Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-03


practiced. but probably these dates are
the best to suggest in the way of gen
eral direction. On land that is rich ana
friable and well fertilized, the open fur
row method OF seeding OF oats and bar
ley is not necessary. but where the soil
is not in prime condition, the open fur
row method should undoubtedly be fol-
lowed. II will OF necessity have to be
used on all cotton land. Rye and wheat
need not be seeded by the open furrow
method. These cereals are harder than
the first mentioned and are seldom de-
stroyed by freezing When oats and
barley are sown even on rich land, it
Is generally best to use a disk drill and
70 leave as wide a furrow as possible so
that as the freezes come and the crop
Is heaved out OF the ground, the earth
may crumble in around the roots and
thus protect them. Where one uses the
open furrow method he can be virtually
sure OF carrying the crop through the
winter successfully. BY any other meth
cd OF feeding with which the writer Is
familiar more or less risk is taken.
AS TO the crops which may be planted
for winter cover, several have already
been mentioned. For thin. poor land
there is nothing better than rye. 1t is
hardy, vigorous growing crop, stands
rough treatment and more grazing prob
ably than any OF the other cereals. It
has the advantage OF developing early in
the spring when green feed is hard 10
obtain. II also makes a good yield of
grain. Wheat will grow on soil Of a
grade better than that to which rye is
adapted 1t viii make a fair yield on
land. however, not rich enough to secure
the best results with oats and barley.
From this it should not be concluded
that any soil win do for rye OF wheat,
for the more fertile the land the larger
the crops secured. To plant any crop
on poor, miserable piece OF soil that
has been improperly prepared and fer
tilized is suicidal policy. In fact, it
has been done so much by southern
farmers that they have frequently con-
cluded that the south is not well adapted
for the production of these crops when
the fault is altogether due to other
causes. Oats and barley require richer
soil and better care than the other
cereals mentioned, but when given con-
ditions to their liking they will produce
an abundant yield. Winter barley pro-
vides excellent grazing: in fact. its herb
age IS probably more luxuriant and pala-
table than that of any of the other
cereals, but IL Is more dif7cult to es-
tablish and cultivate successfully. Its
yield Of grain on rich land, however,
viii equal or surpass that OF winter oats.
On account OF its value for grazing this
crop should be grown on small patches
OF land In the vicinity Of every barn
lot so that some green feed may be had
during the winter for horses and cows.
II Win DO more TO keep these animals
In good condition than the expenditure
OF much money for medicine
Other crops which may be used for
grazing purposes with advantage are
Dwarf Essex rape This may be sown in
October or November, depending upon
the locality. II makes good pasture for
hogs and is fine for poultry. providing
them with green feed during the greater
part OF the winter. Peultrymen probably
DO not realize fully the virtues of this
plant or small patches of il would be
cultivated in some one of their runs
where the chickens might readily have
access TO II during the winter season.
This plant Is tough and hardy quite as
much so as collards or cabbage. and
grows vigorously on land that has been
at all prepared. Like all the crops men
toned IL requires to be literally fortified.
and as matter of fact. none of them
should be planted on land where the
owner is not willing to apply from 800
70 500 pounds OF high grade fertilizer at
the time of seeding.
Another excellent r.rou for winter
growth Is crimson clover. II is best seed
ed by itself on rich land. using u to is
pounds OF seed per acre. II may be sown
any time during October. Being a le-
gume the soil should be well fortified
with PHOSPHORUS and potash. This crop
viii not grow well on poor thin land. but
when given proper conditions makes an
abundant yield of nutritious hay, and is
one OF the best winter cover crops
available for enriching the soil for sue
ceding crops OF corn and cotton. II has
been shown that II will gather as much
nitrogen per acre as any Of the other
legumes. 1t is regarded by many as a
delicate plant and difficult TO establish
When compared with rye. these state
ments are true. but il has so many vir-
tues which rye does not possess that
one can well afford TO take the time and
effort TO prepare a piece OF land capable
OF growing this very excellent crop: We
have often sown crimson clover at the
rate Of eight pounds per acre in mixtures
OF rye OF oats and thus secured a better
bottom and given variety and greater
value to the hay. Where intensive farm
ticed. It is necessary to give crimson
clover place in the rotation.
One other crop worthy of mention is
the vetch. This crop is not as extensively
grown as IL should be. The hairy vetch
Is tough and hardy and adapted for
growth throughout the Piedmont section.
The Oregon vetch will give good results