The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-19

forage. III GAO WOoo AZ 40 .
cipally for the seed, which are ground
and fed, mixed with corn meal, to
stock. The bean meal is too rich to
be feed alone. This plant has some
advantages ever COW peas, its chief
value being for hay and forage. 1t
is cured about as COW peas. It may
be sown broadcast or in drills, but
does better in drills, SO that it may
be cultivated. Should be planted
early in season, but may be plant
ed any time after the soil becomes
warm: can be planted after oats as 1t
natures in sixty days from planting
HAIRY VETCH.
The hairy vetch is useful for winter
growth and may be cut and cured for
forage in the spring-it natures about
Mayor may be used for winter pas
ture. It grows up like the garden pea,
which it resembles in many respects,
having little tendrils at the ends OF
leaves. 1t should be sowr with grain
to hold it up from the ground, other
wise it forms matted mass over the
ground. Is does best when sown in
the early fall-September or October
and will not do well if sown later
than October. From one to one and
one half bushels of seed are required to
the acre. It thrives best on sandy, we'll
drained land. Stiff, wet land is IN
suited to its growth.
ALFALFA.
Alfalfa is the chief forage plant OF
the irrigated sections Of the great
west. and is extensively gown through
out the west outside of the irrigated
sections. It has been known and cul-
tivated in the South for many years,
and was first grown in the south, after
wards extending to the west where 1T
is now a staple crop. It will not
grow on stiff, wet land, or land sub
iect to overflow, being killed by more
than two days overflow. The chief
difficulty encountered where it is irri-
gated is the inability to remove the
water quick enough from the fields. 1t
is valuable plant, furnishing per-
manent pasture all the year through
from year to year and yielding several
cuttings of hay of superior quality
each season. It is altogether the most
valuable hay and pasture plant where
it is grown successfully. It is
best as pasture plant in the fall.
For planting the soil should be we'll
prepared so as to remove all Jumps and
clods, and the seed should be sown
when the soil is moist. May be plant
ed in the spring but not advisable as
it does best when scwn in the fall
after the weeds and grasses are out OF
the way. If sown in the spring great
care is required to prevent the tender
plants being choked by weeds. When
once well started it can take care OF
itself and furnishes permanent pas
ture, it being a perennial plant, send
ing down long strong roots deep into
the soil. It does well on we'll drained
sandy land, and responds readily to
fertilization. It is easily eradicated
when desirable and there is no danger
of it becoming pest.
CRIMSON CLOVER.
Crimson Clover is useful for win
ter pasture and does well
in some sections of the south.
It is an annualand should
be sown in the fall. It has
no particular advantage over others
vetch fo1sinstance. For hay it should
not be allowed to mature seed as it
then has hairy burr that is injurious
to animals.
FLORIDA BEGGAR WEED.
The Florida Beggar Weed is adapt
ed to poor sandy soil, making vigor-
Gus growth that affords both pasture
and forage. For hay it should be cut
before the stalks become large and
woody. 1t frequently attains growth
Of six feet. In planting may be sown
broadcast or in drills.
Taking up the grasses the following
varieties were discussed:
TEOSINTE.
Teosinte. plant somewhat similar
to sorghum in growth and appearance,
for coarse fodder, resembling that of
corn or soghum, yields most abundant
crops. It will produce more forage
per acre on rich soil than any other
plant. It requires plenty of moisture
for the best results. 1t does not ma
ture seed in this section, which is a
disadvantage. Seed should be planted
in hills four or five feet apart, and the