Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-26
PLANT FOOD REMovED BY VARIOUS CROPS.

The average cost of raising a crop OF
Ia bushels OF potatoes, including the seed,
blowing the land, narrowing, planting,
cultivating. digging. marketing. wear and
tear on the tools, and rental, is placed at
about SIS by Coburn. The cost of raising
l54 bushels is placed at $50 by the same
, authority. The land producing the 154
bushels per acre was rich river bottom,
and It is especially noteworthy that
though this land produced 80 bushels
more per acre the cost OF handling the
crop was only $ greater than on the
poorer soil. In other words, the cost Of
producing a small crop Of potatoes is very
much greater in proportion than 1t would
be where a large yield is obtained, a
point which IL more generally recognized,
would result in the use Of larger quanti-
ties OF fertilizers, for II has been demon
strated by many experiments that an in
crease OF more than 100 bushels per acre
may be obtained through the use of COM
mercial fertilizers. In fact, the writer is
cognizant Of soils which naturally would
not yield over Il to 10 bushels per acre
which have produced lis to 40 bushels
when fertilized with 100 pounds of high
grade goods. For instance. $40 pounds of
cotton seed meal. 500 pounds of acid phos-
phate and $50 pounds of potash would
give fertilizing analyzing approximate
~ 81 per cent Of nitrogen, 7.75 per cent
of phosporic acid and s per cent of pot
ash. The materials contained in a ton of
this mixture need not cost over $50 to $50.
Suppose on the rich land to which refer
ence has been made that 100 pounds OF
a $50 mixture is applied at a cost of SIS,
and an increase OF 100 bushels OF tubers
per acre obtained thereby. The sale price
Of 154 bushels at 30 cents a bushel would
be 81. which, less the cost OF production,
would leave a net balance of s47.O0 as
profit; G54 bushels at 90 cents would bring
a27. but the total cost in this instance
would be $4S which, OF course, includes
the fertilizer. leaving a profit OF 81 or
$50 OF additional profit per acre directly
attributable TO the use of commercial fer
tilizers. This example illustrates very
nicely the Importance OF rational fertili-
cation for the potato crop and shows how
commercial plant food may increase the
profits OF the farmer TO a material extent.
TREATMENT FOR A SICK COW.
c. A. D., Yatesville, Ca. writes: would
like to know what is the trouble with my
milk cow and what 1 must do for her.
Before calving she seemed in perfect con-
dition. and seemed to get along all right
for about a week. Then she seemed to
get weak and stagger about in walking;
sometimes the leaders of her hind legs
seem drawn. Her calf is about a month
old now. 1 have done all know to do
for her. but she gets no better.
The symptoms mentioned i'm your letter
are of such an indifferent character that
II is very difficult to decide whether your
COW is suffering from an attack of
paralysis or milk fever. The fact that
there Is a drawing OF the muscles of the
hind legs would indicate some evidence Of
paralysis. In that case II is best to rub
the muscles with a stimulating liniment
and nux vOmica could be given in doses
OF % drops two TO three times daily.
Whenever twitching OF the muscles oc-
ours, the medicine should be reduced or
better still. stopped altogether.
From some of the symptoms given in
your letter II would appear that your cow
had been suffering from an attack Of
milk fever. She is evidently, however, on
the road to recovery as this trouble kills
very quickly once they are attacked, I'M
less very prompt and efficient treatment
Is given. Under the circumstances It
would be well to give your COW a dose
Of "a to 1 pound OF EPSON salts as a
drench. Give laxative cooling foods for
some days. and IL you are giving cotton
seed meal and hulls or other heavy con-
centrate. stop feeding IL for say ten
days. Such green feed as she will eat,
and bran mashes made with boiling water
and a supply OF pure water are desirable.
Some tonic treatment will also be found
helpful. Jamaica ginger given once a day
In two-ounce doses is one OF the best
things you can give for this purpose.
AN UNDESIRABLE WEED.
b. c. s., Elberton, Ga, writes: / send
you a plant which / would like TO know
the name. 1t is interspersed with wild
clover, japan clover and lespedeza which
grows on the lot on which my COWS Craze
On very fertile spots the plant grows
luxuriantly. seeming to have overcome
the clover. The COW Is fed on cotton seed
meal and hulls with a sprinkle OF salt
and oat straw. The cows milk and but
ter and hens eggs all have a wild and
disa greeable taste. 10 you think It is
caused by the cows eating this plant or
something else?
The speciment sent In by you is one OF
the plantains, and though in bad condi-
ton when received. we judge IT to be
what is known as rib grass. black plan
tain, buckthorn. or lance-leaf plantain. 1t
goes by various other names as well. de-
pending on the locality in which it is