SOWING OF WINTER GREENS 73 



crops is followed. That is, each crop is sown whilst 

 the preceding crop is on the land. This is, however, 

 of more importance for the large farmer, and is fully 

 dealt with elsewhere.* 



A close study of the rotation previously referred to, 

 will show that the land is practically never idle. Im- 

 mediately one crop is out, another is put in, and, under 

 these conditions, drilling or growing in rows is not at 

 all necessary for the cleaning of the land. It should be 

 understood that even when the crop is grown in drills 

 or rows singling out is not at all necessary. In fact, 

 with such a crop as marrow-stem kale it is a decided 

 disadvantage to thin the plants, as the stems grow too 

 thick, either for easy cutting or for stock consumption. 

 Especially is this the case where the crop has to be 

 consumed by sheep. 



COVERING IN THE SEED 



The seed of all wdnter-green crops, except rye, should 

 only be lightly covered with soil. The best plan of 

 covering in is, when the necessary good tilth has been 

 obtained, to give one run up and down the field with 

 the spring-tooth harrow, working 2 or 3 inches deep. 

 This will leave shallow furrows about 7 inches apart, 

 into which a lot of the seed will roll. 



Next, broadcast the seed and roll the land in the 

 opposite direction to that in which the spring-tooth 

 harrow was worked. Another run with the spring- 

 tooth harrow set so as just to roughen the surface, and 

 following in the same direction as the roller, will com- 

 plete the covering in. 



This final harrowing leaves a roughened surface, and 

 reduces the evaporation of soil moisture. 



Everybody has noticed how on light land and in dry 



* See footnote, page 17. 



