3 



and protection in winter, preventing both damage from wind and wash- 

 ing; produces a large amount of vegetable matter sufficiently early in 

 the season to be plowed under and followed by a crop to be harvested. 

 Seed broadcast, 2 to 3 bushels per acre. 



Suited to light soils, characterized by extremely 

 Buckwheat. rapid growth in warm weather, killed by frosts, 



valuable especially in preventing growth or 

 subduing weeds and producing a large amount of vegetable matter 

 within a short period of time. Seed broadcast, 1 bushel per acre: 



Suited to the lighter soils, characterized by rapid 

 White mustard. growth and hardiness, valuable for nitrogen 



conservation, will make a good growth before 

 cold weather if put in after early potatoes or sown in corn at the time 

 of the last cultivation. Seed 5 to 6 pounds per acre if sown in com ; 

 one-half that quantity alone broadcast. 



Suited to medium soil. There are two classes — 

 Rape. Spring, represented by Dwarf Essex, and Winter. 



The latter is not hardy in most parts of Massa- 

 chusetts. Where it can be grown, especially valuable, it starts into 

 growth extremely early in spring and furnishes a large amount of 

 vegetable matter in season to plow under for most crops. Dwarf Essex 

 rape may be sown after harvesting an early crop, being very hardy, 

 continues to grow until late in the autumn, especially valuable for 

 nitrogen conservation. Seed broadcast 3 to 5 pounds per acre. 



Legumes 



All the crops included in this class have the capacity to gather 

 nitrogen from the air. They will do this, however, to an important 

 extent only when the following conditions are met: 



1. The soil must be neutral or alkaline. 



2. It must be stocked with bacteria of the right kind or they must 

 be supplied. In the case of legumes which have commonly been grown 

 in the locality the appropriate bacteria are usually abundant. When a 

 legume new to the locality is to be grown the bacteria should be 

 supplied either in the form of a culture or by the use of loam from a 

 field where they are abundant. Cultures are now commercially pre- 

 pared and if of good quality are generally to be preferred to soil.* 



3. It must not contain a large amount of nitrogen in the form of 

 available compounds. If it does the legume will take most of its 

 nitrogen from the soil and will not draw upon the air to any consider- 

 able extent. 



♦Cultures may be obtained of the "Department of Microbiology," Mass. Agricultural College, 

 Amherst. A charge of 25 cents is made which covers cost and postage on sufficient for one bushel 

 of seed. 



