Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-12-28
SYSTEMATIC SOIL BUILDING
Crop Rotation, Legumes, Drainage
and Fertilizers Important
Features,

| CloIllSOu NOllcBe, bcC. 6o. hS vol.
| ue of Il well.drained, fertile soil can
not be over estimated in lighting the
| boil weevil. In the first place, a we'll
drained soil is absolutely necessary to
success, as cotton will not make an
early growth on a cold wet soil. In
the second place, it has not been
| found profitable to raise cotton on
poor land under boil weevil condl-
tionS, because the overhead expenses
are SO great that it makes the cost OF
production very high per pound Of
cotton.
Some practices which have been
found extremely important in supply
ing and maintaining the fertility Of
the soil are suggested below.
Crop Rotation.-It has been found
that the fertility of the soil may be
maintained more easily and lHore &C.
onomicully by a systematic crop ro-
tation than it can be done without
rotation. The value of crop rotation
in keeping up the fertility OF our land
can not be over. estimated.
The Clemson College agronomists
have worked out good rotations for
various phases OF farming In the diff
fcrcnt sections OF the state and will
gladly furnish them upon request.
Summer LeOumes.-lt is recon.
mendcd that summon lcgumes be
planted everywhere possible, and that
all such lcgumcs as are not needed
for feed for livestock be pl0wed under
for soil Improvement. This will re-
duce the fertilizer bill very materially
and a, the Same time will add much
valuable organic matter to our soils.
In a recent experiment conducted
by Clemson College at Allcndale, S. c..
where corn followed cotton, a yield OF
Is bushels was secured without the
use of heterogeneous fertilizer. Where
corn followed a crop Of velvet beans,
the same plot gave 37.7 bushels, show
ing that the velvet beans supplied
practically all the nitrogen required
in the production OF good crop Of
corn on poor sandy loan SOIL
Wintor Cover Crops.-It is also i'm
portant to plant winter cover crops
on all land not otherwise occupied, as
these not only help to preserve the
fertility Of the land and prevent wash
ing and teaching. but are also valu-
able because the boil weevil can not
live through the winter in a green
cover crop. since he is unable to eva
porate sufficient moisture from his
body to enable him to stand the win.
ter.
Drainage and Tcrracing Vt ia i'm.
possible - ra'5t cotton satisfactorily
on land lnnt - pUariy dCajpH1, and It
Is Impossible 10 build UP tho fortNity
OF land that Is no. properly IorrucUi.
terracing are primarily essential to
successful crop production under boil
weevil conditions.
Lime Where Needed-The use Of
lime is recommended where a good
system Of crop rotation is being fol-
lowed and where green manure crops
and winter cover crops are being
grown and plowed under to increase
the organic matter in the soil. Lime
will not be profitable to apply to
corn, cotton, or small grains. except
under the conditions given above.
Livestock Manures and Commercial
Fertilizers. - Commercial fertilizers
should be used judiciously, and all
be applied to our farming land. I'm
der boil weevil conditions it has
been found that the earliest crop
(Which under boil weevil conditions
Is the best crop Is secured from prop
erly balanced fertilizer. 1t Is impor-
tant to have enough Of each element
in the soil to supply the needs Of the
crop. and yet 1t Is not wise to have
too much Of any one elsment, for that
will delay the maturity Of the crop,
especially Is this true Of nitrogen and
potash. Many exprrin cnts have shown
that a little nitrogen gives a late
crop. 1t has also been found that too
little potash is likely to result in dam
age from rust and too much potash
IS likely to delay the maturity OF the
crop.
The Extension Service and tho
South Carolina Experiment Station
have issued from time to time various
publications that will help farmers
build better soils. One of the most
important Of these lis Extension Bull
fc,in IS. Farming under Boil Weevil
Conditions" which can be secured
free from county agents or from the
Extension Service, Clemson College,
S. G.
COOPERATION IN THE PROOOC-
T,oh crhhDn AND