^ BRAINS AND MORE BRAINS 71 



in this increasingly stable-manureless age. It 

 consists in plowing under a crop specially grown 

 for this purpose. Various crops are used, but, 

 as you want plenty of nitrogen in your soil, it 

 is well to choose a clover for the South and hairy 

 vetch for the Northern states; the vetch is so 

 hardy that it does not winterkill even though 

 buried for months under ice and snow; nor does 

 it mind drought in the fall, when it is still young 

 (having been sown in August). William C. 

 Smith says of it: 



Vetch is the best green-manuring crop because it 

 stores more nitrogen in the soil than cowpeas, soy beans, 

 alfalfa, or any other legume. Its root system is so exten- 

 sive that it completely fills the soil with its hairlike 

 roots for a depth of six or more inches. It produces a 

 vast amount of forage which, when plowed under (in 

 spring), rots quickly and does not interfere with culti- 

 vation. This heavy mass of organic matter turned 

 under never dries out the soil, but holds moisture even 

 in the driest of seasons. 1 



If your garden is large enough, put vetch in 

 half of it one year and on the other half the 

 following year ; then you will not need to bother 

 about stable manure or other sources of humus; 

 but you will still need chemical fertilizers in 

 moderation for quick and large crops. It is 

 best to use twenty-five pounds of vetch seed to 

 the acre mixed with a bushel of rye seed. The 



1 Country Gentleman, July 19, 1919. Read also Farmers' 

 Bulletin 515, Vetches. Get your seed of a reliable dealer; it is 

 often adulterated and useless. 



