouse the necessary interest and
enthusiasm to insure great
Iincreass in cover crop planting
this fall. The extension forces OF
the United States Department OF
| Agriculture anu the State Agri
cultural Colleges can plan such q
campaign, assist In ar0using inter.
est, and furnish information ~ to
cover crops best adapted to par
ticular sections, bot they mus,
have the moral aud financial
backing of the other sgenciea
named to make such Q campaign q
complete success. Especially can
business men aud bankers or their
organizations be Of great service
by assisting and arranging tor aI
economical supply Of seed and
fertilizers, az we'll 80 bg using
their influence to induce farmer
customers to SOW suitable covsl
crops on their farms this fall.
The time for sowing fall crops il
almost here. Consult your county
agent, the Agricultural College, o.
the q 8. Department Of Agrlcul
ture a. to the best crops for you
section, and GET BUSY.
Il J. A Evans
i Chief
|, i