No. 4.] CATCH-CROPS. 331 



Buckwheat. — Buckwheat is often introduced as a catch- 

 crop, being distinguished for a specially rapid growth. It 

 is either allowed to ripen or may be left as a green-manure. 

 It has only the quality of rapid growth and the ability to 

 thrive upon light soils to especially recommend it as a green- 

 manuring crop. It is not deep rooted, it cannot gather 

 nitrogen, it is killed by frosts and therefore cannot most 

 effectively conserve nitrogen. In spite of these defects it is 

 very frequently employed as a green-manure, too frequently 

 perhaps, for there are other crops which are superior to it 

 for this purpose which would better be employed. About 

 one bushel of seed per acre is required. 



White Mustard. — This is distinguished for very rapid 

 growth and is suited to light and sandy soils. It will grow 

 usually until about the 10th of November. It cannot gather 

 nitrogen, it is not especially deep rooted, but it is a good 

 nitrogen conserver. It may be either allowed to die down 

 and remain as a soil cover through the winter, or it may be 

 ploughed under in November. It furnishes good feed in the 

 autumn for sheep aud cattle, but cows cannot be pastured 

 upon it on account of the strong flavor which would be im- 

 parted to the milk. The seed may be sown in corn at the 

 time of the last hoeing or cultivation. It will start quickly 

 if the corn is not too thick and by its growth will keep down 

 weeds. It will not itself become a weed. Experiments upon 

 the college farm have shown a slight increase in productive- 

 ness as a result of sowing mustard in corn as described. 

 The gain, however, has not been very important. When 

 sown in corn one-half bushel of seed per acre is required. 



Rape. — The are two classes of rape, viz., spring and win- 

 ter. The winter rape, wherever it can be grown, is an ex- 

 tremely valuable crop. Being sown in the autumn it covers 

 and protects the ground during the late fall and winter, be- 

 gins to grow very early in the following spring and furnishes 

 a large mass of green material to turn under in season for 

 planting most of our crops. Unfortunately winter rape has 

 not been found to be hardy in Massachusetts. Spring rape, 

 the Dwarf Essex variety, has been very successfully culti- 

 vated and must be considered a valuable catch-crop. It may 

 be sown either very early in spring, to furnish summer pas- 



