The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-29
Be%gar Wood.

Many inquiries for more information on
beggar weed have come to US. SAYS the
Southern Ruralist, in the past ten DAYS
covering points not touched on in the
April issue
OF the value of beggar weed as a hav
crop and soil improver there is no oues-
ton. The hay when properly made. is
superior, not only to cowpea hay. bur n
the Northern hay, either from clover or
timothy. and costs, after the ground is
once seeded down, only one-third TO one
fourth as much per ton.
1t is admirably adapted TO sandy and lobt
clay soils in the South. Cleaned or bulled
seed sown in June is ready for first chi
ting in August, and should be cut as soon
as the plant shows a sign of b1oornin,y
If left till the plant blooms the leaves
Will drop off the stalks in curing and
makes the hay of less value In cnttinr
leave three TO four inches of stubble
new growth will spring from this stnbhIe
which can be cut again for hay crop in a.
tober or else be left to run to seed tn
whole crop after maturity being plowo1
in. improving your soil and at The sano
time seeding down your ground for an,
other year
The quality of beggar weed hav denands
largely on the stand. The thicker the
stand the less woody will be the stalI,s
and the more palatable will be the 10,
For hay purposes eight to ten pounds ~
the cleaned seed should be sown ner acre
TO insure good thick stand. If wantod
to simply seed the land down for soil ~,
provement five pounds of the cleaned CO..
per acre is sufficient. '0sN
Beggar weed is not q pest like Tob,
son grass. It is an annual plant and can
he or 4 loo "a
prevent going to seed. 20
The yield of hay averages from, ovo..,
one-half to two tons per acre On e.,
cutting and one ton per acre IN eol.ss
cutting. Very few make the second o,,+
ting, preferring to seed the ground for 49,
succeeding year ~ '4'e
The time for sowing seed is from Nav -
July. We prefer the month of 1una
warm moist soil is essential to a success
Iui termination. The ground should no in
good condition and the seed broadcostoa
then narrowed TO depth of i've inotS4'
The first good shower win bring The 49,.
in a hurry. ii'S
In fertilizing 1t, the use of nitrogen or
ammonia In any form is a waste Regesr
weed draws this from the atmosphere iba
same as cowpeas or the velvet. heon -
you choose to fertiiize IL use snau o,anti
ties of potash in It's cheaper form ana aoia
phosphate, Ihis is usually unnecessary
however, as the roots of the plant win
usually draw these Clements from Inc sur
soil in sufficient quantity.
Il is not advisable to put beggar weed
on newly cleared land. 1t does not do ve,i
until all sourness Is out of the land. and
IL is not best TO sow ii on land thot has
not been under cultivation for two vears
from the time the original forest growth
has been removed
The range of its adaptability has NOT We,
been fluffy ascertained. One of the Lars 81
peach growers Of Kentucky has recently
ordered a large quantity of seed FOR use
in his orchards in Northern Kentucky. ne
has experimental for several years Win
1t in a small way, and is satisfied with is
results.
No reader of the Ruraiist living south of
the Ohio river, who has sandy or light clay