Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-05

Jno. c. H., Union Point, Ca:
read the agricultural department of
The Journal conducted by yourself with
great pleasure and profit. 1 was especial
" pleased with your recent article on the
COW pea and its possibilities as a renovator
of our worn soil. The article is timely and
your suggestions wise.
I am growing a small herd of thorough
bred, short horns, and hence am greatly
interested in the forage crops. / write,
therefore, to ask you about, first burr
clover as a winter pasture. (a) What do
you think of 1t. CD When should it be
planted. (c) Would 1t not do well sown
with the COW pea, coming on after the pea
vines were cut? I'D How much seed per
acre?
Second What Of the Giant beggar weed
as forage plant? Ca) When should it be
planted? Ob) How much seed per acre? (c)
Is it the equal Of the pea as renovator of
the soil?
In conclusion, as the lawyers say, please
answer fully anything else you may know
that will benefit the plaintiff, as if special
~ Intercepted thereto.
Ans: Burr Clover is a valuable plant,
especially for cattle and sheep. There is
no pasturage for winter grazing superior
to it, for the south. It's value is princi-
pally as a pasture plant, rather than foS
hay. 1t is best adopted to light, rich soils,
and can be successfully raised anywhere
that Bermuda grass will grow, hence
should do we'll in your section of the
state. A winter pasture of Burr clover
can be had by planting in october on land
that has been nicely prepared by thor
ough breaking and narrowing down to fine
filth. Broadcast 20 pounds of clean seed
per acre. and follow with roller or light
iron tooth harrow.
It would be preferable to plant after a
crop of cowpeas had been harvested from
the land, as the mechanical condition OF
the soil would be better and the deposit
CT tho free nitrogen about the pea roots
would be decidedly helpful to the future
growth of the clover. The growth OF the
clover will continuc through winter and
on 20 the first of May. at which time the
plaEts seed frey and dc TIE land may
then be culrivaLei AMI panied Il some
summer crop. The young clover plants
Will again make thci- appearance the FOL-
rowing October. rnelc is 10 better CON-
bination for a continuous pasturage for
cattle than burr clover and Bermuda
grass, both growing on the same land.
Burr clover will grow splendidly in Ber-
muda sod, furnishing good winter pastur-
age and dying down about the time Ber-
muda grass begins to grow we'll The
clover will reseed itsef. and the only
thing needful is to run a good iisc har-
row over the field in October to scarify
tho land and give the seed a chance to
get down into the soil among the tangled
roots of the Bermuda. This combination
has been tried at several points in the
south and with splendid results. I know
of no better method by which You could
furnish a continuous pasture for your
cattle al but slight cost.
The giant beggar weed seems to do best
in the sandy soils and near the coast re-
gions. In Florida and parts of south
Georgia IT is a decided success and is
highly valued as a pasture for stock. hay
and it's power to build UP the fertility
of the soils / do not regard any plant
grown in the south equal 10 the COW
pea. either as a forage crop or as a soil
renovator. Your success with the beggar
weed would be experimental. 1t IS IN
questionably a fine plant for renovating
worn soils and furnishing good pastur-
age for stock in sections Suitable TO its
growth. Plant - pounds of seed per acre
at any time in the spring. and If cut
once and the second crop is allowed to
mature. the land will be reseeded for
another year.
Broadcast as a fertilizer about 200
pounds of phosphoric acid and 125 pounds
OF KANT mixed per acre at time Of sowing
the burr clover. Being a leguminous
plant. it will supply its own nitrogen, but
requires a considerable amount of acid
and potash to make a full crop.