SPURRY 223 



The plant has special adaptation for light, sandy- 

 soils, and for climates that are moist. Whether it 

 will be given a place of much prominence in our 

 agriculture has yet to be determined. On produc- 

 tive soils it is not likely to come into general favor, 

 since other plants equally nutritious will give 

 greater yields. But on light, sandy soils low in fer- 

 tility it should render valuable service where 

 moisture is sufficiently abundant. When plowed 

 under in the green form it has been found specially 

 helpful in giving body to the light, sandy soil, and 

 in otherwise fitting it to grow successfully crops of 

 clover and grain. 



Spurry should be sown more as a catch crop than 

 as a regular crop in the rotation. It should be ready 

 to pasture or to plow under in from 6 to 8 

 weeks from the date of sowing, providing it is not 

 sown before the weather has become warm. Where 

 there is moisture enough to insure germination, 

 spurry can be sown after a grain crop, and simply 

 covered with a harrow. On the bare fallow it also 

 has a place. When grown as a green manure or as 

 a pasture for sheep, two crops a year may be 

 secured, and in some climates three. This crop, 

 therefore, is worthy of attention on the part of 

 farmers, more especially on pine lands where the 

 soil is sandy and poor and where the climate is 

 moist in character. 



Since spurry is best adapted to light, sandy lands, 

 but little labor is necessary in preparing the soil. 

 The seed should fall on a smooth, impacted and fine 

 surface, and it may be sown and covered in the 

 same way as clover seed. As the seed is small, a 

 light harrow will give a sufficient covering. From 

 6 to 8 quarts of seed are sown to the acre to 



