38 PROFITABLE STOCK RAISING 



Sometimes it fails, because the soil is not in- 

 oculated with the proper bacteria. Inoculated soil 

 may be applied and this defect corrected. This 

 crop also furnishes valuable winter pasturage for 

 dairy cows and for hogs throughout the Southern 

 territory. In Maryland, and in some other states, 

 the practice of sowing crimson clover seed in corn 

 just before the last plowing has given excellent re- 

 sults. In the spring the clover is plowed under 

 and another crop of corn planted. Yields of corn 

 have been increased from 35 to 50 bushels per acre 

 in ten years by this practice. Vetches also do well, 

 particularly in the South. Rye is a good crop to use 

 in renovating soils, and it will grow on poor land, 

 will make a good winter and spring pasture and 

 can also be used as a soiling crop. It adds con- 

 siderable humus to the soil, but does not, however, 

 add nitrogen as do the legumes. 



Possibly the best way to build up a worn-out soil 

 where large quantities of barnyard manure are not 

 available is to not only grow forage crops but buy 

 grain to feed with them and return all the manure 

 to the land. This, of course, cannot be done unless 

 live stock farming is practiced. Dairying probably 

 is the best system that can be practiced in the East. 

 In this connection, of course, poultry and hogs can 

 be raised with profit. Another form is to grow a 

 succession of pasture crops for hogs. Keep the 

 hogs on these pastures and feed them a light grain 

 ration. Where corn can be grown, and it does 

 grow well along the Atlantic coast if properly 

 treated, plant enough for the pigs and for the dairy 

 cattle. Sow either cowpeas, crimson clover or rye 

 in the corn land each year. The two latter furnish 

 winter pasture for pigs and result in increased 

 yields from year to year. Sow oats in early spring, 



