The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-01-25

the drouth began, and for weeks not one
crop or ram Tell on the parching plants.
! Inc surrounding crops almost dried ND.
but on this deeply piowed land the corn
remained green and vigorous, yielding
~ bushels to the acre, while the average
| yield on adjoining farms was scarcely
( more than eight bushels. Bear in mind
that there was an ample supply of mos
/ ture absorbing vegetable matter which
| was thoroughly buried. and not left on
! the surface III tufts to dry out rapidly
| after each rain.
| The weight of the deeply turned fur
/ row held it firmly and evenly in place.
and the vegetable matter absorbed and
retained the moisture. ready for future
drafts from the crop. OF course he
placed fertilizer in reach of the growing
plants. The failure of such ventures is
too often due to the fact that the turn
ing is improperly and hastily done, or
that the land is destitute of vegetable
matter. There could not be equal ben
ett in thus turning under perfectly
clean field having only a thin layer of
top soil.
JANUARY
In farming is essentially a month of
preparation and planning. The begin
ming of the year finds more of other oc-
equations resuming their regular duties
and 1t is mistake for farmer to allow
one day to follow another and each con-
tlnue to find his plans unsettled and i'm
mature. He should decide clearly what
he intends to do. realize the difficulties to
be met and select the best means of
overcoming them. Let him keep stead
lily III mind these facts: that future sue
cess in cotton planting depends on re-
! duclng the cost of production, and on
raising home supplies.
The first requires sound Judgment, a
knowledge of the laws of preparation
and cultivation, and study of the ca
pacity of his land and the effect of fer
tilization. During the past year many
farmer cultivated land which, under
most favorable conditions, was incapa-
BILE OF returning the cost of preparation,
fertilization and cultivation. If the &C
tual cost of production for an acre of
cotton is less than the yield of that acre,
one-thlrd OF bale, which is full av-
erage for the state of Georgia, it re-
qulres only glance to see that the re-
suit is on the losing side for the far
mer.
Fertilizers and labor are too costly to
be expended ON land which will produce
only bale to three acres If the farmer
is convinced of this, let him resolve to
leave his poorest lands to the kindly
officers of Mother Nature. Give them
an absolute and entire rest, and begin
the renovatlng processes on the more re-
spOnsive soils. Concentrate on these la
Dor and fertilizers and manures; study
plans of
RENOVATION AND ROTATION,
If necessary terrace the uplands and
ditch the low, wet spots. An emminent-
ly successful Georgia farmer advocates
the following:
Sow In small grain grasses and clover
one fourth of all arabic land on the
farm, rest one fourth, pasture one fourth,
and cultivatein summer crops one fourth
Alternate these annually"
Another says:
"Let the oldest and poorest and most
quilted lands lie out for the present. IN
U we can get to them in regular order
On the best acres plant corn, oats and
cotton, follow the oats with peas and
save the vines for hay; follow the peas
with cotton, using the most prolific vari-
cites, and fertiliZe literally; follow the
cotton with corn, add more manure, and
then oats again. Every year little
more of the outlying or poorer lands
may be taken into the system of renova-
ton and improvement thus inaugurated
Let these additions be sown in small
grain and then peas, then cotton, then
corn as before"
The question of suitable fertilizers
, should now be decided. Numerous in
quiries have been received at the depart
ment, and there seems some dissatisfac-
| ton and some complaint as to the grade
of goods sold in the state.
THE PRESENT STANDARD
of 10 per cent of available material was
settled upon after careful study and ma
ture deliberation, as the proportion best
suited to the generality of our lands. It
is an axiom in agriculture, that the
richer the land the more fertilizer it will
bear. On our worn fields exhausted of
humus, it is hazardous undertaking to
apply large quantities of highly concen-
trated fertilizers.
But this is point each person must
decide for himself, keeping in view the
fact stated above. If he wishes the es-
sential elements of potash, phosphoric
acid and nitrogen combined in different
proportions, he can have it done at the
factory. Or, better still, number of
farmers can combine, purchase a car
load of material and themselves mix in
the proportions, which after careful
study, they decide that their lands most
need. These ingredients are guaranteed,
and the farmer, with his scales and rich
scrapings from lot and fence corners.
can save the cost of both freight and
manipulation, and he then knows exact
ly what he is using.
OATS.
In the more southern portion of Geor-
gla 1t is well to sow oats in January. 1
have seen very fine crops raised from
such sowings. In view of the fact that
large. portion of the corn crop was cut
OF by drouth, it would be advisable,
where practicable, to sow largely of
small grain, and later of millet and such
other food crops as will supplement this
deficiency.
A GOOD GARDEN
Is an important auxiliary in the econon.
lcal management of the farm. Those
who would enjoy its benefits during the