The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-19
AGRICULTURE.
SEASoNABLE HINTS.

SEASONABLE HINTS.
The time for sowing grass and clover
seed in the southern states is right at
hand, and ) passing rapidly away. Most
of our readers live in sections where
these seed can be sown during October,
and even as late as November, However,
as rule, October is the best month for
seeding in Alabama, Mississippi and states
south of these states.
We have before given a list of the
grasses and clovers best suited for win
ter in the southern states, and also have
! from time to time urged upon our read
ers the Importance of having their soils
, in good condition and making early SOW
ings Why a farmer wlll live on his
farm and net have plenty of grass for his
stock is y mystery. During the sum
/ mer and fail months there is usually a
good supply of fine wild grass. Stock
feed on tn s. become fat, and go into
winter usually In good condition. Many
farmers fan to prepare feed or pasture
for winter, so by spring the stock are
reduced to poverty and practical worth
lessness. This is the poorest kind OF
economy; simply financial suicide. II is
the poorest kind of n farmer that VIII al
low his stock to become fat on natures
gift the wild grass, in the summer, and
all the flesh gained in the summer.
The condition of the stock in any COM
munity is an indication or the KIND OF
farmers there are In that section, Show
me a country where there Is fine stock
kept In fine condition, and will show you
good, thrifty, wide awake, up-to ate
scientific farmers. On the other hand
when we see In u section OF country poor,
serubby, hungry stock, we can rest as
sured that there Is a very poor class OF
farmers In that section, and that In not
all, such cArmers as a rule are usually
pretty poor { items. Our soils and climate
will permit OF the growing of too great
variety IF grasses and clovers and for
age plants c allow our stock to become
| poor in the winter.
| Japan Glover.
| | wish here to mention again this won
derful little clover, which has come To
| help our farmers build up their soils. In
| travelling over the country | find TINS
clover growing on the very poorest OF
coils. 1t have spread over many parts
of Missouri and Arkansas, and Is to be
found as far west as Oklahoma. rms
clover IL a sell renovator and n soil build-
err and besides furnishes fine food for the
stock 1t makes fine hay. | found one
farmer In Missouri who Is growing 1t for
hay, and he cut one and one.half tons per
acre from Il the first summer. This farm
er says 1t makes the finest of hay where
IL is left alone for a few years 1t Will en-
rich the SOL 50 that II will grow up large
enough for making hay. Now our farm
ers who have old, poor rundown Soils
have a bonanza in this fine soil builder
but farmers should not sit and wait Tor
nature to 10 all the work. They should
procure ana SOW seed OF this clover at
once. The ltauty of 1t Is, that they can
SOW 1t on the poorest of soils without
~ eli III
soon fertllize the soil Itself. Sow about
fifteen pounds per acre.
1t may be well TO SOW about half a
bushel of winter rye per acre with the
clover seed Sown this way the rye VII,
give pasture during the late winter and
early spring, and after the rye IL gone
then the clover is ready for grazing. There
is time yet for preparing the soil and
sowing this clover and for pasture. but
II should be looked after at once There
il always Just sone right time for doing
things and this In the right time. and
because tn 'se matters are often neglected
and left off until too late, Is the reason
why so many fail. This is especially true
as regards farm operations. Then when
the farmer fails with his crops, no
charges the soil or the climate with the
failure, and is ready with doleful tale
to tell all newcomers into his section that
his Is no grass country. that clovers and
RfdsbtH run1OL De BIOnI. lu'lt dio
clovers and grasses suited for all soils,
and it only remains for farmers to find
out which are best for their sections. The
farmer who has worn-out red clay soil,
need not fear to SOW japan clover.
The Dairy Cow.
The season is fast approaching when
the dairy cow Is going TO need more feed
and better attention. VIII she get these?
Is the question. The season is here when
the butter fat Is going to advance in
price, and will soon reach the top mar
ket. | wonder how many OF our readers.
after all that has been written on this
subject have had forethoueht enough to
provide winter pasturage and an abund-
ance of forage so ms to be able to produce
butter fat cheap. The winter months are
the most profitable, or should be made so,
, for dairying In the southern states.
Last summer, 1905, | knew farmers who
MIXED cows and sold butter fat from 10
to 20 cents per pound, but when winter ap-
preached and butter fat got up to %
cents per pound they turned the cows
dry and said 1t was too mucn trouble to
milk and feed cows in the winter. This
really in the season when the farmer has
more time to look after the dairy indus
try He Is not troubled with files his
Ice bills are not so large. and II he has
been wise in preparing winter pasture and
plenty OF hay, he can carry on the bust
ness at much greater profit in the win
ter than he can in the summer. Another
very important matter about the dairy
business is that the farmer who Is selling
cotton, grain and hay from his farm is
selling the fertility Of his farm and lots
of hard labor, while the farmer who sells
butter fat is selling sunshine. Here Is the
difference between the cotton farmers.
the grain farmers and the dairy farmers.
Another difference is that the dairy farm
err leaves his family a better farm than
he got, while the cotton and grain farner
never does.
Now is the time to get all barns and