Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1920-08-11
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!. SOW COVER CROPS 4.
y. ON EVERY FARM. !.
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Washington, d. c., Aug. ], 1920.
TO the Farmers, Bankers and Bust
ness Men in the Southern States:
Before the great war progress had
| been made toward getting some kind
Of cover crop sown each fall on the
| farms OF the South. County agents
and other extension workers stressed
| their Importance, and each year
thousands Of demonstrations gave
ocular proof Of their value. Follow
ing the outbreak Of the war, how
ever. there was a great decrease in
the acreage sown to such crops. This
was due to labor shortage, high
priced seed, unsettled conditions, and
particularly to the stress Of food pro-
duction.
We should now endeavor to regain
the lost ground and again stress suit
able cover crops as part Of the farm
system for the South. Let us try to
make the early slogan Of the Farm
ers Cooperative Demonstration
work, Cover Crops on Every Farm"
a reality In every county in the South
this year.
Winter cover crops have special
value on Southern farms. They pro-
tect the land from washing, prevent
loss of plant food by teaching, fur
nish 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 to harvest
FOR hay, grain or seeds.
Crops to Consider.
The small grains and the cloyers
are the most satisfactory crops for
this purpose. They are all adapted to
Southern conditions and soils. In
most OF the Southern States oats Is
the most important small grain Not
over 70 per cent Of the amount need
ed for home consumption is now be-
ing grown. The acreage in fall oats
should be greatly increased. They
can be produced cheaply, mature
early. and can be followed in most
or the States by corn and C0wpeas,
cowpeas for hay, sweet potatoes or
other fall crops. Rye Is better than
toll-sown oats in the nortehrn tier Of
States OF the Southern group.
Oats. rye, wheat. bur clover, Grim
son clover and the vetches, sown
with oats, are all valuable as cover
crops. The choice will depend on
your soil and location, and the coun-
ty agent or the agricultural college
will advise YOU
Plan u Campaign this Fall.
The severe drain on soil fertility
from growing emergency food crops
during the war makes 1T more than
ever important to now grow restora-
tive crops. We must not only MAIN
| tain, but must increase, our soil fer
tility If profitable production of our
| money crops can be continued under
the new conditions. A concerted cam
paign, engaged in by extension work.
ers. the press, bankers, business men
and farm organiZa tions, could arouse
| the necessary interest and enthusi-
asm to insure a great increase in
cover crop planting this fall. The
extension forces Of the United States
| department. of Agriculture and the
State agricultural colleges can plan
| sucn campaign, assist in arousing
| interest, and furnish information as
to cover crops best adapted to par-
| t1cular sections, but they must have
the moral and financial backing of
the other agencies named to make
| such campaign a complete success.
Especially can business men atnd
| bankers. or their organizations, be
or great service by assisting and ar
| ranging for an economical supply of
| seed and fertilizers. as we'll as by
| using their influence to induce far
mer customers to sow suitable cover
crops on their farms this fall.
The time for sowing tall crops is
almost here. Consult your county
agent, the agricultural college or the
| United States Department Of Agricul-
ture as to the best crops for your
sectlon--and GET BUSY.
| J. A. Evans Chief