288 



LEGUMES AND FERTILIZERS 



Use of Legumes as Winter Covers and Catch Crops. — In gardens, 

 orchards and fields there are many opportunities to grow some of 

 the legumes either in summer or winter, between the times when 

 the main crops are growing. 



Winter annual legumes may be used for growth in winter seasons 

 in all regions where the winters are not too severe. Winter or 

 hairy vetch, Augusta vetch in the Gulf states, and crimson clover. 

 These may be sown any time from mid-summer until about frost 

 time. Frequently rye is mixed with them for seeding to help 

 make a dense cover. 



Fiq. 201. — White clover, showing the effect of inoculation with nitrogen-gathering bacteria. 

 The pot at the right was inoculated and that at the left was not. 



Summer annual legumes may be grown after early spring crops, 

 as after early potatoes, or after oats or wheat. Cowpeas and 

 soybeans (Figs. 200 and 202) may be used in this way, and velvet 

 beans may be grown in the southern states. 



Spring annuals, such as spring vetch and Canada field peas, 

 may be sown as early as the ground can be worked. They may 

 precede corn, cotton, melons, beans and other summer crops. 



Perennial legumes, such as red clover, alsike clover, white clover, 

 (Fig. 201) sweet clover, and alfalfa, are good improvers of soil. 

 They may be used in longer rotations of crops but are not so valu- 

 able for catch crops or cover crops, as they are too slow in their 

 early growth. 



Addition of Organic Matter and Humus.— When green manure 



