Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-29

one is so situated that they cannot use
tile. good results for several years may
be secured. by constructing a V-shaped
trough from heavy planks. The trough
should be kept from spreading when the
earth is filled in by slaves along the
lower side. The earth may then be filed
in on top. II there are stones and other
trash which can be put in above the
boards so much the better as 1t will
make the operation of the drain more eff
hcient. Three poles may sometimes be
used as a temporary drain with fairly
good results, but we consider the trough
better. Owing to the price of lumber at
this time and the temporary nature of
draining after this method, the tile will
be found much cheaper in the long run.
Undoubtedly, it is good practice to mix
underground raw phosphate rock with
stable manure as 1t is made. 1t should
be applied to the manure at the rate of
40 to 60 pounds per ton, small amount
being scattered in the stable each day.
AS the raw rock contains no acid 1t will
not in any way injure the feet of the
animals. Mixing 1t with organic matter
and the fermentation and decay which
takes place so rapidly in farmyard ma
nure tend to set free a considerable por-
ton of it. OF course, it will probably
be inadvisable to rely on it as the ex-
elusive source of phosphoric acid save
under soils exceptionally rich in vegeta-
BILE matter and to which it has been ap-
piled for several years.
THE FEEDING VALUE OF LEsPE-
DEZA.
F. P. S., Germantown, Tenn. writes:
I would like to know the feeding value
Of lespedezs as compared with timo-
thy, pea hay, red clover and alfalfa.
The composition of Japan clover is
about as follows: Water IL per cent, ash
S5 per cent, protein 1873 per cent, crude
fiber "a per cent, nitrogen free extract
80 per cent, and ether extract 81 per
cent A large number of analyses of this
plant do not seem to have been made,
nor can I find any record of specific
digestion experiment with 1t. According
to the analysis, however, it contains
nearly as much protein and nitrogen free
extract as alfalfa and some more fat
1t contains somewhat more protein than
red clover, and about the same per cent
of nitrogen free extract and ether eX-
tract or fat. A large number of analyses
of timothy hay indicate that it contains
only about SO per cent of protein, 40
per cent nitrogen free extract and 20
per cent of fat. You will thus see that
Japan clover is much richer in pro-
tein than timothy,5 AS a digestion ex-
pertinent with Japan clover does not
seem to be available, we can only judge
of It's value by analogy. AS it is a rather
small, fine-growing plant and does not
contain a large amount of coarse stems.
1t Is natural to conclude that 1t would
be eaten up rather completely and d.
gested with a high degree of efficiency.
This being true 1t should produce a hay
which compares very favorably in feed
ing value with red and alsike clover or
alfalfa OF course, 1t does not produce
hay except in some limited localities,
where conditions are peculiarly favorable
to its vigorous development. 1t does,
however, constitute a most excellent adj
dition to summer pastures throughout
the south, and is an admirable plant for
the Improvement of the soil and the re-
claiming of much waste land which is
now not utilized for grazing, but is bet