Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-23

portanoe of turning under vegetable
matter, and so handling their lands as
to produce crops OF grain much in ex-
cess of what their fathers were content
ed with. 1t is said in the Bible that
"a little child shall lead them" and II
seems that the agricultural revolution
which is now spreading over Georgia
is to be promoted most completely by
the boys who are illustrating to their
sires the capabilities of our soil UNI
der efficient scientific management.
Break the land again as suggested in
your letter, and work it down thor
,oughly with a disk, and harrow until
fine seed bed has been secured. Then
open wide, deep burrows and put the
manure in. 1t would be all right to
broadcast it If you had two or three
times as much to use per acre, but we
think you will find it better to put it
under the drill row so 1t will hold moist
ure and conserve the fertilizer when
your land only contains a fair amount
of vegetable matter. You do not say
whether your soil is sandy or not. If
sandy plant the corn somewhat below
the SURFACE; If it is good clay and in
fine physical condition, you may plant
1t on the level Before planting apply
acid phosphate and murtate of potash
under the drill. These are mineral ele-
ments and will not be easily leached
out of the soil We believe it will also
pay you to apply so pounds of nitrate
Of soda, or better still, 100 pounds OF
cotton seed meal with the phosphorus
and potash. The FERTILIZER may be put
on at the time of planting the corn or
a few days previous thereto 1t should
be mixed with the soil If possible, and
kept away from direct contact with the
seed. The nitrogen should then be used
as a top dressing half 80 days ito six
weeks after planting and the balance
Just when the corn is islking and tas-
selling.
A GOOD FORMULA FOR IRISH Po-
TAToES
J. L. W., Ellijay, Ca, writes: What
fertilizer would you advise for the Irish
potato crop?
Irish potatoes should be well fertil-
lied with phosphorus and potash In
fact, a complete highfgrade fertilizer
will be found very satisfactory for this
crop. At least 500 to 1000 pounds per
acre should be used. and 1t may be APP
piled under the drill row at the time of
planting the potatoes. Potatoes do well
on a variety of soil, but of course give
their best results where the land Is fri
able and contains a cOISlueraDle amount
of organic matter. The organic matter
is valuable because it enables the soil
to hold moisture and keeps the soil
loose enough to permit the rapid growth
and development of the tubers Potatoes
give excellent results on landt on which
cowpeas and other legumes have been
grown and turned under. A very good
formula to use on the potato crop
would be a mixture Of 1000 pounds Of
high-grade acid phosphate. 200 pounds
of nitrate of soda or sulphate of am
monia, 500 pounds of high-grade cotton
seed meal and 200 pounds of sulphate
of muriate of potash. This formula
would analyze 81 per cent of phos-
phorus, ga per cent Of nitrogen and SO
per cent of potash. If the sulphate Of
ammonia were used the per cent of nj
trogen would be somewhat raised.
There is some difference of opinion as
to the advisability of using the muriAte
of potash in the production of the Irish
potato crop, 1T being contended that
there is a tendency for it to produce a
wet, slick potato as compared with the
dry, mealy one so desirable from the
viewpoint of the housewife While this
contention is not admitted by many in
vestigators, 1t is probably better to use
the sulphete If you can buy il at the
same relative cost.