The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-25
Farm Question Box.


r. C. c. Tibbee, Miss Please let me know how to
sweet potato vines through the winter if 1t
be done.
We have never succeeded in saving potato
vines 80 as to make good forage. Have hung
them up under shelter and allowed them to
dry; but they turned, the vines became hard,
and stock did not relish them. Do not know
from actual trial, but imagine they would make
good ensilage. Has any one experimental
with it in this direction2
w. L. T., Havana, Hale county, Ala: You give
the following: "slake nine bushels of lime in salt
water and pour over six Iwo-horse wagon loads of
leaves" etc.
i. Does the lime and salt add anything to the ma.
MURAL value of the leaves they used to hasten
decomposition2
2. Would leaves and top soil treated in this way
be good fertilizer on corn without other ingre-
dlens?
8. Would leaves and soil put up now with lime
and salt be suitable for composing with cotton seed
and acid phosphate in January?
4. Rating commercial fertilizers at $40 per ton,
what would be the approximate value of leaves and
soil when decomposed with salt and lime?
/. Mainly to hasten decomposition, but the
4 lime may be useful in two other ways: First,
IL the soil is deficient in limo, it will act di-
rectly as manure. Second, it will promote
notification or the conversion of inert nitro
genous matter into the most available form of
plant food.
2. Yes; moderately good fertilizer-one
that would have to be applied in considerable
Z quantity to produce decided effects.
8. Yes.
4. Cannot say. Making very rough guess,
q ton of commercial fertilizer would be eauiva-
lent to thirty tons of leaves and lime. But
each would be greatly improved by admixture
with the other.
A. d. s., Jewellville. Ca: /. / have a piece OF
land that want to convert into pasture during
summer. 1t is fresh, damp land, moderately good
2. How would rye do for winter pasture to sow
1t the middle of October When would be the
proper time to cut it, if l should want to cut when
green2 VIII it make second cutting? Would you
Sow anything with it for summer grazing? if so,
what, and how much per acre, and how much rye
per acre?
/. The winter grasses, like orchard, red-top,
tall oat, etc, are not suited to summer past
ures. They make their growth mainly in the
spring and fall and do little during the hot,
dry weather of summer. Nothing that is
available can compare with bermuda for a
summer pasture. Next to it is ordinary crab
grass if the land is nlowed and narrowed early
In May crab grass will take possession.
2. Rye is as good for winter pasture as any
tember but will do very well sown in October
If the land is very rich. II you wish to cut
without grazing, it should be cut just as it is
ready TO head do not wait till tho heads are
fully out. If cut before heading it will spring
mp and give another cutting if the land is rich
and the weather not too dry. Sow one and q
half to two bushels per acre. You had better
pillow the land after rye and let crab grass
come up.
A. s. NJ Hempstead county. Ark; want a little
more advice about siios and ensilage.
1. Ought silos to be ioored with plank?
q viii il do to put the ensilage in with the dew
OH It, or should tt be cry?
g. In feeding out of silo should It be taken from
the top or from the end ali the way from bottom to
top2
/. No; it is better to have a dirt or cemented
4 Aoor-the latter preferable. Ii of dirt it should
be well packed and made very hard and
smooth.
2. 1t is said not to make much difference
5 whether the stuff is pat in wet or dry, but
some prefer it dry and partially cured. If the
orage is very full of sap it is perhaps best to
have it dry; that is, not wet with dew or rain.
3. From the top. clear across; a fresh sur
face will thus be exposed to tho air every day,
and the exposure viii not be long enough to
allow OF much fermentation and injury. II
cut down at end, unless the end is small
enough to be cut clear across from side TO side
and top to bottom, part will be exposed too
long, and deterioration follows very quickly.
1t is also easier to take from the top than to
out through at end.
T. T. C., Lumpkin, Ca The land had sown In
mall grain this year Is covered with ouokle-
burs nom one 10 four ieot high. How would Il 40
.heE " tprn Shepl pndgT befeEe they mature thsir
NGs.lst1E- 4 IA "A g.