Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-08
THE RAISING OF HOGS AS A MONEY CROP

grazing system with economy and adj
vantage to the farmer
USING LIME ON LAND INTENDED
FOR ALFALFA.
C. II. D.. Sonesboro, Ga, writes: When
is the best time TO lime land intended
for alfalfa. have put manure in a,
the rate OF 40 tons to the acre. and in
tend to dynamite later. I intend to
keep the ground thoroughly plowed and
clean Of weeds until September, ana
then sow. 1 know the expense I am
putting into this piece of land is NOT
practical. but want to see if 1t viii
respond TO my extra preparation.
1t would be best to apply the lime
in the fall, though IL you expect to keep
the land clean all summer and free
from a crop, you could put 1t on any
time within the next few weeks. As
to dynamiting, that should probably al
ways be done in the fall OF the year.
Heavy rains are beginning to fall now
and the chances are that an attempt
to break up the soil by means of dyna-
mite win tend to puddle it. For our
selves. we would prefer to do dynamite
ing anytime after October /. especially
IL August and September have been
surprised to know that in boring holes
on the college farm to the depth of
three and a half feet in the late au-
tumn, three to four months after any
rain to speak of had fallen on the land,
that depth. This will show you how
we found the red clay soil quite wet al
important IL is to dynamite at sea-
son OF the year when the ground is
reasonably dry. One can, Of course,
apply lime as top dressing to a crop
OF alfalfa and this might not be bad
practice in your case. 1t would be pet
ter. of course, to use the carbonate OF
lime or the finely ground limestone
rock 1t would be preferable to ALLOW.
saw 80 days to elapse between an ap-
plieation Of fertilizers and the april
cation OF lime. A longer perior would
be even more desirable. The cost en-
tailed in the establishment of your al
falfa patch is. of course, very heavy.
So much so in fact that unless you Sc
cure a perfect stand. and can MAINTAIN
IL for a series of years, it will prove
a Costly experiment Where one can
obtain three or four cuttings Of alfalfa
in a year and secure a half TO one ton
OF cured hay per acre, he can soon Sc
cure a dividend even on an unusually
heavy investment since the hay VIII
readily sell for $4,000 to $4,000 ton.
VALUE OF A GIVEN LIMESTONE
DEPOSIT.
G.. r. l., Fort Gaines, Ga, writes: L
have on my land some hmstock rock
which analyzes 1921 per cent carbonate
az lime. IT occurs to me that this
would be an ideal limestone. being easi-
ly crushed. What is your opinion OF
this and how should it be used2
Iimestock rock that contains IS per
cent of carbonate Of lime would rank
az a very high-grade source of this ma
terial. and you are exceedingly fortunate
II you have deposit OF any cohsideraole
quantity for undoubtedly Snis material
will be of service in improving the con-
dItion OF the soils in your section OF
the state mechanically correcting acidi-
~, favoring certain biological develop
ments necessary TO plant life, and pos
sfbly supply ing some of them with the
element calcium in which they are like
Ky to be deficient. We have not had an
opportunity to make an examination OF
many soils from your section OF the
state, but some that have been secured
indicate that as a rule these lands are
low in lime. A normal soil should con-
tain about $4,000 pounds of lime per
acre foot. but many south Georgia soils
do not contain over 500 or 1000 pounds.
You VIII see. therefore. that applica-
tons of lime should prove highly bene-
fetal on these soils. There are several
methods of using lime. Where soils are
in very bad physical condition the
caustic or quick lime can often be used
with advantage. This would be obtain
ed by burning lime rock such as you
have. ton OF this material applied
to an acre once in three to five years
would be sufficient. This form of lime,
however. tends 10 destroy the vegeta-
BILE matter and nitrogen In the soil and
had best not be used on lands where
crop rotations are being practiced and
green crops or yard manure nused as the
source OF vegetable matter. IN that
case. two tons of the finely ground
rock would be the proper application
make. OF course. the finely ground
rock has not the same sweetening power
as the caustic lime nor is 1t as active
hence a heavier application must be
made. and IT would be remembered
that in using the raw rock the fineness
of the division OF the particles is a very
important consideration. Only the bes,
grinding machinery should, therefore,
be used for this purpose
PRACTIcABILITY OF GROWING AL
FALFA.
W. E. W, Buford. Ga, writes: have
only lived in Georgia since January of
this year, and $50 a ton for hay makes
me want TO experiment with alfalfa,
and would thank you to tell me how to
proceed. How to prepare the ground and
the time OF planting and fertilizing.
Alfalfa has not been extensively cult
waited in Georgia up TO this time. II may
be grown with some success on certain
limestone sections which are not, how
ever. extensive in area. Off OF these
lands the establishment of alfalfa will
be somewhat difficult and will call for
the application OF liberal amounts of fer
tilizer and thorough preparation of the
soil which most people are not willing
TO undertake. The land you intend for
alfalfa should be sown in velvet beans
Immediately. Put them in drills four
feet apart and plant from one TO two
pecks per acre. Plow the beans under
in the fall, say about the middle of Sep
TENDER. turning them under as deeply
as possible. You should also subsoil the
land at the same time. Then apply at
least two tons OF finely ground limestone
rock rich in carbonate of lime. Put on