The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-02-01


quire? Does it make as good hay for
horses as for cattle?
G. T. W.. Whitfield.
Alfalfa or Lucerne, should be sown
in the spring. It requires a deep, rich
SOIL which should be naturally well
drained. If cut at the right time and
well cured, it will make good food for
horses, but is not SO satisfactory as well
cured clover.
THOMAS STAG.
| What is Thomas Stag? and what Is
your opinion of it as fertilizer?
II. I. L., Blakely.
Thomas Stag is a bi-product of the
Bessemer steel process. 1t contains from
10 to ii per cent of phosphorio acid but
is so affected by the iron with which it
is combined as not to be readily avail
able. At the Georgia station it is re-
ported next in effectiveness to acid phos-
| phate.
CATTLE BREEDING AND FEEDING.
The Southern Planter gives some in
teresting information on this subject
which will be read and appreciated by
farmers:
For several years past there has been
going on gradual, but nevertheless,
certain and sure diminution in the num-
Der OF range cattle, and an absorption Of
the ranges into enclosed farms. AS this
has progressed, the value Of the beef has
risen, until now it stands, on the aver
age, more than 81 ahundred higher than
a year ago, and nearly So per hundred
higher than two years ago; and yet, 1T
this advance, there is no oYer-supply Of
| the best animals. We see no reason to
suppose that this over-supply is likely
to be forthcoming for some time, On &C
count of the fact that for many years
past, owing to low prices and the COM
petition of range stock, the farmers
throughout the country have neglected
to keep up the quality of their herds by
breeding to pure-bred bulls.
In addition to this local scarcity, there
is now superadded the certainty that
there will be a large export demand for
Europe. Owing to the failure of the hay
and fodder crops on that continent,
thousands Of cattle, and even horses, are
being slaughtered to save them from
starvation. In England, half-fed beasts
are being rushed into the market and
sold for what they will fetch. With
such prospect, why should not our
southern farmers give attention to this
business of breeding and feeding? We
have the grain, the cotton seed, and the
fodder to bring up and feed the stock,
and it is certain that these can be fed to
pay better price than to sell them on
the market. Besides all these advanta-
ges, we are close to the great markets of
the east and the north, and near to the
points of export. Another advantage to
be gained, and that not the least, is the
Improvement to be made on our farms
by the manure which is made by feeding
stock. Thousands of dollars now spent
in buying fertilizers can be saved, and
yet the fertility of the farms be not only
conserved, but increased. Recently a
farmer from Piedmont, Virginia, came
into this city, on his way home from
Philadelphia.
He called to pay for some farm sup
plies, and pulled out pocketbook wad-
ded to repletion with currency, contain
ing many hundred dollars. The mer-
chant had the curiosity to ask him how
he came to be carrying about SO much
money. He replied, 81 am just on my
way home from Philadelphia, where 1
have been to sell the cattle'I fed last
winter and spring, and this money is the
proceeds of my sales. In addition to
this he said. Il have sold heavy crop
of lambs this spring at $3.50 per head in
the field, and have rich farm upon
which have just harvested the largest
wheat crop ever grew, and l have not
paid, and do not owe, dollar for fertil-
izers. make mine at home by my cat.
tie and Other stock" Now, why cannot
this be the position of more Of our farm
ers? 1t can, and we urge that it shall
be.
BERMUDA AND WIRE GRASS.
There is radient difference between
Bermuda and wire grass which South
ern Cultivator thus explains: Bermuda
is low, creeping grass, roofing at the
joints of the genus cynodon. Wire
grass belongs to the genus aristeda, of
which there are nine varieties. 1t is a
dry, harsh perennial grass with narrow
leaves
FROM THE EXPERIMENT STATIONS.
In an experiment continued through
three seasons at the Utah station COM
parison is made of deep and shallow
tillage and no tillage for potatoes. The
average of duplicate plats for three
years gives the yield of large and small
potatoes on shallow titled plats as
zoe. 38 bushels per acre; on the deeper