The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-05-17
His Monthly Talk to the Farmers of
the State of Georgia.
THE RECENT HEAVY FREEZE
Which Partially Destroyed the Wheat
ana Cat Crops, Means Higher
Prices for FOod-Peach
Crop Killed.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA, May /, 1894.

tne ANXIOUS farmer. The rains, it is
true, had somewhat retarded work, but
the genial, sunshiny days were atoning
for the loss, and all nature was adorn-
ing herself in springs own livery. The
farmer, as he prepared for and planted
his crops, felt the. joyous influence, and
being in better condition than usual to
bear the strain of the years operations,
was buoyant with hope. Alas, for hui
man calculations, one night was suffi-
cient to destroy this bright prospect,
and when Georgia farmers awoke on
the morning of the heavy freeze, it was
to gaze upon blackened ruins, where
only the day before every tree and plant
pointed to an early spring and pros
porous crop year. Though dismayed,
they are not daunted, however, and the
present date finds the crops replanted
and the farmers with fresh courage
still looking forward and working for
the fulfillment of their plans. The par
tial
DESTRUCTION OF THE WHEAT AND DAT
CROPS,
means higher prices for food.
Before it is too late let us prepare
against this contingency, and by planting
the smaller food crops justify ourselves
and our section against the possibility
of shortage. We should certainly
raise enough for home consumption,
with even little to spare to our less
fortunate neighbors, where, in all posi-
bility, the short crops will cause heavy
draft on their sections.
AS appropriate to this condition, and
as offering an excellent plan, would
suggest the following:
1--WE think it would be a good idea
for the farmers to try this plan for rails
ing corn on small scale this year. Sub
soil an acre patch, broadcast with stable
manure and 200 pounds of commercial
fertilizer. then harrow we'll both WAYS,
About the second week in May a spring
tooth harrow will clean the ground of
weeds and grass. Harrow again a week
later, drill the corn in rows four feet
apart, and then leave it till harvest
time" Let me urge again that full
quota of
FORAGE CROPS
of all kinds be planted. Corn, German
and cattail millet, milo maize, sorghum,
Spanish ground peas and field peas.
While the latter must be our depend-
ence as storer of nitrogen, it is i'm
portant to have some rapidly maturing
summer crops to meet the needs of that
season. These should be planted as soon
as the rye or barley lots are ready for
the plough, remembering that the later
they are planted, the more important is
thorough preparation and high fertiliza-
ton.
When these come off, this land. as
well as the cat and wheat stubble,
should certainly be sowed in peas. We
thus get another crop of hay, and the
roots, stems and fallen leaves furnish
an important foundation for succeeding
crops of grain or cotton. In the last
months Talk" dwelt at some length
on the methods of preparation for and
OF planting these forage crops. In view
of the probable shortage, l feel bound
to again direct attention to the import
ance Of this work. Besides the value of
SPANISH GRoUDPEAs
as root crop, the vines make splendid
stock feed, and the cost is, in COMPARE
son with their value, nominal. A peck
at. 20 cents will plant an acre; the cost
of planting and cultivation will not ex-
coed 50, and after hogs have finished up
the grain fields, if they are turned on
the ground peas, and from there to the
field peas, returning again to the ground
peas, there is no calculating the amount
of meat that could be raised. In some
sections, and indeed in all sections of
the state, the cotton, during unfavora-
BILE seasons, is liable to die out in spots.
In such missing places drop few of
these ground peas, and after the cotton
is gathered the hogs can be turned in.
In this case the cost of cultivation is
really nothing, as the work goes on with
that of the main crop. Where the miss
ing spots were filled up, the ground pea
crop can be counted as Just so much
gain. Give the
HOGS
plenty of salt. Few farmers appreciate
the Importance of regular and ample
sailing. Furnish it to them in their
slops, and let them have access to char
coal, if possible-certainly to ashes.
This can be given dry with the salt. A
weekly dose of copperas is also most
beneficial and see that they are kent
free from vermin by frequent applica.
lions of kerosene, mixed with lard or oil.
To raise hogs successfully one must be
on the alert-careless and Indifferent
methods will not succeed.
In view of this present emergency and
of the Importance of utilizing every
portion of that which is one of our most
costly products, copy in another col
umn part of an article which pre-
pared for the March number of The
Southern Cultivator in regard to har-
vesting the corn crop. 1t is question
which deserves careful study, and the
man or men who will hit upon the prop.
er plan of curing and preserving the
valuable materials which are now about
universally wasted. will confer a boon
not only on his fellow workers but on
the country at large.