112 THE BOOK OF CORN 



to fertilizers should not be far different, and should 

 consist mainly of the applications of the minerals, the 

 nitrogen gathered by the legumes furnishing vegetable 

 matter containing nitrogen, which would be readily 

 acquired by the corn plant. 



A practice that has given very excellent satisfac- 

 tion upon naturally good soils in the middle states is as 

 follows: Seed the crimson clover in the corn usually 

 in July, at the last cultivation, plow in spring, when 

 the clover is beginning to head, or before it has made 

 its maximum growth, in order that all of the crop may 

 be turned under before it has absorbed too much of the 

 surface moisture. Roll immediately, in order to com- 

 pact the soil, and thoroughly and deeply cultivate the 

 surface, and at time of planting apply two hundred and 

 fifty pounds per acre of a mixture made up of : 



Acid phosphate ISO pounds 



Muriate of potash 50 pounds 



Where the soils are poorer, or where the physical 

 condition is not good, then a larger application of the 

 minerals should be made, preferably broadcast and 

 harrowed in. The application then may consist of 

 four hundred pounds per acre of the mixture recom- 

 mended. On very poor soils, where the leguminous 

 crop does not grow vigorously, a larger application of 

 this mixture may be made, say five hundred pounds 

 per acre, and at planting, accompanied by the top- 

 dressing of compost, already suggested. This practice 

 may be continued froiji year to year, and should result 

 in continuously increasing the fertility of the soil, as 

 the minerals applied and the nitrogen gathered would 

 be more than sufficient to supply the needs of a 

 large crop. 



The one element of danger in the use of green 

 manures, particularly crimson clover, is that the farmer 



