The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette., 1910-10-29
PROGRESSIVE FARMER AND GAZETTE


WHICH EAR FOR sEED?-"With three ears
of corn on a stalk, which is best for seed, the top
or bottom one?" If the corn is inclined to grow
too tall and to make the ears away up the
stalks with a short top above them, the use of the
ear next the ground for seed will tend to reduce
the tall stature, and will be more inclined to make
an ear or ears above 1t. If the corn has already
a fairly good stature, and the ears come handy
and about halfway between the tassel and the
ground, then take the best ear on the stalk with
out regard to its position
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LIME AND PHOSPHATE.-"Would like to
have your advice as TO using lime and pulverized
phosphate rock at same time on cotton etc.? How
can | tell when lime is needed? In the first
place understand that lime Is not used as fer
tilizer but as means for sweetening acid soil,
promoting the formation OF nitrates from organic
decay in the soil, and having a mechanical effect
In making sandy land closer and sitter land more
porous The common test as to acidity is to take
a piece OF blue litmus paper that can be had at
any drugstore, and mosten some OF the soil and
place the litmus paper in II. II IL soon turns
pink, 1t shows aeidity. Lining may not altogeth-
er prevent this, but 1t will render the soil moro
nearly alkaline. But lining alone will never make
poor land rich. Ii 10 useful to lime occasionally
where farmer practices a good rotation and gets
humus into his land. But lime and phosphate
rock used together will be of no advantage. The
rock is the phosphate OF lime. and is In a very
nsouable state. and applied 10 poor land. or land
that 10 deficient In vegetable matter. IL will be a
good while before plants can use the phosphorus
It contains. But where growth of peas or pea
stubbe is plowed under. the humic acids develop
ed from the decaying vegetable matter will tend
to dissolve the phosphate. II will also act well
when mixed In stable manure at rate OF 100
pounds TO ton OF manure. AT the Ohio Station
IL found that 40 pounds added TO n ton OF
manure made a great Increase In the crop over
hat from n on of gta ma sri
need TO make more feed for stock and feed IL and
make manure. Then you can use lime about once
in six years, and can use pulyerized phosphate
rock to advantage with the manure.
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TALL MEADOW oAT GRASS am especial
ly interested in tall meadow oats grass. like
1t better than any other grass but not seem TO
get permanent field OF IT." This is one of the
best grasses for the South. Professor Phares in
grass that be had for the South. and that IL
will make twice much hay timothy. and for
summer soilng, II may be cut four Ave times.
1t is early grass. and associates well with
orchard grass thickening up the stand OF this
which 10 apt to grow in bunches. 1t should be
cut like orchard grass soon the heads are
out. On strong. moist bottom land II will last
five or six years. but on dry upland. 1t is not
lasting. / would always SOW II In mixture with
orchard grass and redtop and the second cutting
Will have the redtop In plenty Then when the
oats grass and redtop run out on dry soil the
orchard grass will still be good. The tall meadow
oats grass Is better suited to moist and strong
land. SO far as lasting is concerned. but II will
grow on thin land better than most grasses,
though not permanent In such a location