Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1922-08-30
SYSTEMATIC SOIL BUILDING
Crop Rotation, Lesumes, Drainage,
and Fertilizers Important
Features.

FCdLGfSSs
Clemson College, Dec. 26.-The ral.
ue of a well-drained, fertile soil can
not be over estimated in fighting 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 condi-
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 Rotatlons-It has been found
that the fertility Of the soil may be
maintained more easily and more &C.
onomically by a systematic crop ro-
tation than it can be done without q
rotation. The value of crop rotation
in keeping up the fertility Of u land
can not be over-estimated.
The Clemson College agronomists
have worked out good rotations for
various phases of farming in the diff.
ferent sections of the state and will
gladly furnish them upon request.
Summer Lesumes.-It is recon.
mended that summer legumes be
planted everywhere possible, and that
all such .legumes as are not needed
for feed for livestock be plowed under
for soil improvement. This will re-
duce the fertilizer bill very materially
and at the same time will add much
valuable organic matter to our soils.
In a recent experiment conducted
by Clemson College at Allendale, 8. 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 a good crop OF
corn on a poor sandy loan soil.
Winter 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 car 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 Terracing.-It Is i'm.
| possible to raise cotton satisfactorily
on land that is poorly drained, and 1t
is impossible to build up the fertility
Of land that is not properly terraced.
Therefore, good drainage and proper
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 ju%diciously, and all
the barnyard manure possible should
be applied to our farming land. Un.
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
O and yet it is not wise to have
too much of any one element, for that
will delay the maturity Of the crop,
| especially is this true Of nitrogen and
potash. Many experiments 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 the
| 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 is Extension Bull
tetin 4S, Farming under Boil Weevil
Conditions" which can be secured
free from county agents or from the
r.a,,;o, Cor,yino Clemson College.