Show Cover over Crops rocs Renew lenew Soil Soil o i t I PI I I Cover crops arc protective crops I that have assumed new importance during the war years according to the War Food Administration While soil naturally is depleted of oC minerals organic matter and nitrogen by hy the crops it grows a n large arse measure of the fertility can cm be restored simply and quickly by hy the growing of oC cover and manure green manure crops They do not I add lime link phosphorus or potash agronomists agronomists agron point out but they can cnn in increase increase in in- crease production tremendously by hy the addition to the toil soil of oC organic matter nitrogen and other plant foods land is is not hein being used by the main fro crop b legumes Em small email l grains and md anda ICS a ics as us a 1 cover er also prevent pre ero cro- ion joH conserve moisture and decrease rim runoff run off hold bold plant food that might be leached out and anil supply large quantities tics ties of nutritious livestock stock feed When turned under they add organic mattel matter matter mat mat- ter tel to the soil which l makes it absorb water more readily and gives it new life liCe lif Winter legumes ara aro particularly valuable val as a source of oC nitrogen and organic organic or or- ganic anic matter and arc used extensively in the South and antI in some Western States Under average conditions it has been found Cound that an acre of oC winter le legume me cover crops will take the place of to pounds of f nitrate of soda Austrian winter peas pens hairy vetch smooth vetch crimson crimson clover bur bur- clover and are the tIle more I commonly used winter winte legumes Red clover nm and niJ s 81 s' s over find C vcr in inthe inthe 1 the Northern Noc 1 States aa as a curi Gum cr e cr cover cove Pro Producing rilo nitrogen ca at home hems in this I manner saves money and helps con- con labor materials and transportation transport transport- I tion ion needed for military supplies points out as liS wen well as making I less heavy demands on limited supplies supplies sup sup- plies of or nitrogen fertilizers Legumes and grasses in rotation wit with cultivated atell crops serve a 1 double purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose b by increasing the fertility of the he coil and in turn the crop yield and by hy protecting the soil from destructive erosion and loss of C moisture F Feed ed for livestock is made available b hr such each cover crops as al alfalfa kudzu red clover lespedeza and sweet sweet- clover A good rotation usually includes in in- eludes legumes and legume legume grass grass mix mixtures cures tures says R egrass is u used med ed extensively as ns a winter cover in practically practically pray all areas Rotations lill vary ary in different climates climates cli mates and locations and on different soils Each farm fann requires its own ot I crop cover program to produce the I best results but once it has lias been established established es es- it provides a basis for getting the most mot from every acre at the lea least lean t I cost to the fanner Canner and antI to the land Farmers arc are urged by hy WF fA V not to 10 I leave e ground bare hare after turning under undera a summer legume crop in the fall Most of or the nitrogen derived from the is likely to be lost through erosion or leaching if a winter er co docs does not follow Collow Assistance in growing cover o and oJ manure green crops is inStates in States Slates under the ron rr nHon program administered by lIy the i tural lural L Adjustment Agency j 1 I |