FARM SEEDS 



BeckerVs Seed Store, 101 and 103 Federal St., N. S., Pittsburgh, Pa. 



Miscellaneous Grain Crops and Soil Enrichers 



Secure Greater Yields of Vegetables or Farm Crops by Using Green Crops Instead of Manure 



The use of leguminous, or nitrogen-gathering forage 

 plants as a means to replenish soil fertility has increased 

 by leaps and bounds. There are weighty reasons for 

 this. One in particular is that green-manuring crops 

 increase the moisture-holding capacity of soils and 

 lighten heavy clay soils, as explained by the United 

 States Department of Agriculture. The New Jersey 

 Experiment Station calculates that two crops of green 

 manure contain as much phosphoric acid and potash, 



and nearly as much nitrogen and organic matter, as 

 20 tons of stable manure. Although the potash and 

 phosphoric acid are stored in plants they become 

 quickly available after being plowed under. If the 

 green manure used is a legume, nitrogen is added to 

 that already in the soil. Moreover, it is expensive to 

 handle the stable refuse, while the green-manure crop 

 can be grown directly on the impoverished land, and 

 be plowed under when ready. 



Nntp All prices of Field Seeds are subject to market changes. For this reason we refrain from quoting prices on bushel lots but would 

 nuic. a pp rec i a te if customers would request latest market quotations when getting ready to order. 



BARLEY, Beardless, Northern-Grown. Earlier 

 than any other Barley, and a heavier yielder. 

 Write for prices. 



BUCKWHEAT, Japanese. 



CANADA FIELD PEAS. Perhaps the best forage 

 plant for very early spring. For best results it 

 should be sown as soon as you can get it in the 

 ground — in our section, probably in March. 

 Canada Field Peas absolutely need cool, moist 

 weather for best development. As a rule, it is 

 planted with oats, and sometimes with Spring 

 Vetch or Dwarf Essex Rape. Crop is generally 

 ready for pasture about the middle of May. Used 

 with oats, sow a bushel each of oats and Field 

 Peas per acre. Prices on request. 



COWPEAS. Valuable as either a soiling-crop, or 

 for hay. As a soiling-crop, they do not come up 

 to soy beans in nitrogen content, but as a hay 

 plant, and as a crop for feeding right off the field, 

 they are of particular merit, especially in the 

 South. Varieties: Whippoorwill and Clay are 

 the most popular. Prices on request. 



FETERITA. Planted and cultivated same as Kaffir 

 Corn. Is earlier and more drought-resisting. Write 

 for prices. 



FLAX SEED. Write for prices. 

 KAFFIR CORN, White. Market price. 

 MILLET, Southern, or Golden. Write for prices. 



Japanese. Write for prices. 

 RAPE, Dwarf Essex. Sometimes used as a soiling-crop, but most 



useful as forage for sheep and pigs. 

 RYE, Spring. L'sed principally as a cover-crop and as a soiling-crop, 



to be turned under as green-manure. Prices variable. 

 SORGHUM, Early Amber. Market price. 



SOY BEANS. The rapid rise of the Soy Bean to a position of 

 prominence in American agriculture is due to its manifold merits. 

 Soy Beans not only make excellent hay but are one of the best 

 green crops to plow under as a soil-enricher. The seed of Soy 

 Beans analyzes higher nutritive values than 

 linseed meal. While the plant perfects a fine 

 amount of herbage and bears grain containing 

 the highest per cent of protein and fat of any 

 grain produced in the country, the roots are 

 Busy storing nitrogen in the soil, leaving same 

 in better condition after the crop is harvested 

 than it was before. The varieties grown most 

 are Medium Green, Early Soja, and Ito San. 

 Write us for prices and samples. 



The effect of a green-manure crop of cowpeas or 

 soy beans is evident for two or more years after 

 the crop has been turned under, according to the 

 results of experiments conducted in Alabama. A 

 green-manuring crop should be turned under at 

 least two weeks before the next crop is planted. 

 Directly after plowing, the field should be rolled 

 thoroughly, as this hastens decay and prevents 

 the drying out of the soil. A liberal application of 

 lime or land plaster is recommended after plowing 

 down crops making a heavy leaf-growth. This is 

 most necessary on heavy clay soils. 



SPELTZ, or EMMER. A grain introduced from 

 Russia, adapted to poor and dry soils. Has val- 

 uable feeding qualities. 



SUDAN GRASS. A new grass, yielding immense 

 quantities of hay of nutritious quality. Recom- 

 mended especially for central and southern states. 



VETCHES. As a soiling-crop, to make poor soil 

 better, these have few equals. Plants make a 

 luxuriant growth and, for best results, should 

 be planted with rye or soy beans. May also be 

 broadcasted in the cornfield. 

 Sand, Hairy, or Winter Vetch. Generally 

 planted in early fall or late summer, to afford 

 pasture the following spring. It is perfectly 

 hardy and makes a big mass of herbage by 

 middle of May, from seeds sown the previous 

 fall. One of the greatest soiling-crops to build 

 up thin or run-down land. Write lor prices. 

 Spring Vetch (Vicia sativa). Very similar to 

 Hairy Vetch in general appearance but not so 

 large nor so hardy. Sown in the spring only. 

 Write for prices. 



WHEAT, Klondyke, Red Wave. Write for prices. 

 Spring Variety, in season. Prices on request. 



Best Books on Farm Management 



Bommer's Method of Making Manures. 



By Bommer $0 40 



First Principles of Feeding Farm Ani- 

 mals. By C. W. Burkett 1 50 



First Principles of Soil Fertility. By Alfred Vivian .... 1 25 



How Crops Feed. By Prof. Samuel W.Johnson 1 75 



How Crops Grow. By Prof. Samuel W. Johnson 1 75 



Our Farm of Four Acres and the Money We Made 



by It 50 



Plant Life on the Farm. By M. T. Masters 1 25 



Farmogerm 



High-bred nitrogen-gathering bacteria for Clovers, Cowpeas, 

 Soja Beans, Vetches, Garden Peas and 

 Beans, Sweet Peas. Makes poor soil good to 

 raise the largest and best crops of the above and 

 other legumes. Farmogerm will do it, and also add 

 to the soil to benefit future crops of the same 

 kind. Write for booklet giving full information. 



No. 1. For Alsike, Crimson, Red and White 



Clover. 

 No. 2. For Alfalfa. 

 No. 3. For Canada Peas and Vetches. 

 No. 4. For Cowpeas and Soja Beans when sown 



in mixture. 

 No. 5. For Beans, Peas and Sweet Peas. 



Prices, postpaid, for 5 acres, $8; for 1 acre, $2; 

 for % acre or garden size, 50 cts. 



All-Garden-Crop Farmogerm. A new prep- 

 aration and at same prices as the above. Put 

 up in vial and contains a number of species of 

 different soil bacteria, which are valuable in 

 building up the soil generally, as well as inocu- 

 lating leguminous plants. In many cases it 

 gives results equal to Farmogerm for legumes. 



