180 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



It is also possible for a leguminous crop like vetch to gather 

 some nitrogen from the air ; but I am rather skeptical as to 

 that matter on our highly fertilized tobacco fields. I think 

 they generally take it from the soil. 



Mr. S. S. Warner (of Northampton). One principal 

 objection that I have heard in regard to these cover-crops is, 

 that they form a breeding place for the cut worm the fol- 

 lowing year. Do you think there is any truth in that ? 



Dr. Jenkins. There may be something in that. The cut 

 worms form their pupa cases in the soil in the fall some time, 

 and it is said late plowing kills many of them, as they are 

 very tender in that state. If you get a cover-crop, you can't 

 do that plowing and stirring. I think there is something in 

 that objection to cover-crops, but who can say whether he gets 

 more or less ? We know we get all that we can take care 

 of, and a great many more, where we plow in the fall and do 

 everything we can to destroy them. They are as bad as they 

 can be, very often, in certain years, and in other years they 

 are not. I would rather put on my cover-crop and trust to 

 killing the cut worm by poison, although I admit, if you 

 didn't have any cover-crop and did the plowing, you would 

 kill a good many of the worms. But you would have a good 

 many, I think, anywa3^ 



Mr. Burt. What would be the objection in sowing 

 clover early, as we do the corn, right in the tobacco, before 

 it is cut ? 



Dr. Jenkins. I should imagine there would be a good 

 deal more chance of destroying during harvest by the tramp- 

 ling of teams and men than there is of ruining a growing 

 cover-crop by harvesting corn. How much of a stand would 

 you get in the fall or spring? 



Mr. Burt. We get a good stand in seeding corn, although 

 Ave tramp over it in using a corn harvester. 

 Dr. Jenkins. What time do you sow it? 

 Mr. Burt. In July. 



Dr. Jenkins. You would have to go down every row if 

 you sowed it with tobacco ? 



INIr. Burt. We sow tliree rows of corn. 

 Dr. Jenkins. I don't think you could sow it that way 

 Avith tobacco at that time. 



