The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-07-26
Glven by the Georgia Department
of Agriculture
Fo1RTHE MONTH OF JULY.
eome News Relating to Farming. GAR
dening, Dairying, Stock Raising.
Etc, Which Will BE Interest
ing to the Farmers.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
ATLANTA, July 1, 1894.
ENGLISH ROTATION.


B. H. H., Butler, Ga.
Rotation of crops in England vary as
IN This country, and corn, as we'll as
cotton, is almost excluded, being sell
dom planted. The following is popu-
lar rotation in that country: Turnaps
or other root crops, barley, clover, wheat,
making four years rotation.
COMPLETE FERTILIZER.
What is meant by complete fertil-
1zer, and what does it contain?
B. E. N, Dallas.
The noted French writer, Professor
Vile, calls a complete manure or fer
tllzer, one that contains nitrogen,
potassium, phosphorus and lime. Lime
as rule is found in our soils in suffi-
clenS quantities, SO we denominate as O
complete fertilizer one that contains
pnospnorlc acid, potash and nitrogen.
When lime is used as a fertilizer it
supplies one mineral constituted to
plants, that is calcium oxide or lime.
Usually in soils this element exists in
sufficient quantity, and the valuable re-
suits frequently obtained by the use of
lime are not attributable to the supply
or this element itself as a plant food,
but to other important purposes, which
1t serves. Acids, which some time are
contained in the soil to an injurious
extent, are neutralized by its alkaline
properties; stiff clays are rendered light
and mellow, and it aids also in the de-
composition of insolpble, inorganic
compounds as silicates, and it is in
this manner, and not directly, that pot
ash is supplied by the use of common
lime, some of the agricultural lines
containing in themselves small supply
OF this mineral constituent. Sourness is
corrected by the use of lime in the de-
struction of the excess of vegetable
matter.
Some plants, such as peanuts, demand
an excess of lime, or rather lime much
in excess of what is demanded by other
plants, and in their cultivation it is very
valuable as a direct plant food. You
will note that the benefit you will re-
ceive from the use of lime will be princi-
pally in mechanical effects, and thus
aiding in proper distribution of the
applied fertilizer. We should Judge
from your description of the condition Of
your soil that it is very much in need of
organic matter This is best supplied
by the use of leguminose plant which
contributes direct supply of nitrogen
in addition to organic matter.
STOP FLOWING.
When is the proper time to stop plow.
ing corn? G. M. R., Savannah.
Corn should not be p1owed after the
tassel begins to break. In previous
number of these reports we have given
the root extent of the plant, which is
much greater than is commonly sup
posed. In the process of blowing more
or less root pruning consequently en-
sues. The nearer maturity and the
larger and more vigorous the plant, the
greater this pruning. 1t is therefore
necessary when fruiting begins, in order
to husband the resources of the plant,
that the plant should have the full ben
fit of every rootlet and that the process
of. cutting or disturbing them should
cease. We should direct our efforts as
far as the weather will permit to having
our crops in such condition, clean of
grass weeds. etc., that when the plant
arrives at the stage indicated further
blowing will be unnecessary.
BEGGAR LICE.
have heard that the weed known as
beggar lice or beggar tick will benefit
land, also that it is good for forage.
Fl. A. M, Keyton.
The plant known as beggar lice botan-
ically belongs to the gums desmodium,
which belongs to the same family as
the pea and clover, and therefore is rich
in nutritious material. From those
who have tried it the United States de-
partment has received number OF
favorable reports, both as to its value
as feed, while green and cured for
hay it is also commended as building up
land. While the majority of those who
have tried it testify to its value, others
have condemned it, however, without
apparent reason.
PEAS.
Can l SOW peas now with the hope of
receiving beneficial results, that is in my
corn? l. j. B., Woodlaw.
In these reports we have endeavored
to impress on our farmers the benefits
to be derived from sowing peas, and to
induce them to use this plant to supply
organic matter and nitrogen, the cotton
being the most expensive of all the ele-
ments of plant food. If your corn has
not been laid by by all means at the last
blowing SOW the middles in peas, the
improved mechanical condition of tho
soil and the addition to the fertility will
amply compensate you for the trouble