The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-12-04
SsS'l'S0S019 - $500
The Farm and Grove.
Copyrighted by Rural Press Syndicate
II. Z. STOcKBR1DGE, PHI. D., Editor.
WINTER PASTURES.

kinds to thrive during the winter with
out shelter, or artificial feeding during
the months when the northern stockman
must not only provide expensive protec-
ton, but must support his animals en-
tirely on feeds which required the labor
of half year to produce. A large ma
jorlty of our stockmen, however, fail to
take full advantage of their natural con-
ditions. They proportionately reduce
the possible profits of their business.
II pastures are the most economical
and best method of summer feeding, II
animals naturally do better on green
feed than on dry feed, common sense
should dictate the advantages of length
ening the pasturiDg and green feed sea-
son as much as possible. In our ell
mate this means the providing of green
feed through the entire winter. A linn
| tied number of crops are In quite COM
mon use to supply this demand they,
however are not used SO extensively as
their character and advantages would
| justify. There is considerable num-
Der of crops better adapted to condi-
tons, and offering far greater advanta-
ges than these common ones, yet almost
entirely unknown to most Southern cat
tie owners 1t is proposed to call at
tention to few of these less known
crops in such a way that their advan-
tages may become available. Crops OF
this nature which are particularly of a
soil improving character, have already
been recently discussed. Now we pre-
sent few of those particularly worthy
of consideration for other reasons than
their fertilizing effect on the soils where
they grow.
Dwarf Essex Rape. This is probably
the most fattening of all green feed.
1t may be sown any time from Septem-
Der to March, in drills three feet apart, at
the rate OF three to five pounds of seed
| per acre. 1t furnishes O very large
amount Of forage, either as pasture or
for soiling, and may be repeatedly cut
or constantly pastured during the win
| ter. 1t does particularly well on land
on which peas, velvet beans or pinders
have been cut or plowed under in the
fall. In this case it requires no ferti-
ger but light application of acid and
kainit, or its equivalent, say one hun
dred and fifty pounds Of acid phosphate
and fifty of muriate of potash per acre.
| Winter Barley. This is more hardy
/
and produces much more foliage, and
consequent feed, than either of the
others. 1t is we'll adapted TO most soils,
and thrives even on those too light for
oats. 1t may be sown whenever oats
would do, at the rate Of about two
bushels per acre, broadcast When not
sown on pea-vine land it should be fertil-
lied with a little heterogeneous fertilizer in
addition to that recommended for rape.
Cotton-seed meal at the rate of 200
pounds, or its equivalent in other nitro
genous fertilizer, is about the proper
proportion.
italian Rye Grass. This has several
properties specially recommending it to
attention, 1t is the most luxuriant and
fastest growing of ali winter feeds. I'm
der favorable conditions it may even be
pastured and gives good feed only three
weeks after the seed is sown. 1t thrives
best on rather moist soils. 1t stands
close pasturing, and cuts several heavy
crops Of the best of green feed. 1t re-
quires a moderate application of any
good fertilizer. 1t makes an admirable
pasture on Bermuda sod, by sowing
broadcast and narrowing in after the
Bermuda grass has died down for the
winter. 1t is an annual, but remains
green till the warm weather of late
spring.
Turf Oats. For winter pasture, or
soiling, this variety furnishes more feed
than any other. For grain, or hay, it is
not to be commended, since it is liable
to rust late in the season. They may be
sown as late as the middle of January.
They are probably more hardy than any
other variety.
INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER ON HARDNESS
With our two chief fruit trees the
question OF hardness is of the utmost
importance, resistance to cold being es-
Sential to the orange as matter of tr @
preservation, and to the peach as related
to the bud, and consequent producing
capacity of the tree. 1t is now recog-
nized that dormancy Of the tree is the
essential condition TO its resistance Of
cold. The more nearly the tree ap-
proaches to absolute dormancy the
greater is it's power OF resisting cold.
The object of the grower, therefore,
should be to practice that treatment of
his trees which shall retard growth,
keep the sap down and the buds entirely
dormant, till the period OF possible dan
ger from cold is past. That the charac-
ter, method and time Of fertilizing the
trees materially influences this condi-
ton all observers admit.
The question, therefore, Is what
method Of fertilizing has the greatest
tendency to retard early spring growth
of trees? That it is the starting Of
growth before danger from cold was
past, which has ruined crops of peaches
and destroyed orange groves, can not
be questioned. The first important
point to be remembered, is, that ripe
wood Is harder than unripe wood. Nj
trogen tends to produce late growth,
and consequently unripeness of wood
This material should, therefore, be ex-
cluded from all fall applications TO trees.
From September 10 February only min
erai fertilizers, containing only potash
and phosphoric acid may safely be used
The time of app .icaeion is equally i'm
portant. The later the ferti izer is ap-
piled the later growth will continue,
and the greater the danger that the tree
will be caught by unreasonable cold.
What is true of time Of application Is
in slightly different way equally true
of the method of applying the fertilizer
| The more the tree is worked, late in the
season, the longer itkeeps growing with
the attendant danger. Any, and all fall
application, of any kind, should be made
with as little, and as shallow cultivation
of the soil as possible. The following of
these simple rules during the next two
months will insure trees and crops,
which would certainly be endangered,
and possibly lost, by other practice. 2
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
What should be the percentage OF
waste in dressing fat cattle and hogs for
the market? Native Florida steers and
hogs when as fat as it is profitable to
make them will usually shrink respec-