Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-12-09

definitely established that bacteria are
intimately related to the lamentations
which take place in the soil. and with
out which plant food can not be trans
formed into q condition where plants
can utilize IL.
While the applications indicated
above are generally considered the most
desirable. they need not be made more
than once in three to five years, and II
one is so situated that he can only ap-
ply a moderate amount of lime, it is
better to put 500 or 1000 pounds rath-
er than use none at all. Lime will ben
eft our red clay lands in more ways
than one since it tends to set free pot
ash, an element often quite beneficial In
most Of our red clay land. An Excess
sive use OF lime. however. is to be de-
plored, and would prove as injurious
in the long run as a failure to use 1t
altogether. The first thing for you 20
do is to test your soil for acidity. This
may be done by purchasing soome blue
litmus paper at the drug store. Scrape
the surface Of the earth off to depth
of two inches; moisten with rain water
and place the ntmus paper in It. The
degree Of acidity may be determined in
soome measure by the quickness with
which the paper is changed from blue
to red.
GETTING READY FOR THE CROP
OF 1911.
J.. w. F., Grayson, Ca, writes: have
fifteen acres of second year new ground,
gray land, that want to plant in cotton
next year and want to know the very
best preparation of the SOIL, and what
kind Of fertilizer, and what kind OF
cotton seed to use.
II your land is comparatively level,
pillow it this fall, the sooner the better,
Break It deeply, not less than eight inch
es If it has a heavy stiff subsoil stir
ring IL Will be an advantage, but II 1t
contains q considerable amount OF sand.
this will hardly be necessary. The land
should be broken at least with two
horse turning plaw. A disk will answer
better IL there is any trash to bury. An
ordinary subsoiler or buli-tongue may be
used to stir I'D the subsoil il of the char
acter indicated above. A deep, open,
porous soil is essential to secure a good
yield of cotton. because the growth of
the plant Is determined largely by the
vigor and size OF the root development
secured. Secondly deep. open soil will
enable the absorption of the rain which
falls during the winter, thus providing
In a great majority Of the cotton fields
OF Georgia much fruit is set on and the
prospect for a yield is good as long as
the rainfall Is well distributed, but there
comes a dry time very often in August
when the water supply fails the plant
and shedding takes place with the re-
suit that the yield is cut down some
times twenty. per cent and often forty
per cent.
After you have plowed the land as in
dicated, leave it as rough as possible
during the winter. AS soon as you can
in the spring lay off in four foot rows,
blowing out a deep, wide furrow in
which you should distribute well-rotted
farmyard manure or rich compost at the
rate Of not less than two to four tons
per acre Ten days before planting mix
in this furrow fertilizer containing 3 per
cent of nitrogen, 10 per cent Of phos-
phorio acid and 4 per cent of potash at
the rate Of 800 pounds per acre. You can
make a second application of the fertil-
izer to the crop or use nitrate of soda
depending on the growth and the season.
There are many excellent varieties of
cotton, though we have found the Cook
as selected here at the college a good
strain TO use. 1t Is not so early as some
varieties, but this can not be said to be
serious objection at this time. though
in view of the approach of the boil
weevil, IL VIII be well to secure the earl
lest yielding varieties possible.