FARM CROPS 157 



no excuse for allowing his land to decrease in productive- 

 ness. Two things will keep his land in bounteous har- 

 vest condition : first, let him return the seeds in some 

 form to the land, or, what is better, feed the ground seeds 

 to cattle, make a profit from the cattle, and return manure 

 to the land in place of the seeds ; second, at the last work- 

 ing, let him sow some crop like crimson clover or rye in 



FIG. 147. WEIGHING 



the cotton rows to protect the soil during the winter and 

 to leave humus in the ground for the spring. 



The stable manure, if that is* used, should be broad- 

 casted over the fields at the rate of six to ten tons an 

 acre. If commercial fertilizers are used, it is best to make 

 two applications. To give the young plants a good start, 

 put about two hundred pounds to the acre in the drill just 

 before planting. Then when the plants are about twelve 



