The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-09-04
COTTON RUST; CLOVER AND PEAS; UN-
DERGROUND DRAINAGE.

p 443U0OON 01A4QAGGs .tH
EDITORS PROGRESSIVE FARMER
There are a number of farming
matters about Which Idesire infor-
nation \
1. My cotton is seriously damaged
by rust. Applications of potash
seem to have had some good effect
but have noted declining yields after
using it. What is the best remedy
for this rust?
2. What is the best method>of de-
stroying moles? Have found the
parmachriston bean no good.
8. Can clover and peas be sown to-
gether in Jnue, peas cut in fall, and
the clover then make a crop?
4. What would you advise for under
ground drainage or "blind ditches? ?"
I have been using 2 planks, one s and
the other 9 inches wide, nailed to-
gether in trough shape, with braces
here and there. Is it better to let
the air to them in places?
Hoping to find these questions
answered in an early issue of The
Progressive Farmer.
Wake Co., N. G.. j. L. B.
answered by Corresponding Editor
Emery.)
The queries referred for reply con
tain some of the perennial questions
which present themselves to almost
every farmer.
L. The rust in cotton is a fungus
disease which has yielded as much
to applications of potash, perhaps,
as often as to all other remedies
combined. We have no statistics at
hand to support this but know that
potash has often been used pUrpOsely
as a specific. Whether the salt has
really acted to check the fungus
more, or FASTENED growth to cover
up and make good the losses I would
not care to decide without having
studied on that point.
It would be we'll to return the seed
to the land and be sure there if phos-
phoric acid and lime enough for a
full crop before indulging in any
superstition that the potash had any
influence in reducing the yield of
crop.
It would be the bestplan to change
the crop to new land and follow the
cotton each year with another crop,
in fact to establish a regular rotation
of crops one of which should be cot
ton. This should separate the re-
turns Of the cotton crop by three,
four, or five years. The change
would tend, if well laid out and car
ried forward, steadily to increase
the yields and at the same time dis
courage fungus and insect pests of
various kinds.
2. Have had no experience worth
comparisons in destroying moles. A
few traps set about over. their runs
thin them out, or it may be &C
complished quicker by7a quiet active
person throwing them out when
they are at work. Only a few quick
strokes are necessary if put in at the
right time and place to catch a mole
and almost any one al learn this in
a few minutes practice.
8. We should not expect a crop of
annual clover from seed sown with
peas in June. But, if after the peas
are cut for hay the field is prepared
and clover seed put in well and one
half to one inch deep, should expect
it to start we'll. Whether it will
make a crop then in. Wake county
will depend On the weather, kind of
soil, and the kind of preparation
given the seed bed. See Experiment
Station bulletin on crimson clover.
A. The best mode. of understanding
is with round tiles, with or without
These should be putdown
8 to 4 feet deep. Next to tiles, we
would s straight round poles lay
ing two in the bottom and the third
on top so the channel will be between
the two and under the top or cover.
No trouble for water to get into a
ditch or for air to follow the water.
Just make every foot so good that
there is no weakest place" to break
down like the "Deacon's One Hoss
and you will have a right
kind of a drain for just as the
weakest link in a chain measures it's
strength the poorest laid tile or part
Of a ditch limits it's usefulness. |