COVER CROPS 73 



stronger germination and growth of the cover crop, 

 which is apt to be slow and uncertain by reason of 

 summer drought when the crop is sown broadcast. 



This method is particularly adapted to districts hav- 

 ing a short growing season, and to coarse cover crops, 

 such as cowpeas, soy beans, etc. It has been success- 

 fully used by the writer for some years. 



The cover crop should always be allowed to remain 

 on the ground over winter, and should be thoroughly 

 plowed under at the first spring plowing. Occasionally 

 some difficulty will be experienced in turning under 

 the cover, but any such difficulty can be met and over- 

 come by any good, practical farmer. 



THE VARIOUS CROPS 



We will now consider the main characteristics of the 

 most popular cover crops. 



The clovers all make good cover crops and are 

 largely used on soils where clover makes a good stand. 

 On many soils it is hard to get a good catch of clover, 

 particularly at midsummer when the weather is dry, 

 as it is apt to be at cover-crop time. Mammoth clover 

 is probably the best of its genus for the purpose in 

 hand. Common red clover may be successfully used, 

 but it makes less growth than Mammoth clover. 

 Crimson clover is an excellent cover crop in some 

 localities, while in others it does not succeed at all. 

 It seems to be especially adapted to the improvement 

 of impoverished sandy soils. Alsike clover makes a 

 fairly good cover crop, but is seldom to be recom- 

 mended in preference to Mammoth or Crimson clover. 

 Alfalfa is also used at times. 



