The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1904-04-12
What To Do With Uaprohtable Cotton Fields.
Editors Progressive Farmer:

LII many pdTGS VI Ln0 Jul Has, vi y
count of the almost total disappearance of vegeta-
bic matter from the soil, ceased to yield ~satisfact-
DRY crops of lint. In some neighborhoods a soil
or root parasite has lately attacked the crop and
threatens to make it impossible to grow cotton on
such fields. What to do with fields which can no
longer grow cotton is a serious problem.
Very few cotton farmers grow the bacon con-
sumed by themselves and their hands. Still few
er grow the forage required by their stock. A
natural and promising use for such sick cotton
fields is to turn them into pastures for hogs, mules
and other stock. Cotton is commonly grown upon
light, sandy loan. Such soil in the hot and
droughty climate of the cotton region will not
grow the tame grasses eteemed in the North. But
In Bermuda grass the Southern farmer has a pre-
ennial grass of the best quality and one that will
grow upon any soil that will grow cotton. With
Bermuda grass for summer and crimson clover
for winter pasture, the Southern farmer may have
an all the year round pasture that should carry
ten medium weight pigs all the time.
In the United States, north of Florida, Bermuda
grass does not bear seed. The grass is propagated
by root cuttings. Three barrels of these will
plant one acre. The grass is so common along
road sides that the roots can usually be had for
the gathering. A Bermuda pasture may be set at
any time of the year. But early spring is best.
The field should be furrowed at about five feet
apart and the root cuttings dropped into the fur
rows and covered two or three inches deep. A
little white clover and Bokhara clover seed plant
ed at the same time will give an agreeable variety
to the pasture. The field should not be pastured
until the grass has run through the vacant spaces.
If the land is very poor, nitrate of soda at the rate
of one hundred pounds per acre should be applied
at time of setting the grass, or as soon as growth
begins. In any case an abundant supply of lime,
potash and phosphoric acid must be furnished.
All worn cotton soils in the upland region are de-
fcient in lime. Without this no clover will sue
coed. Potash is best supplied to such soils in the
form of kainit. A good fertilizer is kainit and
acid phosphate in equal quantities. Of the mix
lures, apply as a top dressing every spring about
five hundred pounds per acre. About September
LIST of each year broadcast upon the Bermuda sod
about f~orty-fve pounds of crimson clover seed in
chaf for each acre of pasture. No covering or
preparations for the clover seed are necessary.
By taking stock of. the pasture from March 18th
till May 18th, two tons of hay per acre can be
harvested. The pasture herein described may be
still further improved for hogs by broadcasting
upon it about one ounce per acre of the seeds of
parsley, thyme and sage-plants of which hogs
are fond. The flavor of these herbs will give a
"gamey" flavor to the meat.
After the pasture has been for some years in
use the land may be broken up and again put into
cotton If desired. The root parasite will be starved
out and the soil filed with vegetable matter which
will carry through several crops of cotton. In
stead of using crimson clover as above-described
we may use the sand or hairy vetch. The common
or Scotch vetch is also good. The spotted clover
is excellent and is in value next to crimson
clover.
If cotton growers will give this plan a fair trial,
+LoE=;ll haEo-oarsa 70 hlass ;nstaad Of r the