No. 4.] 



CATCH-CROPS. 



337 



Coin for the silo may be put in from June 10 to 20 with 

 every prospect of success, and it may be doubted whether 

 any nitrogen-gathering crop will furnish so much green ma- 

 terial to be turned in previous to these dates as will the sweet 

 clover. European experimenters report very favorable re- 

 sults from green-manuring with sweet clover on heavy soils. 

 In one experiment in Germany, the results shown in the fol- 

 lowing table were secured with oats : — 



Yield of Oats and Straw per Acre with Different Manuring. 



It will be noticed that the crop was very largely increased 

 where the sweet clover was ploughed in. Similar results 

 were obtained with potatoes. The quantity of seed required 

 per acre is from twenty-five to thirty pounds. It should be 

 sown from about July 25 to August 10. If sown much later 

 it is liable to winter-kill. It is believed that under the right 

 conditions it will give good results when sown in corn at the 

 last cultivation, but this has not yet been demonstrated at 

 Amherst. 



Hie Cow Pea, Horse Bean and Soy Bean. — These crops 

 require a longer season for growth than most coming under 

 this class, but all may be valuable as soil improvers and they 

 will therefore be briefly spoken of. To show their probable 

 value, and for the purpose of comparing them with one 

 another and with the crimson and sweet clover, the following 

 table has been prepared : — 



