The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-08-15
QUERIES ANSWERED.
Commissioner Nesbitt's Cues
ton Box For the Month.
SOME SUGGESTIONS TO FARMERS.

These Include Valuable Points Upon Sew
eral Subjects and Are Timely In Their
Appearance-FOrmul as For Composing
Fertilizers For the Various Crops Are
Also Given In This Issue.
TIMOTHY.
QUESTION Ii see in northern agri.
cultural journals frequent references to
timothy as the standard grass. Does
this apply to the south, and if SO, please
tell me how to manage to secure good
crop on ordinary landf
ANSWER Timothy is not so we'll
adapted to the south as other grasses.
1t does not stand dry weather as we'll
nor is it as well suited for grazing.
1t does. however. yield very heavy
crops under favorable conditions. As
for all grasses, the preparation of the
| the land should be very thorough and
the surface we'll narrowed. The manur-
ing should be very heavy, unless the
land is naturally rich. Stable manure,
composted with cottonseed meal and
kainit, or acid alone, is good, or if the
land is in condition to respond to the
application. highly ammoniated pot
ash fertilizer viii produce good crops.
Sow the seed in September or October,
February or March, about Is pounds to
the acre.
GROUND BONE, DISSOLVED BONE.
QUESTION 2--What is the difference
between ground bone and dissolved
bone? How should each be applied and
to what crops?
I, ANSWER 2.-Finely ground bone,
when pure, contains about % per cent
OF phosphcric acid and 4 LIZ per cent of
Of ammonia. 1t is worth per ton more
than the dissolved bone, because the
sulphurie acid and water used to dis
solve the bone also dilute it. Either
is fine fertilizer for all fail sown grain
and slow growing crops, because the
phosphoric acid, at first mot available,
becomes gradually soluble and is then
taken up by the developing plants. Fol-
the same reason it is excellent for grass
grapevines or any perennial plants
which all continue for an indefinite
period to draw nourishment from the
soil. If applied to other crops, some
form of potash should be supplied. par
ticularly on sandy lands.
From the United States experiment,
station record No. z, 1895. we find that
"The results indicated that in soil,
lnot entirely devoid of phosphoric aciG
and not of extremely abnormal quail
ties, both steamed and unsteamed bone
! of proper fneness produced very favor
able results, even when applied in the
spring. provided the soil was not def
Gent in moisture. In soils deficient il
water very different results were OBJ
tanned with all kinds of bone meal, blu
it appeared that the results were NOR
unsatisfactory the coarser the bone"
1t can be further said of ground bon
that it benefits all crops; can be applied
at all seasons Of the year; will not in
jure any tree or plant; is lasting in it
effects and is the cheapest form of fer
tilizer, in proportion to the benefits
imparts. that can be used.
GUCERNE.
QUESTION s-How shall 4 prepare tn
land, and when shall sow lucerne
What fertilizer Us best?
ANSWER 3.-The land sheuld be mad
very rich by well rotted stable manur
or fertilizers. and put in as fine filth a
flor turnips, if necessary, plowing an
narrowing repeatedly. Sow in narroy
drills in September or October and cul
tivate. 1t is important to keep the Gro
/ free from weeds or grass Ten or 1
pounds of seed will plant one acre.
TERRAcING.
QUESTION Al notice that you speal
Of terracing as all important in build
, ing up our worn lands. Can you Civ
me few points as to how she worl
should be done? Do not hillside ditch
es answer the same purpose?
ANSWER Hillside bitches hav
been very aptly termed highway rob
bers, in that they have swept away
much of the fertility of our land
which might otherwise have been pre-
served. The same difference betwee,
terraces and bitches is that the frs
gather the washmgs from higher points
and hold them, with their aceumula
ton Of rich deposits. while the lastel
gather and carry them of. During the
first year or two after land is terracet
the water will occasionally break owe,
during heavy rains, but if the founda
ton has been laid with good l-horse 3,
2.horse turning plow, so as to measure
about three feet across at the base and
frmed up with hoes where necessary,
we can caculate on eventually securing
a compact firm terrace The boraks
can be strengthened as they develop,
and once the terraces are we'll set all
| water that goes over the bank will f1ow