COVER CROPS 89 



They are valuable in the improvement of run-down 

 soils. They require a long growing season and can- 

 not be used successfully north of New York city 

 and Omaha. In fact, their best use is to be found 

 in the country south of Mason and Dixon's line. 

 As cover crops, nearly all varieties such as Clay, 

 Whippoorwill, Red Ripper and Black, are used. The 

 use of cowpeas in fruit growing and in land salvage 

 generally should be strongly urged on all farmers 

 in the southern states. 



2. Soy beans take the place of cowpeas in the 

 North. Care should be exercised to secure the early 

 maturing varieties, as a rapid growth is very de- 

 sirable in handling the cover crop. They succeed 

 better when they are planted in drills rather than 

 when sown broadcast. In the short growing sea- 

 sons of northern states, it is desirable to make the 

 tillage season lap over on to the cover crop season 

 by cultivating the beans between the drills once or 

 twice after they come up. In a good many places 

 this method constitutes a substantial improvement 

 of the usual cover crop practice. 



3. Other kinds of peas and beans wherever they 

 may be grown are satisfactory as cover crops. Com- 

 mon field peas, or Canadian peas make an excellent 

 cover crop and are used to some extent in Onta- 

 rio, New York and Michigan. 



4. All kinds of clover are excellent as cover crops. 

 On natural clover land in northern states the mam- 

 moth red clover is probably the best variety to use. 

 Crimson clover is the great favorite in New Jersey, 

 Delaware and Pennsylvania. In all parts of the 

 country where it succeeds well it is one of the very 

 best crops. It is especially valuable on poor, worn- 

 out soils. Alsike clover and sweet clover make fairly 

 good cover crops, but are not to be preferred above 



