COVER CROPS AND GREEN MANURE 



387 





as on a badly run-down soil. Crimson clover is an annual, 

 and in the central and southern states may be sown in 

 the fall and plowed under in the late spring, thus making 

 use of a period of the year when the soil is most likely 

 to be unoccupied by a crop. Cowpeas, soy-beans and 

 field peas must be grown during the summer months. 

 Vetch promises to be a useful green manure for winter 

 growth in the northern states. 



256. Cereal crops. Where it is desired to keep a 

 crop on the soil during the autumn, winter and spring, 

 for the purpose of utilizing the soluble plant-food, the 

 cereals, especially rye, are useful. Rye has the advan- 

 tage of being an inexpensive crop to seed, besides being 

 very hardy, and capable of growing on poor soil. It 

 furnishes fall pasture, but should not be pastured in the 

 spring if intended for green manure. It is important 

 that it be plowed under while green. 



Buckwheat, on account of its ability to grow on poor 

 soil, is adapted to use as a green manure, but it must 

 be grown in the summer. 



