The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1899-05-03
Forage Crops.

mig IOf nay ana forage crops. IL is
now time for action.
The South buys hundred million
dollars worth of products each year
from the North, that could be produc-
ed atihome. Hay is no small item of
this hundred million dollars and we
wish to- see every reader of the Rural
list cease paying tribute to the North
this year-so far as hay or forage is
concerned at least.
We stated some eight years ago that
we believed beggar weed to be the best
hay crop for Florida. We believe it
more firmly today than ever, not only
for Florida, but for all the South At
lantic and Gulf States wherever there
is considerable percentage of sand
in the soil.
In nutritive value it is not eXcelled
by any of the northern hay plants, and
all animals are eager for t either
green or cured. 1t is easily grown, in
most parts of the Gulf States giving
two crops, and at the same time leaves
your soil more fertile and in better
mechanical condition than before.
1t has succeeded as hay crop as far
north as the northern line of Arkansas
and nun Der of our correspondents
are increasing their acreage every year
in that section. convinced by \eXperi-
ence of it's value.
Most failures with beggar weed
come from attempting to SOW it too
early. For a good stand it requires
heat and moisture. The summer rainy
season of Florida furnishes the best
conditions for successful termination.
In the states north of us we should
advise sowing in May or June. Use
only cleaned seed. SOW broadcast at
rate of eight to ten pounds per acre.
harrow in to a depth of two inches and
let nature do the rest. The soil, espec
tally if it has clods, should be well
broken up and worked down fine with
harrow before seed is sOwn.
A ton of beggar weed hay can he
made at One-third the cost of a ton Of
corn fodder and your stock will relish
it far better.
If you do not want hay. it is well
worth your while to plant it for soil
Improvement This is especially true
of orange groves where the owners do
not wish to run the risk of ravages of
the pumpkin bug and danger from
fire which comes with velvet bean
planting in orange groves. It is hard
ly worth while to say a word to Flor
ida people as to it's value. They
know it. 1t is tho readers of the Ru-
ralist in other states that we wish to
impress with it's value.
De not allow yourself to be hum
plugged into paying a fancy price for
so-called "Giant" beggar weed. There
is no such thing, in the sense of it's
being a distinct variety. The "Giant"
part grew in a dealers brain. but no
where else.
Pearl Millet and Teosinte are both
valuable for cutting as a green feed
all through the summer, but are of
little value cured as hay. Both grow
luxuriantly in the hottest weather. On
highly MANFRED ground the yield of
both is almost incredible.
Pearl Millet should be sOwn in drills
at the rate Of four pounds Of seed per
acre. the drills being from 2h to 3
feet apart. 1t should he kept free
from grass and weeds until it gets
VOL started. Keep it cut close all
through the season for unless this is
done the seed stalks will form and the
nlant dies early in the season.
Teosinte should be planted in hills
from five to six feet apart. The seed is
very hard and should be soaked at
least "a hours before planting. The
growth is enormous and continues
throughout the summer and fall.
Stock of all kinds relish it as we'll as
Pearl Mirlet. Both of these crops re-
Ouire heavy manuring or fertilizing to
get best res Its. It pays to feed your