CHAPTER X 



Plowing Under Green Manure 



ONE is often troubled as to the proper time to plow 

 under a green manure crop. The answer centers 

 around the quickness with which a crop is desired. 



It is common knowledge that a green plant turned 

 under will rot quicker than one that has reached maturi- 

 ty, and is in a dry condition when plowed. Evidently 

 then, the time, if quick results are desired, is to plow 

 when the crop is in a green state. 



Scientists tell us that the best time to plow under a 

 green crop, if it is clover or some other legume, is just 

 before the blossom shows signs of turning. The reason 

 is the stems and leaves are in the green, or sugar state 

 and contain more of the plant food elements than the 

 crop that has not reached this period of growth. Plow- 

 ing under a green crop any later than this means that 

 the plant has reached a fibrous and starchy condition 

 and is much harder for moisture to dissolve. Obviously 

 more time will be required to reach a state when fer- 

 mentation can set in. 



The clover plant moves much of the sugar from the 

 leaves and stems into the roots and stores it there in the 

 form of starch for the winter. In this condition clover 

 is more resistant to decay, consequently, when plowed 

 late in the fall there may not be enough time for the 

 plant to decay before the crop is planted. For this 

 reason it is always advisable to plow clover under in 



