The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-06
R<novnsfng Worn Land snd the Use Of
Commercial Fertilizern, Lime, and

Hxnovssing Worn Land snd the Use Of
Commercial Fertilizern, Lime, and
Legumes.
A correspondent from Barbour Coun-
" writes as follows:
wish to ask you few questions
relative to reciaiming the waste lands
20 much In evidence in this part OF
Alabama I must say vehemently that
have received no satisfaction from
ene agricultural papers purporting to
be teachers on this question. Some
advocate the use of commercial fertili-
GERS In enormous quantities. while 9TH
ers exclaim in thunderous tones that
commercial fertilizers are the bane of
the Southern farmers existence.
tone) recommends heavy applica-
ton Of lime to begin with. but am
ircIiued to believe that such course
would be folly in Alabama, or at least
In the southern portion Of the State.
Some papers exclaim in one voice
ffat the only way to restore poor land
70 It's original fertility is to plant hui
mus gathering crops, clovers and vetch
es and others In another voice. they
and vetch on poor land.
VIII you kindly advise me how to
begin rotation of crops so as to Inn
psove my land. I think neither red
nor crimson clover will grow in this
part OF the state.
the most part, in fact to be an all
around animal farmer. hogs, cattle
sheep. chickens, etc, having only a
small per cent. OF my land in cotton
The only drawback is the poor condi-
non OF my land.
Information about reclaiming the worn
lands Of East Alabama. This subject
~ too extensive 70 be adequately treat
81 here, but viii endcavor to give
some general conclusions touching the
points mentioned In your letter.
First-The use OF commercial fertiI-
lsers on corn. cotton or small grain
has little effect either in enrichirig or
ifnroverfshing the land. As ordinarily
~ piled their FUNSTON Is to increase the
rurrent crop. However. IL applied to
the leeuminous plants. as cowpeas, vel
vet beans. hairy vetch. ETC.. commercial
Fertilizers may be made an agency
fer more rapidly renovating worn land
than would be possible IL the IeRuu1, q
were used without the AID of CONNER
ctal fertilizers. In other words. pkos-
phate is usually the means of increas-
Ire the yield of both vines and roots
% o0Wpeas. and either the increased
stphbie or the increased entire growth.
plowed under improves the land. the
Improvement being in proportion to the
amount OF vegetation Incorporated with
the SOIL; however as much of this veg
eaten by animals before being used as
fertilizer. -
The southern farmer owes a great
aeot TO commercial fertilizers, notwith-
standing that through ignorance or
tncughtiessness he has often misused
them to his financial loss. thus sun
plying material to thoughtless people
VINO sometimes rant against the use OF
commercial fertilizers. These should
be applied both to our sale crops ana
20 ieguminous plants. except where the
FERTILITY of the soil or the abundance of
stable manure makes their use I'M
necessary.
second-Mueh of the soil in South
Alabama and some OF that in east Ala
baSTsa Is distinctly acid, as may be PROV
ed by placing some of the moist soil
In contact with blue litmus paper II
the blue paper changes to a pink color
the soil is acid. I am endeavoring to
coitect information as to the amount
OF acid soil in Alabama and will send
Tree to any applicant who will promise
TO report result, enough paper to make
this test, with plain directions.
have found cotton and corn and cow
peas rather Indifferent towards lime.
but have found crimson clover respon-
siva TO lime as are many of the clovers
ana grasses. some of the small grain.
etc.
Third would suggest the follow
Ing as a practicable rotation for your
pondition:
First year-Cotton In which in Sep
fember Is sown inoeulated seed of Grim
son slower. burr clover or vetch.
Second year-Sorghum or soy beans
Or peanuts, or cowpeas planted after
the above legumes have been grazed
or cut
Third year-corn with cowpeas be-
tween.
Fourth year--Small grains, prefera-
bly, mixed with vetch and followed by
cowpeas
: rotation for q farm largely devoted 10
stock raising, but having one fourth Of
the land in cotton. On part of the
acres Tor sorghum you may substitute
peanuts, chufus, sweet potatoes, etc.
The poorer the land the greater is the
need to have as large a proportion as
possible in leguminous plants. For
tunately, all of the legumes mentioned
above make excellent food for hogs.
sheep, etc. I regret that our bulletin
on hairy vetch is exhausted. however.
send you copy Of Bulletin No. 100 on
the use OF cowpeas and velvet beans
as Ieruhzers. J. F. Duggar.
FertiiIzing Cotton After Growth Begins.
FARMER In the southern part of Ala
bama asks whether cotton seed meal
can be applied to cotton as late as June
Is. or whether he must obtain the
nitrogen for late application from
nitrate OF soda. Reply. Cotton seed
meal has been applied to cotton quite
effectively as late as the first half OF
June. Hence / think that you can
get nearly as good results from the use
Of cotton seed meal as from nitrate OF
soda, at that time The nitrate would
take effect more quickly and might be
more desirable II the start is late
About IS pounds Of nitrate Of soda will
Furnish the same amount OF nitrogen
Rs Ice pounds of cotton seed meal
while my preference would be slightly
IN favor Of nitrate of soda. yet should
not expect result to be very different
from the use OF cotton seed meal ap-
piled early. J. F. DugEar.
DraiRnse and TerraeinR.
Dear Editor.
have six mule upland farm. please
tell me how to circle It? How much fan
give my bitches? How to run the rows ?
Must I point them In to the bitches or
run with the bitches? My farm is of a
sandy nature and is badly broken