Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-31

ture and sow red or alsike clover, or
alfalfa about the first OF Octooer II
Won decide to SOW alfalfa it would be
we'll to lime Ine land at the rate of one
ton per acre, using caustic lime for this
purpose. At least 20 pounds or good
clean alfalfa seed should be used, and
not less than Is pounds of the other va
rieties. These crops are best seeded by
themselves, Judging from our exper-
fence. They should be lightly covered
with brush harrow, and If the sea-
son is at all favorable will make suffi-
cient growth before cold weather to
withstand the freezes of winter. Linn
ing is an important matter where one
attempts to grow clover, especially on
soil containing as low percent of this
material as much of our Georgia land.
Incorporating vegetable matter into the
soil is essential where one hopes 10 Sc
cure a good stand of clover. Liberal
fertilization must always be practiced
with these crops.
GROWING COTTON ON TOBACCO
LANDS.
w. L. NJ, CIito, Ca, writes: I have
recently bought some tobacco lands in
southwest Georgia, on which l Intend to
grow cotton. Cotton is produced to some
land produces the finest weed l ever
saw, but the majority of the fruit falls
off. The country is billy and the soil has
great deal of red clay. The land pro-
duces wonderfvi crops of sugar cane and
does well with tobacco but fails with cot
ton. / would like your suggestions as to
what the land needs in the way Of fer
tilizer.
From the description contained in your
letter we would judge that your land Is
deficient in available phosphoric acid
which accounts in some measure for the
shedding of the bolls and the failure OF
the cotton to mature a satisfactory crop.
AS a matter of fact, practically all the
soil in Georgia is deficient in available
pbosphoric acid, yet it is one of the most
essential of all the elements of fertility
since 1t is concerned in the formation Of
the seed of the plant and has much to
do with Fastening maturity. 1t has been
shown by repeated experiments that the
time of maturity of a crop of cotton may
be advanced considerably through the use
OF liberal amounts of acid phosphate: also
that in many places where there is a
vigorous growth Of weed and light fruit
ing, such as you complain of, acid phos-
phate has proven highly beneficial. The
Importance of using phosphates under the
conditions described in your letter is evil
denced by the fact that the lint is the
product after all of the seed, and unless
the seed is properly nourished and ma
lures rapidly, a plentiful supply of lint
can hardly be anticipated. 1t Is posi-
BILE, of course, that your cotton fields
may be affected by some disease which
attacks the hollis, or that there is some
local cause for the trouble. 1t would
seem as though something of this kind
must exert an influences or sugar cane
and tobacco would hardly give you as
good results as you state for these crops
make heavy drafts on the phosphoric
acid in the soil. 1t is quite possible, how
ever, that your planters have been using
a larger proportion Of phosphates on
cane and tobacco than they used under
cotton. 1 would suggest that you try
this year very liberal fertilization with
phosphates, while not neglecting the use
OF potash. Suppose on this land you try
the equivalent of the available phosphor-
ic acid contained in 500 pounds of 16 per
cent acid phosphate. As an experiment