The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-17
AGRICULTURAL.
Manurinn of Meadows.

It is best not to apply stable manure during the continuance of hot, dry weather, for such manure has the effect of making the meadow still drier and of attracting a number of insects that eov- CT and feed upon the small green blades. The best treatment after moving is to topdress with about 100 pounds per acre of the nitrate of soda. This preserves the verdure of the grass. In two or three weeks an application of an equal quantity of bone meal or the superphos- phate of lime should be added. Some am- monia in the form of sulphate will have a beneficial effect Where there is clover gypsum may also be applied with good results After the fall rains begin stable manure should be applied freely. It is the best of all manures on our soils for grass lands.
 Baron Lawes, writing in 1S5S,, thought that "a dressing of dung once in five years, with 200-weight of the nitrate of soda each year for the other four years" was the very best manure that can be used Dr. Voelcker was of the opinion that good barnyard manure Is 'the most efficacious and economical manure, both for seeds tof clover) and permanent pas tnre." The effect of bone dust on meadow lands is not thought to be as great as on pasture lands "Bone meal is usually wasted, when applied on cold clay soil" Dr. Voeleker also says: "Un- fortunately the application of artificial Inanures to permanent pastures is often disappointing in an economical point of view As a rule. no artificial manure gives so favorable a return as good farm yard manure, and cannot help thinking that it would be more profitable for Q farmer to apply the larger portion of his ,.H fn hfc o-fr1 and that to the arabic land. for there is no difficulty Tn growing roots and cereal crop economically with artificial man. sures"
 In some famous experiments conducted by Lawes at Rothamsted in England, 1t was clearly shown that superphos- phate of lime was favorable to the growth of the true grasses, but not to the 1eguminous plants. Ammoniacal salts were of but little benefit to the grass when applied to the meadow. Nitrate of soda increased the grasses and kept them green for longer period. more leaves and fewer stems being the result of the application A mixture of superphos- phate of lime and ammonia had precisely the same effect as the superphosphate alone. Mineral manures alone increased the leguminous plants and diminished the grasses. Mineral manures and ann mona increased the grasses, but not the leguminous plants Mineral manures and nitrate of soda had the same effect as mineral manures and ammonia. Gyp- sum produced its greatest effect upon leguminous plants, but it's effect on the grasses was slight The most potent ap- plication was farmyard manure, which Increased the hay grasses and the legu- minuous plants and encouraged the growth of many good grasses and some bad ones, as well as some noxious weeds. It was by far the best application, though attended with some undesirable results. The general conclusion reached was that drainage Is highly important The application of mineral manures, such as potash lime, gypsum and mari, is followed by good results, though attend- ed with too much expense. The use of bones was discouraged.
 Troublesome Plants in Meadows.
 The proper care of meadows after they have been wed must not stop with the application of manures. There are many noxious plants and weeds that spring up when the grasses are en- feebled by moving. especially If the moving is followed by dry weather. The most pestiferous of these is broomsedge (Andropogon Virginicus). If left alone, it will grow to the height of three feet after the hay has been cut. If permitted to seed the meadow will show a largely increased number of these plants the following season. Each tussock of this vile grass before it goes to seed should be cut up with sharp sprouting hoe. If permitted to grow the meadow will be destroyed in a very few years
 Another troublesome plant is the flea bane (Irigeron Philadelphicus). known as white top in Tennessee. This will thicken on suitable soils very rapidly. There is no remedy for this except run ming the mower over the meadow before the seeds ripen.
 The trumpet flower (Tecoma radicans) infests meadows on rich bottom lands, and 1t is especially troublesome on strong limestone soils. When cut off by the mower it forms hard knots, which will arrest the action of the sickle the following year. This vine should be dug up ''root and branch" While white clover and blue grass are potn great en- emies to the meadow grasses, their presence will have the fleet of rapidly converting meadow into pasture. Black medick. or Medicago lupulina, be- longing to the leguminosae family, fre- ouently destroys meadows and pastures. Japan clover, or Lespedeza striata. like wise infests meadows. but it will de- stroy broomsedge. and as 1t is a good plant for grazing, its presence is not so obiectionable as that of white weed or broomsedse.
 Peanuts.
 Peanuts are very important .crop in several of the southern states, and there is progressive demand for them in all the great nut markets of the country. Dry weather is indispensable for the harvesting of this crop in condition that will insure the highest prices When the hulls are discolored by the presence of earth or of water the peanuts are put in a lower grade. The operation of clea- inc and brightening the nuts will not cure the damage resulting from adhering soil.
 Sweet Potatoes.
 What has been said about the advan- tage of dry weather in the harvesting of peanuts is also applicable in the case Of diyging sweet potatoes. Adhering mud not only disfigures the potatoes, but IS apt to induce decay. This esculent Is growing more and more in favor every year and those grown in the south are far sweeter and more toothsome than