The morning news., 1892-02-22
AGRICULTURAL LACoNICs.

Very Short Chapters On Current Top
les Relating to Farm, Garden and
Orchard.
As drougth-resisting plant there is none
superior to the Alfalfa. or Lucern, as it is
more generally called in the south. When
it is once we'll established on any dry sandy
coil it is indeDendent of drought, and will
continue to yield pasture and moving when
most other plants would come to stand
still, even if they did not die out as the re-
suit of protracted dry weather. In starting
out to establish a meadow Of Alfalfa on our
ordinary shallow soils the land should be
thoroughly plowed and subsoiled. Then
the surface slould be we'll pulverizod with
the harrow. After sowing the seeds evenly
fifteen to twenty-five pounds per aero ac-
cording TO their quality-the soil should be
well rolled-but it must not be rolled when
too wet. To put in grass and clover seeds
properly the harrow and roller is indispen-
sable. though, on sandy soil 1t may be done
reasonably well with q drag or smoother.
The long tap root of Alfalfa penetr ates
deep into the subsoil and finds supplies of
evaporated from the immediate surface.
Tap rooted plants are especially appropriate
to low ATTITUDES, and sandy soils and south
orn agriculture demand a just consideration
for plants of this character.
There are notmany plants that will thrive
on wet undraiDed soil and produce valuable
results. Most plants object to wet feet and
refuse to endure any length Of time on soils
that are overcharged with moisture. Among
the valuable hay or pasture grasses there
are very few that will thrive in wet soil.
The red top or Herds grass (Agrostio Vul-
garls is about the only grass that is really
valuable for hay or pastures that will
thrive on wet, undrained soils. 1t does well
Oh any good upland soil, but it is the grass
Tor all wet marshy places. Its immense
quantities Of roots after the plants become
well grown has the effect of gradually dry
Ing of wet soils so that they can DO readily
pastured or even cultivated if 1t should be
50 desired
Some crops are much more exhausting to
soil than Others. Some are ameliorating in
their effect. and allow of being planted
continuously on the same soil for number
of years without greatly impairing its fer
Unity. Clover, peas, cotton, sweet potatoes.
while gradually exhausting certain mineral
Clements have tendency to restore humus
aud consequently nitrogen even, where oil
the matter above the surface is taken off,
leaving it necessary to make only slight ap-
pIcations of phosphoric acid and potash to
Keep the soil in good condition.
Ihen again there are other crops that are
extremely exhausting of the available ele-
inentS Of the soil, and unless it is very rich
20 not allow of repeated paintings If the
tuture well-bsing of the land is considered.
sorghum, millet, oats and crab grass when
moved to seed are we'll known to be very
eAn lustlve OF the soluble matters in the soil,
and where these crops are taken from the
isuu II Is considerably poorer from it, and
Il repeated Groupings are made from
medium soil marked decline in its capacity
to[ producing will soon be observed.
VI all the small grains oats have been
found TO be the most exhaustive, and it is
lever TO be regarded as good policy to fol-
~" oats with oats. One or two ameliorat-
lug crops should intervene. whether it be
VoIVon or potatoes or peas or clover. Neither
should oats follow corn wherever it can be
a'Gloed. avoided. Rich bottom lands may tolerate
uGn succession for awhile, but ordinary
uplah1S VIII soon show the Inappropriate
a. S'as Oh the proceeding. It'll has been found a
17sNADle prachce TO sow some leguminous
,s1ne with oas that will take possession OF
1-o SJll after the oats are taken out and thus
M oHl out the spontaneous succession of an
T'ner surface rooted plant like crab grass.
~ ~ tnls purpose several varieties Of clover,
1eIlotus and even cow peas have been
tt,-uu TO be admirably adapted. The wise
T'iI tiler ~ must of necessity regard the future
r,s. et oelng OF bls land and observe such
do dfLo.Aols as will keep it from becoming run
@'"n through improper rotations.
''ulhern gardeners can very. readily
~" their own onion sets if they provide
l'per places for storing them after they
Ero"n. As the sets mature in midsum-
-'' 'ley will have to be kept in store for
Three months before they can be
y planted out, for it is not desirable TO
f'elI any large proportion of the crop be-
eve. eyVcl l.. Some fifteen years ago, how
inc we adopted a different plan Of grow
80 to.lsns which did away almost entirely
IN ,- lle use Of sets. This plan we described
40 southern CultfUdtOr for 1877, soon
"a uiscoVerinR the value of the Italian
,ro..tles sles Tor our climate. IL consists in
is.As plants from the seed and when
ore enough transpienting them % the
ssst. sloun1. For part Of the crop fresh
we're soWn early Ia September IN seed