The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-29

and deserve mention here. 1 VIII nrst
notice the oft asked question regarding
the cow or stock pea.
Value of Stock Pea.
This plant stands at the head IN value
Of all our legumes as a soil renovator.
and is highly recommended for building
up run down soils. The question that
came up most of all was: Is 1t advisable
to plow the pea vines under or to make
hay of them?
OF course this would depend entirely
upon circumstances. On very thin soils,
where quick action is required and where
the main object Is fertilizer 1t might be
well 10 plow under the whole crop, but
on better soils and where there is live
stock kept on the farm 1t would be econ
omy TO harvest the hay and feed the
stock the sarea and return It back to the
soil in the 70, Of harnyard manure
The pea vines contain about two
thirds OF the plant food of the plant and
the roots the other one-third. But almost
al farmers Of long experience in this
matter now prefer saving the hay and
feeding Il and returning back the drop
serves a far wider range Of cultivation
and II is strange that farmers do not
moro fully appreciate the feeding as we'll
n fertilizing value of this wonderful
plest which is to the south what the red
clover plant Is to the north. But we
will have more to say of this plant later
on.
In connection with this matter I would
advise that where q green crop is wanted
only for the turning under for green
manure, that the velvet bean be used,
as it produces greater foliage, and has
the same fertliizing qualities as that
of the COW pea The velvet bean, how
ever, is not adapted to so great a range
of soils or climate as is the COW pea, but
/. will thrive well in any part OF Ala
bana, and has done fairly well up in
middle Tennessee. But the velvet bean
will seed only where the summers are
long. Then again the vines are not so
valuable for hay as that Of the pea.
But as stated. If I were going to try to
reclaim an old run down farm by the
use of any of the legumes to be turned
under I should commence with the velvet
bean. OF this we will also have more
to say later on.
Barnyard Manure.
Another very important question was
frequently dShGu Iitide VI AOW ~ man
age the farm or barnyard manure? To
answer this question properly would re-
quirs some time and space The best
plan, perhaps, is to leave the manure
t. the stalls right under the stock until
such time as 1t can Je hauled out and
spread on the soil and plowed uneer at
once. This is the most economical way,
"a there will be less loss of nitrogen by
this method than in piling
We are glad to see that farmers are
becoming SO much interested in these
matters. There is nearly always a great
amount of loss of fertilizers on every
farm, all of which should be saved and
applied to the soil in an intelligent way.
The farmers of the south could greatly
reduce their expense bills for CONNER
cial fertilizers If they would only prae-
tee saving everything on the farm that
would make fertilizer. Fertilizer is only
plant food and all plants must have
food just the same as C. young growing
animal and 1t is just as important for
farmers to understand this and to know
as we'll how to feed all plants as to know
how to feed the pigs, calves and colts on
the farm We will take this up later.
Fall Flowing.
Another question that comes up at
nearly all our meetings is that of fall
say before. but We are all the while
gaining new readers, and so have many
questions to answer over and over again.
This question of fall blowing depends,
like many other farm questions upon
circumstances and then 1t comes right
IN here in connection with the question
o. fertilizers, and also that of eubsoil-
ing.
All deep or subsoll blowing should be
\ A.. tt
the barnyard manure - the fall on the
soil, turn under. then SOW a crop of rye
on the land for protection of the soil. to
prevent washing and to hold the fertil-
izer in the soil. If the crop of rye is
not needed for pasture it may be turned
under for fertilizer, where soils need sub
soiling, and if the work Is not yet done
there should be no time lost in doing
this. so that the soil may have time to
store up the needed amount of water.
But ] cannot take time here to give
these questions the attention they de-
serve. l will get around to them as fast
as time will permit. l want to repeat
here what we have so long tried to i'm
press, that the care and management of
the soil is the first question that con-
Germs all farmers. The matter of re-
storing to the soil the humus needed is
the work first of all that all farmers of
the south should engage in. Why farm
ers will allow their lands to lie idle and
naked all the winter when they could
grow such crops as winter rye, winter
barley, winter oats and winter vech
is matter that | cannot understand.
Wherever there has been half a chance
given to rye it has proven great sue
cess not only as a winter pasture. but
as a protection of the soil. But these
are only a few of the many questions
that arc being asked. The matter, of
dairying and the question of ensilege is
now receiving considerable attention. and
] shall try 20 have more to say of all
these as time will permit. There is no
question that would attract the atten-
ton of the farmers more than that of
dairying. Peas grown on the farms and
dairy cattle to eat the pea vine hay,
which is then turned back to the farm.
is the shortest plan for improving both
the soil and the farmers bank account.
Trip South.
wanted to write at this time some
thing of my trip south a few days ago
and of what ! saw on this trip. / made
my regular winter trip to New Orleans
a few days ago. going down from Mem
phis over the Illinois Central railroad
and returning back by the Louisville and
Nashville line to Birmingham I made
this trip IN order to see what progress
the country has made along agricultural
lines since my last trip.
Great Progress Made.
| was surprised to see what wonderful
progress had been made and to see the
general activity all through these sec
tons. Each year as l go down in this
section I find greater evidences of pros
perity. a better system Of farming, bet
ter stock. better tillea farms, more and
better family orchards and gardens. bet
ter houses and farms. better fences and