The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-19


Very few of our farmers i'm the cotton
states know any thing, from practical
personal experience, of the value of gyp-
sum, or as it is more generally known land
plaster, says the Journal OF Agriculture
The composition of gypsum is lime sui
phuric acid and water in the following
proportions 32ls quarts lime, 46is quarts
sulphuric acid and p quarts water.
1t is the general belief that gypsum
gathers ammonia from the atmosphere,
when applied as a fertilizer. 1t is never
plowed under; but applied as top
dressing to the crop after the plants are
above ground and in a growing condi-
ton. 1t is usually applied in hot dry
weather, as il is the general opinion that
it gathers moisture from the air in dry
weather. 1t is certainly a stmulant to
plant growth. 1t is beneficial to such
crops as clover, peas, corn, cabbage, tur-
nips, etc. Yet on some soils and crops
the good effects of this application are
not apparent. We can only tell what
soils and crops it will benefit by a prac-
teal trial-there is no other way of find
ing out. About 100 pounds to the acre is
the quantity usually applied
The Cow Pea.-A few years ago
the Wisconsin agricultural expert
ment station tested the growing
of the cow pea, and the reports
were favorable The peas attained a
hight of two feet, and yielded good crops
on land too poor to make corn. The
ability of this pea crop to resist drought
was superior to red clover. Twenty-one
tons of green forage per acre was raised
at the station, and an analysis showed
the pea vine slightly ahead Of red clover
in the elements of nutrition.
Since the above named experiment at
tracted our attention, we have noticed
through the northern and western agri-
cultural press, that there has been a stea-
Oily growing inquiry in reference to the
value of our southern COW pea. Very
many experiments have been made with
this crop, here and there, above Mason
and DiXon's line SO far as our infor-
nation extends, the results of these ex-
periments have been satisfactory. 1t is
our prediction that, in time, the COW pea
will be favorite crop throughout the en-
tire United States as a speedy renovator
of worn soils, and as furnishing an album
dant supply of rich food for both man
and beast, for the peas. when properly
prepared for the table afford a very
palatable and nourishing dish
Stacking Hay.-Large numbers of our
| southern farmers fail to NOV and cure
all the hay their lands produce, simply
! owing to the fact that they have not suf-
| ticient shelter for it, If the hay field is
very far from the barn or shelter it is
advisable to stack all the hay on the
ground where it is grown, and then haul
it TO the barn at ones leisure. The writer
has practiced this plan to advantage in
past years, and it has proved very sat
isfactory. Even when the stacks remain
in the field for one year, the loss by bad
| hay, which has been exposed, is very
| light.
Put as much in a stack as convenient,
| build up the sides perpendicularly, or
OF
| up, until about two-thirds the hight is
reached; then bring to a point in the other
third, and put on a cap, being careful that
| the hay on the surface lies as near the
way the water runs as possible, for it will
be readily seen that If some of it is cross
wise, it will catch up the water A good,
stout pole should be in the center, to keep
it from blowing down; build up all around
at the same time and it will not break
apart Put large rails or brush under
meath.
Winter Apples-The planting Of the best
varieties of fall apples, in the cotton grow
ing states, should be encoura ged-such APP
pies as can be easily preserved through
the winter months. These apples will not
only prove a luxury with the farmer
family in the winter, but If any large quan-
tity are grown a considerable sum of
money might be made from their sale.
Not one apple in one thousand eaten by
the people III the GuI states during the
winter and lovely spring, is Of home pro-
duction, but comes from more northern
latitude. This ought not to be so. Can
We as a section, afford to buy even apples
from the north and west when we might
raise them at home as cheaply as they are
grown elsewhere
Corn for Fodder-In growing corn for
fodder. the mistake is too often made of
too thick drilling. If the stalks are crowd
ed, they will not be worth near so much as
when thin sowing is practiced In order
that the stalks have the highest percen-
tage of value, they should have room TO
admit of plenty air and sunlight. and al
lowed TO form ears before cutting. The
stalks will be larger than when grown
thickly; and will be doubly as nutritious.
and If run through o cutting machine be
fore feeding, there need be little or no
waste to speak of. Very thicklv sovp
corn, or thickly sown sorghum cannot
make very nritious feed.
Sweet Potatoes.
How TO make sweet potatoes is Of mi
nor consideration. How to save them is
the important question. With care tbie