The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-10-24
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
commissioner Nesbitt's Ques-
ton Box For the Month.
INFORMATION OF IMPORTANCE.

on siios and Ensiiage-More Profitable
TO Buy high Grade Fertilizsrs Than to
invgst In Cheaper Qualities.
QUESTION What is the best time
Ior turning under peavines? l have a
neld In luxuriant growth Shall turn
tnem under now or shall wait until
they are fully matured?
ANSWER This question has al.
ready been discussed at some length in
these columns. but we again call atten /.
ton to the disadvantages of turning
under succulent. green crop at this
season. In the first place, the partially
matured vines decay much more rap
IDLY than the fully developed plants
and this decay sets up chemical &C.
ton which releases heterogeneous prod.
ucts, to be washed away by the winter
rains. In the maturer plants this
process is slower, and we are enabled to
hold these products in the soil for q
longer time to await the demands of
the spring crops. Again, the decompo-
sltion of turned under green crop
produces an amount Of acidity more or
less, which is often found injurious to
succeeding crops. and while this may
be corrected by an application of lime
broadcast on the plowed surface, we
would strongly advise against the prac-
tice of planning crop simply to return
it to the land. Indeed, we do not ad.
vocate the turning under of any crop
without first getting some other bene.
fit than the mere improvement of the
SOIL In the case of peas, the crop can
be taken off either in the form of gath
cred hay or peas, or the stock, hogs,
cows and work animals can be turned
in to harvest it with great benefit to
themselves and little injury to the
land. unless in a very wet season. In
the residuum Of stems and roots we
have material almost as valuable, while
the increase in butter, pork and cold
resisting fat, more than counterbalances
the value of the crop taken off. The
following experience is pertinent:
"a neighbor who is very observing
gardener gives the result Of his obser
vations and experience on this subject.
On small piece of fatwoods, which he
wished to prepare for strawberry plants,
one summer, he plowed down rank
crop of cowpeas when they were full of
succulence, and for two years after
ward the soil was so sad" heavy and
lifeless that he could get nothing to
grow we'll on it. So much fermenting
vegetation in the soil soured and injur.
| ed its texture very much. On the 9th.
er hand, he had crop Of cowpeas in a
young pear orchard, which. through
| the press of other work, he neglected
to plow under until they became SO
heavy that they lodged and he then
! abandoned the intention and left them
to rot on the ground. Next spring, on
| blowing this orchard. he found the
land in an admirable condition, as mel
low and as light as an ash heap"
QUESTION 2.-What is the best time
! to sow Hungarian Bronze grass, on
what kind of land, and when should it
| be cut? Is it good winter grass?
ANSWER At may be sown either
in the fall or early spring and should
be cut just as it begins to bloom. Like
all other crops the better the condition
of the soil the better the yield. On
| poor soils it grows about foot to foot
and half high, in more favorable To-
cations and when properly managed it
frequently attains a height of from
three to four feet. Its underground
roots grow most rapidly in light sandy
loans. but they also penetrate the stiff
fest clay and form good sod. At the
south it is esteemed more for grazing
than cutting. 1t stands even protract
ed drouth remarkably we'll, and does
not seem to be affected by sudden or
extreme changes of temperature. If
the land is prepared the same as for
other grasses and other conditions are
favorable it has been found to succeed
where the finer grasses have failed. In
our section it remains green through
the winter and seems to be gaining ia.
vor for winter pasturage. The seed
should be sown unmixed with other va
rieties as it's habit is such as to choke
out other vegetation. On this account
care should be exercised in selecting a
location for its growth. On fields
where rotation of crops is practiced It's
introduction is not desirable as the sod
is tough and dense and might prove
very Troublesome.
QUESTION 3.-Would you advise the
buying of high grade fertilizer at q
high price, or one Of lower grade at less
cost?
ANSWER 3--All things considered,
the high grade fertilizer is cheaper for
the farmer. The per cent of plant food
in high grade of fertilizer being
larger than in the low grade. the pro.
nortiou ahla frai0ht ia thareforp Lace