38 AGRICULTURE 



southern crops flourish in dry winters, because the plants 

 are strong and have great feeding areas for the root sys- 

 tems. They also do better on deep-plowed soil during the 

 rainy winters because of improved drainage. Fall plow- 

 ing prevents washing and leeching of the soils during the 

 winter, and lessens the burden of work during the rush of 

 spring farming. 



Winter cover crops. In the southern states the 

 winter cover crop is one of the important factors in good 

 farm management. This is because the soil needs to be 

 covered to protect it from the winds of the winter months 

 and to save it from washing and leeching. The cover crop 

 also furnishes forage for stock. In the spring of the year 

 the forage crop can be plowed under to fertilize the soil. 



Terracing of hillsides. Thin clay soils or sandy roll- 

 ing land should be protected against washing rains. Ter- 

 races are usually arranged so as to break the long slope of 

 the hillside. All hillside land should be plowed deep and 

 cultivation should all be done on a parallel with the base. 

 A great deal of hillside land now being used for the pro- 

 duction of grains might better be used for pasture, wood-lot, 

 and the growing of legumes. The roots of grasses and 

 trees bind the soil together and prevent erosion. 



TOPICS FOR INVESTIGATION 



1. Why are fall plowing and the preparation of the seed 

 bed by deep plowing more important in the South than in 

 the northern states ? 



2. Why are cover crops needed in the South and not 

 in many of the northern, central and western states? 



3. Do you know of farms in your vicinity which have 

 long been used to grow one crop? If so, has this crop 

 diminished in yield ? Why ? 



4. What crops might be added to the list now raised 

 in your vicinity? Do you know the methods of planting, 



