The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-27

not be grazed too closely, nor Should
stock be allowed to run on the land when
1t is wet. The rye will furnish fine winter
grazing for all stock on the farm from
the chicken up to and including the
horse As to how much to SOW for each
animal, no rule can be given as 1t all
depends upon what kind of land and what
kind of treatment the crop is 10 receive,
AS this is a catch crop anyway, 1t Will
be well to SOW great abundance or sow
all land not otherwise engaged In the
growing of other crops. In the spring, II
the rye is not wanted 10 go to seed,
pillow under for green manure and plant
such other crops as may be wanted.
In the great potato growing sections
of Wisconsin the growers follow this o.
tation. Just as soon as the crop of po-
tatoes Is dug they SOW the land to rye,
which is soon showed under so that they
get but little benefit of the rye for win
ter pasture But In the spring they pas
ture the rye for a few wecAs, then take
the stock Off let the rye head olt and
when 1t is in bloom they turn 1t under
lime the soil then in few days after the
rye is turned under they plant potatoes
again.
In New Jersey the potato growers prac-
tice the same rotation except that many
growers use crimson clover instead OF
rye, but for sections where crimson clover
can be depended upon, I would recon-
stead of sowing it alone. as this would
give two chances for winter pasture in
stead of one.
A Good Plan.
Here is a good plan for every farmer to
practice in this rotation of >lons. First.
II he is going to plant corn or cotton. pre-
pare the soil by fertilizlng, blowing and
narrowing, keeping the soil free from
weeds and worked down very fine, using
only shallow and dust mulch cultiva-
tion for his crops. With this kind of cul-
tivation the soil will be in fine condition
for seeding In the corn, first, cowpeas,
drilled In between the rows, then In Au-
gust broadcast one bushel of rye and
fifteen to twenty pounds of crimson clover
per acre.
In the spring when the rye and clover
has been closely pastured off, plow under
when corn, cotton, potatoes or most any
other crop may be grown. Some fertilizer
may be needed In this rotation. This, of
course will depend upon the condition of
the soils. But the main thing is to get
as much organic matter worked into the
soil as possible. In addition to this 1t
/ would pay we'll to use top dressing on
! the rye and clover early In the spring.
just when the plants are starting Wig
orous growth, made up as follows: Nj
| trogen, 2 per cent available phosphoric
| acid, per cent; muriate of potash, per
cent.
This may be more potash than is need
. ed on some soils and on others not enough
phosphoric acid. Sandy soils need more
potash than do heavy clay soils. So
the farmer must exercise good judgment
| in these matters
I desire to keep this idea In the mind
of the reader, that in growing these win
! ter crops not only get an abundance
| of good feed for all our stock but at the
same time these winter crops are holding
our soils in place preventing washing
| and waste of plant foods and by so do
ing and shading the soil. leaves the
soil in a fine physical condition for the
| crops that are to follow.
Durum or Macaroni Wheat.
This class of wheats we might say Is
yet in an experimental state. For several
years the department of agriculture at
Washington. has been sending out sam
pies of this wheat to be grown in various
sections of this country, especially in the
smi-arid sections of the west 1 have
| been watching these experiments and
making a close study Of this wheat and
in my Investigations 1 get all sorts of
reports. The millers of our country as a
rule are opposing any further introduce
| ton of this wheat, especially for milling
purposes. However. in the face of ali
this, / believe that this wheat has
+, place and that 1t has come to stay. Farm
| ers in some of the southwestern states
grow as much as forty bushels per acre
of this wheat while our common wheats
/ had proven almost failure and many OF
these same farmers have sent me some
very fine samples of this wheat.
| While visiting the Colorado experiment
| station, l was shown fields of this wheat
| that were the most even in growth of any
wheats I ever saw anywhere; l believe
that am safe in saying that If a blanket
| had been spread out over these fields,
| that at least 80 per cent of the heads
would have touched the blanket. This
| makes a very even field of wheat.
| Farmers in the semi-arid regions re-
| port that it is even harder and that 1t
| will furnish more grazing than rye. Farm
| ers in the grain belt say that the straw
is too soft and that it lodges too badly
| to permit of its being grown for seed or
| grain in the rain belt. l have some fine
! samples grown near Quanah, Tex, this
| season. where there has been great
! excess of rain, yet the straw is bright,
| the heads we'll filled and the grower said
| that this was the only wheat that was
| not affected by rust. During the past two
| seasons of excessive rains in western
| Oklahoma and northern Texas this wheat
| has proven rust proof. AS to whether 1t
| can be made profitable for milling pur-
poses or whether or not 1t will ever make
| the expansion loaf, which the millers say
| 1t will never do, are not the questions
/ that l. am now ueallnS With out lne
| question Is of placing 1t in the list of
winter grains for grazing and for grain
| to grind to help make up balanced
ration for all stock.
| Summing up all that 1 have seen and
| heard of this wheat. I am led to con-
| clude that it can be made a great ac-
/ ouisition to our list of winter grazing
! crops. while in many sections 1t has
/ been grown almost entirely as a spring
| crop vet fully believe that in our south
| ern and southwestern states 1t will sue
/ coed as a winter crop and should be sown
4 in the fall for both pasture and Tor
| grain There are sections OF country IN
| the southwest where the corn crop Is
uncertain and in these sections THIS wheat
| has produced as high as forty bushels
| of grain per acre, so from feed stand
| point it seems to be all right for both
| grazing and grain.
| good plan would be for our readers
| to procure few bushels and try 1t on
1 your farms, and in this way you can
! know to certainty whether or not 1t
i will suit your conditions or requirements.
| But let me advise that If you should SOW
!, it be very careful not to let 1t become
mixed with other wheats or other grains.
Winter vetch.
This is another valuable winter plant
| that should be grown more extensive
| ly in our southern states Vetches are
sometimes called cowpeas. Vetch seed
may be grown with any of the winter
| grains mentioned and the combination
| makes fine hay as well as pasture. How
| ever, do not expect both hay and pasture
| from the same field IL pasture is wanted
| sow for pasture and If hay is wanted
| sow for hay Perhaps the best combina-
| ,ion for hay would be the winter oat or