Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-04


expected a large number will go to the
Springs Saturday to remain over Tues
day.
three pounds OF ground rice put in boil
ing water and boiled to a thin paste;
half pound of powdered Spanish whit
ing. and a pound of clear que. dissolved
in water; mix these well together, and
let the mixture stand for several days.
Keep the wash thus prepared in a ket-
tie or portable furnace, and when used
put it on as hot as possible, with either
painters or whitewash brushes
Bermuda grass will form a good sol
/ and If cut frequently will provide an
abundance of green feed. The idea Of
keeping ii closely cropped is to prevent
1t becoming too hard and woody, which
it tends to do as you have no doubt
observed. Millet may be used with
good advantage for the purpose you
have in mind, and if the season is at
all favorable, win grow after being cur
down. OF course, some of the legumes
may be used to provide green feed adj
vantageously during the summer sea-
son. If oats are sown early in the fall
they will answer well for that season
/ of the year. Some white clover or
crimson clover may be sowh on small
patches in the early autumn, and will
provide a good deal of picking during
the late fall, winter and early spring.
These varieties of clover are much cas-
Ter to establish than alfalfa and will
form a fair substitute for IL where
one only desires to supply green reed
for a limited number Of chickens
49,
INDICATIONS OF WILT DISEASE OR
BLACK ROOT.
b. T. A, Chipley, Ca, writes: have
eight acres Of cotton, one of which is af-
fected with some kind of disease. The
stalk withers up and dies, and cannot
seen anything that causes 1t. The field
was in corn and peas last year. The
trouble does not affect any other crop.
I send you some Of the leaves so you can
see what the trouble is.
Presumably, the trouble affecting your
cotton is what is known as black root
or wilt disease. This conclusion is
reached from the description contained in
your letter and not from the sample sent
which had become dried out in trans
portation through the mails, and was
so shattered as to make 1t of little SER
vice in Identifying the trouble.
Black root or wilt disease is due to a
! fungus which attacks the roots and stems
Of the plant, and by it's presence in the
water ducts cuts off the food supply. II
lives during the winter in the soil on
decaying cotton roots and also in the
form of spores on the cotton and in the
soil. 1t may be spread either by ami
mails carrying the spores on their feet or
| by running water, or by means of nipple
ments. When an infected acre occurs, as
on your farm, it is well to throw 1t out
OF cultivation for three or four years, or
better still, grow crops not affected by
the fungus. The disease can not be con-
trolled by any of the ordinary methods
of spraying or seed treatment before
planting. nor will fertilizers affect it.
The date of planting has little influence
but variety tests show that certain
strains of cotton are much more resistent
to the disease than others, hence Inn
mune strains such as Dillon. Dixie. Mo-
della and Grant are recommended for
i planting on infested areas The wilt dis
ease will be greatly reduced If crop ro-
tations are practiced. Where cowpeas are
grown the Iron variety should be used as
this is resistant to the ematode or root
gall, which by its presence in the soil
may upbraid the roots Of the cotton
plant, and thus let the spores which pro-
duce the disease enter the plant.
FIGHTING A DRoUTH PERIOD.
M. A. w, Commerce, Ca, writes. We
are in the midst OF dry spell Haven't
had any rain since the cotton was plant
ed though some OF 1t Is doing fairly
well. Will It pay to buy nitrate OF soda
and apply during the dry weather? The
cotton is about six inches high and
putting on squares. but am afraid they
i will drop off We have some which
/ Il. IL .
The drouth has been particularly ag-
gravating and distressing in some sec
lions OF the state. and in spite of the
] fact crops as a whole seem unusually
good In Georgia The only thing to do
In the case Of drouth such as we have
been experiencing is to continue shall
low surface cultivation with the utmost
persstency. This conserves what mois-
ure there is in the soil and helps the
plants to Withstand the effects of a
drouth. and in many instances even
stimulates a little growth. As long as
the plants are not destroyed by the
4 drouth, there is every reason to believe
that quick growth will ensue as soon as
rain falls. little nitrate of soda is
desirable. but heavy applications cannot
be expected to overcome the effects of
a drouth, and when the ground is very
/ ury tnee nitrate is not Nkely TO be OF
much service to the plants unless put in
ahead of the cultivator and turned into
the soil several inches. Cotton which is
not up is not likely to make a large
/ yield unless frost is unusually late in
/ falling, but 1t is probably inadvisable
to destroy the cotton for If rain falls
1t may terminate quickly and grow
with unusual rapidity. especially IL the
land is in good shape and the season
and the land could be used 10 better das-
vantage for the production OF hay crops
such as cowpeas, sorghum or soy beans.