Show GREEN ONE OF OLDEST METHODS USED TO IMPROVE SOIL n ci c c r r 57 r- r rr r- r S r-S Although green Is one of tho the oldest methods used to maintain or to Increase the productivity of the soil soU there have havo been enough new developments developments de de- In the practice and In the plants used for tor tb the purpose In recent years jears to make mako desirable the publication publication publication tion by the United States Department of Agriculture of Farmers' Farmers Bulletin 1250 1200 Green by C. C V. V Piper and A A. A J. J The subjects discussed range ranle from a n definition of the term green manur manur- ing lag which means the turning under i of any crop while green or soon after ripening for fOI the purpose of soil soU Improvement Improvement improvement Im Im- provement to descriptions of the many crops that are used for land betterment In most regions of the United UnIted United Unit Unit- ed States and In some som other countries The use of sp special dal manure green green manure crops says the bulletin Is much more general in the South than in the North In Inthe Inthe Inthe the semi semi arid arid regions for reasons made clear under dry farming green Ireen manures are arc not used but In irrigated areas in the West depend upon them to a great extent to Increase the yield of fruit Crops Benefit Soil Soll These crops that are grown primarily primar ily fly as roughage for feeding the soil soU produce pro pro- produce pro pro-I duce both chemical an and physical effects effects effects ef ef- ef- ef that are of benefit to plants that succeed them When a manure green crop Is turned under the tho various I fertilizing elements clements that have gone into Into Into In In- to the making of the crop are returned to the soil solI and a quantity of organic matter not before in the soil soU is added and in addition to improving the physical condition serves as food for beneficent bacteria One of tho the most Important functions of organic matter in the Ml 11 is to keep up the nitrogen supply The bulletin gives Ilves three ways In which this Is done 1 Growth of nodule bacteria on roots of leguminous plants 2 the making of nitrates by soil Boll bacteria from organic nitrogen inthe In tho the soil and 3 growth of bacteria and molds that feed on plant waste In tn the soil Boll and take nitrogen directly from the air These processes may mayA 1 Kf ii w waar aar b c A Field of Soy Beans a Good HomeGrown HomeGrown HomeGrown Home- Home Grown Feed Rich in Protein and Excellent for Dairy Cows be stimulated by adopting the proper practices and suitable crops Satisfactory Cover Crops Legumes are of course the most satisfactory cover crops under most conditions and all legumes do not have the same strain of nodule bac bac- teria For Tor Instance that of clover Is different from that of alfalfa and that of the cow cowpea cowpen pea Is distinct from that of or the soy bean These selective associations of plants and bacteria make maIm Inoculation of the soil son necessary where the crop has hns not been previously previous prevIous- ly fy grown either b by scattering soil fromn froma from n a field where tho the crop tc be sown has hns been grown Irown recently or by using an artificial culture A strain of bacteria will often Inoculate different different different differ differ- ent closely related legumes Alfalfa clover bur and sweet clover nodules are produced by the same strain a different strain Inoculates most of tho the vetches as well as ns the field and garden peas pens still another strain Is apparently apparent apparent- ly Iy used In common by red white al- al and crimson clovers The question often arises whether a n crop should be turned under for green manure fed on the farm or sold as ns hay The authors sum up the argument argument ment as ns follows follow s Where a n forage crop can be grazed or advantageously fed ted and the manure returned to the land I ri ar v S z An Excellent Stand of Alfalfa this will be found most profitable Where Insufficient live stock Is kept or where the soil soU Is le poor and In need of organic matter a green crop may often otten be worth more If It turned under It Is known that the turning under of ofa ofa ofa a green manure green manure crop may moy effect the yield of subsequent crops even eren to the ilie third year and this fact should have weight when the question of selling a legume hay crop or turning It under is considered Greel in some som form should be part of the regular farm practice on most of or the farms east enst of the hundredth meridian and on Irrigated land elsewhere Rotations should be arranged so as ns to work In a green- green manure crop between regular crops without sacrificing direct money or feed crops Preference should be given to a legume If possible The value of these crops Is determined by bythe bythe bythe the quantity of humus formed measured by the tonnage of ot the crop the physical changes brou brought ht about In Inthe Inthe inthe the soil and the tho quantity of nitrogen taken from the air and added to the tho soil soli There are probably other factors that are as yet but little understood It Is said that thit green manure In or on checks certain diseases anti and improves Improves Im Ira proves the quality of the tile fruit Order of Importance The TIle leguminous crops grown In this country listed In the bulletin In order of or Importance are Red clover alfalfa alfalfa fa fn clover sweet clover cowpeas cowpens cowpens cow- cow pens peas peanuts soy beans heans velvet elvet beans benns crimson clover field peas pens vetch Japan clover bur clover and white clover A few others such as ns grass peas pens fenugreek and horse beans arc are grown to a small extent In restrIcted restricted restricted re re- re- re localities Non leguminous crops that t are considered as ns useful green Ireen manures are grasses buckwheat weeds and some plants of the mustard family that are used more In Europe than In this country The bulletin contains more than 40 pages pales of valuable Information on these plants and the ways of handling them also tables of results that show their value in increasing g returns A copy may be obtained free b by addressing the Department of ot Agriculture Washington Wash Wash- ington D. 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