The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-10

ductive. than anything else that can
be applied and they cost SO little be-
yond labor that they are within the
reach Of every farmer.
Don't let the weeds grow on your
stubbles until they rob the soil of all
the moisture and fertility or smother
out the grass and clover which was
seeded with the grain. You cannot
grow a crop of weeds without robbing
your land and they give you nothing
back. AS soon as they have grown
tall enough TO cut with mower run
it over the field and let the weeds re-
main as a mulch. In this way they
Will be prevented seeding and the
making of the seed is when they in
jure the land most, and at the same
time you will be preventing the SOW
ing Of another crop of weeds to make
work for another year
The saving of the forage crops
should have alienation fast as they
become fit for making into hay or
feed. Do not let them become mature
before cutting them if you want them
for hay, as after the seed is formed
the greatest part of the food value
of the crop has gone into the seed
and the stalks and leaves are little
more than fbrous matter Of small
value as food. Of course, when cow
been planted mainly for grain crops
they must be allowed to mature the
seed sufficient to cure without Shriv-
elling, but even these should not be
allowed to stand until they become
dead ripe before cutting or much Of
the seed will be lost. Cure all of these
crons intended for hay as much as
possible in the shade. Let them wilt
we'll and then pull into windrows and
when they have dried sufficiently to
put into cocks put them up in this
way to cure out. Don't make the
cocks too large, but put them up full
in the center SO that they Will shed
the rain to the outside and keep them
marrow and tall. Sorghum is a
crop that cures slowly and should be
left broadcast several days thorough
ly wilt and then be set up in shocks
to cure out. 1t can rarely be sa
cured out as to pack away safely in
mould when stored away in this way
all winter.
all Winted. 4
August and September are the
best months in the year for seeding
grass and clover and east of the
Blue Ridge for seeding alfalfa. We
stantly growing interest which is
being manifested in these crops in
the South We receive more en-
quiries about them in week now
than we formedly received in a
year. It is undoubtedly true that no
country has ever become agriculture
ally and permanently prosperous
which neglected grass and clover.
They are natures means Of recuper-
ating and maintaining fertility in the
soil and they provide the natural food
for stock upon which they can be
<,l1 Ill
maturity and upon which they can be
made to give the best results. The
great secret of success in growing
these crops is deep and perfect prep
aration Of the soil before seeding and
the making of this soil sweet and rich
and in the South the seeding of the
grass and cloyer without a grain crop.
A grain crop in the South instead of
being a nurse crop for the grains and
grasses is a rObber crop and has cause
the loss of more stands of grass and
clover than any other cause. The
grain crops grow faster and take hold
of the fertility in the soil and espe-
cially of the moisture so much ahead
of the time w hen the grass and clover
are able to do SO that they stunt and
dwarf the growth of these and then
the early maturity of the grain in the
South causes it to have to be cut just
at the hottest season Of the year and
thus lays bare the stunted and weak
ened grass and clover to the blazing
hot sun which it is not able to stand
and the crop perishes. In cooler
moister climates the seeding of the
grasses and clover with grain is a
success but here it is most unwise
practice. If you wish to follow grain
with grass better seed the grain alone
and then soon as it is cut prepare
the land finely and seed the grass AMI
clover alone and you will get a stand
hen grass and clover is seeded alone
Continued on Page Two)