Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-10-21


ence in its soil in an available form of
what are now regarded as the essential
elements OF plant growth-nitrogen.
phOsphoric acid and potash. How has
this condition arisen. and why is it more
essential that the south should use fer
tillzers than other sections? Is 1t true
that the virgin soils of the south were
impoverished, as some seem TO conclude?
Undoubtedly, there are some areas or
land which were never naturally very
rich. and there are many sections which
probably would not compare favoraoly
in native fertility with the rich black
lands Of the Mississippi valley. But it is
a mistake to conclude that all the soils
of the south we're poor. or that it is
necessary to always anticipate the use
of commercial fertilizers as the chief
means of stimulating crop production.
The most intelligent manufacturers OF
commercial fertilizers have long since
discovered that they will secure bet
ter results from the use of their form
ulas on soils containing an abundance
OF vegetable matter. and which have
been so cultivated as to stimulate the
activities of the various soil bacteria
without the cooperation of which large
Yields can not be secured. Land to re-
spond we'll to commercial fertilizers must
be in ideal physical condition.
LINING LAND FOR SMALL GRAIN.
". c. w. Lagrange, Ga. writes:
Would YOU recommend lining land that
made 20 bushels of corn per acre? The
land is in fine tilth with very good
crop Of pea vines. I want to seed TO
vetch and small grain. What do you
know OF beardless barley? I also have
five acres in corn that I want to put IN
cotton next year. VIII seed to rye and
crimson clover. one acre of this land
has about 5000 plants on II from which
I expect to take 20 or more bushels OF
corn. All stalks with fodder will be lert
on the land. Will lime do 1t any good?
The mechanical condition Of the land Is
ideal so far as I can judge. Have seen
LOO pounds Of lint grow on an acre ana
am satisfied half of it rotted on the
stalk. I have been blowing deep for
q years. but my neighbors say l have
ruined my land. ! want TO make rour
bales to the acre as 1 believe il can be
done.
Lining land occasionally is not obiec-
tionable, but is good practice. on the
other hand, frequent lining would prove
disastrous, as lime eats up the vegetable
matter in the soil and helps TO set free
the phosphates. and particularly the pot
ash, and hence IT may be made the
means OF reducing the fertility of the
soil at a ratio out OF all proportion to
the actual needs OF farm crops.
When one gathers so bushels of corn
ner acre the land must be In fairly good
physical condition and well handled and
fortified. and unless there Is some rea-
son with which we are not familiar at
this time. IL hardly seems necessary
that lining be practiced on this soil.
BeardIess barley has not proven great
success with us. but we have grown the
bearded sort with good advantage. In
fact. a strain of winter barley for the
south was originated at the Tennessee
Experiment Station under the writer's
direction. and this has been extensively
cultivated with great success. II certain
" makes an excellent pasture and a
good hay IL cut before fully headed out.
II is certainly equal II not superior to
timothy hay in feeding value. and can
be grown with vetch to advantage. IL is
ready to harvest two weeks before other
winter grown cereals. This. as you will
see. is an advantage as II enables the
ground to be put back to peas for hay
or forage. II takes good, rich land to
secure a satisfactory yield OF barley.
BY all means grow as many legumes
on your land as possible. Crimson clover
II put in early where the land is well
prepared should prove helpful. though
YOU can not let ID remain on the land
long enough in the spring to make much
growth il you desire to prepare the land
for cotton. A yield of 70 bushels OF corn
per acre is certainly encouraging. II
shows what can be done where the land
is properly cared for and fertiliZed. II
you are going to leave the stalks on the
land by all means turn them under. but
do not burn them. as they will add to
the supply of humus and improve the
mechanical condition of your land and 1t
will be i'm better condition next year to
resist drouth. IL would seem on the
average farm as IL corn stalks could
be harvested and fed with advantage to
live stock during the winter and the litter
put back on the land in the form of yard
manure.
II is hard to say what was the trouble
with the crop OF cotton TO which you re-
fer. The rotting of the bolls would indi-