Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-09

let, without any of the bad effects of the
latter on your stock.
w. L. X, Five Forks. Ga.:>
have been very much interested in the
inquiry column in The Journal, and 1
write TO ask viii slops made of polk stalks
fed 20 a sow kill pigs. I have a SOW that
had seven fine pigs. fed her bOuntifully
on slop till the pigs were three weeks
old, when all seven of them got sick all
in a day. and four of them died. I gave
the other three cOpperas and sweet milk
and they recovered, but still look bad. My
physician says they must have been pois-
oned.
Your answer in The Journal win be
greatly appreciated.
Answer-Polk stalks boiled and fed in
much quantity Is poisonous to the sys-
tenn, and that was doubtless the cause of
the death OF the pigs. People some times
boil the leaves Of the polk weed with fat
meat for salad. but IT is dangerous 10 do
so. would not advise you 10 keep that
plan up. You might lose SOW pigs and
ALL
The polk bush is poisonous and when
eaten I'm quantities will produce death. The
little pigs were not physically strong
enough TO resist the effect of the poison
which came to them through their moth
er's milk.
r. c. s., Saxon. Ca:
I am a subscriber 10 The Journal and
wish 20 know If animals relish comfrey
and velvet grass?
How should I prepare a grove where
native weeds and grass are in possession?
DO you recommend the seed-sower?
Is velvet grass perennial? Phares says
Il viii grow on exhausted land. Have you
tested it7
Answer-The experiments made via. vel
vet grass in the south Atlantic and gulf
states have not been at all satisfactory.
In the first place this grass is not relished
by stock and viii hardly be eaten by them
unless mixed with other desirable grasses.
Velvet grass will remain permanent on
thin soils that are well drained II
not crowded out by other grasses or
weeds. IL is a perennial and grows gen.
orally in clumps. 1t should be sown only
in mixtures and on thin soils. I do not
think IL a desirable grass for this section.
have never tested il, but am familiar
with its history. ! am not posted on the
other plant mentioned under the name
Used.
]. A. NJ. Grassland. Ca:
Please inform me through The Journal,
OF which am a subscriber, what is the
cause OF my Irish potatoes not bearing.
They have very fine tops but no potatoes
at all. They were well fertilized with
barnyard manure and guano. The tops
are from knee 10 half thigh high, and still
look tender and are growing. The ground
Is very hard at the roots of the vines.
After they were planted. hard. packing
rains FELL but they have been well plowed
since. The ground though is still hard.
A neighbOr told me to take stick and
knOcl- the bush. same as Trailing cotton
stalks. I gave the treatment 10 some OF
them and they have come out and are
growing nicely.
Answer: 1 think your greatest trouble
Is in the variety OF potatoes planted. You
have evidently planted western potatoes,
when you should have secured your seed
from eastern grown varieties. Western
potatoes. will make a strong, vigorous
growing bush. but they never bear I'm this
section. Your neighbours advice was bad.
and / would not think IL desirable to
bruise and injure the tops of a good va
riety OF potatoes in order TO make them
bear. Such a course is unnecessary. If
your land is hard and stir clay IL requires
humus 10 soften Il up, and IL would also
pay you 10 mulch your potatoes on such
ground with heavy coating OF leaves or
pine straw TO a depth OF six or eight in
ches. after the plants are up and have
had one good deep blowing. AS your fer
tilizer was alright, and the vines show
no sign OF blight or other disease. 1 do
not know what reason to assign to the
haTrenness OF the vines except to the un-