The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-03-31
THE PENSA

leeoS, opulLry preferring II to any
other green feed-they even eat the
ends of the green tendrfls or vines.
Horses must be fed very sparingly of
1t. as it viii cause them to bloat
readily.
The hay should be salted before
curing and putting in mows, as it is
then much more relished by all ami
mails. It is much to be preferred to
cowpeas from one point of view, as It
Is not subject to root knot. I have
frequently experienced considerable
trouble from this source.
Cowpeas can be sown broadcast as
light as three pecks to the acre with
splendid results. They are usually
planted in rows, very much as beans.
The hay should be cured in the same
manner as velvet beans, but II does
not require as much attention, as this
crop per acre Is much lighter in bulk
Velvet beans are usually sown in
rows about ten feet apart. I haJ e
found. however, that they cover tho
ground much more quickly II the rows
are sown one-half this distance, using
for this purpose a much heavier seed
ing, sowing one or one and one-half
bushels OF velvet bean seed to the
acre.
OF the different kinds OF cowpeas,
we place, first the Iron variety as
much to be preferred. A pure strait
of these. II carefully saved. are less
apt to produce root knot. In my ex-
perience, however, have found therl
subject to this disease, particularly II
planted on land which is already in
Gee
Among the native Florida grasses
suitable for forage the beggar-weel
stands foremost This, II cut at an
early stage before the seed is devel-
oped. will sprout up repeatedly from
the root and several crops can be cu4
similar to alfalfa I consider the hay
of beggar-weed in no way inferior to
the latter. 1t must be sown on we'd
prepared soil at the rate of Is to 20
pounds per acre.
Different varieties of millet and
Kaffir corn are also easily grown, and
IL carefully cured make very good fee
indeed. 1t is best in this humid
climate, however. to feed all hay with
in few months after 1t has been
stacked away, as there is much more
danger of hay, becoming musty than
in the more northern and temperate
countries.
1 find for soiling, the velvet bean Is
probably one which will add the great
est amount of nutritiIe matter to the
soil. It Is more free from diseases
and more rank In growth than any of
the other plants before named. Be-
fore blowing the velvet beans under
should it be desirable to use the land
shortly thereafter, it is best to cross
cut the entire field with sharp disc
harrow, leaving them to cure for
few days in this stage, and then pillow
the entire mass under with a turn
pillow. However, should it not be de-
sirable to farm the land for some four
or six weeks thereafter, they can, If
first planked down thoroughly to the
ground, be plowed under directly with
out the process Of discing, using u
heavy coulter on the plow for this pur-
pose.
It is claimed in the northern coun-
tries that leguminous plants will add
from "a to $40 in ammoniates to eacn
acre of soil, but 1 am under the i'm
preston, as our fertilizers are valued
much higher in this territory, that we
receive twice this amount, with even
better results from the velvet beans.
Another fact that must not be lost
sight Of in this connection is that these
leguminous crops benefit the soil di-
rectly by shading it during the pro-
tracted summer months, thus having "a
tendency to add to the soil a value
which cannot be computed by a chem
lists analysis.
Para grass will produce great guam
titles Of forage here also and makes
excellent hay.
A number of our northern weed
seeds seem to have acclimated them
selves to this country, and may he
used with great profit for soiling pur-
poses also. Among the latter are the
Spanish Needle, Rag Weed and various
other weeds
It is possible that we may be able
to acclimate some of the clovers and
alfalfa. Various favorable reports hal e
been made upon these useful legumin-
GUS plants. In all cases, 1t is best to
have the field thoroughly drained be-
fore attempting to grow them. since
they do not thrive in a sour or stag
nant soil. In seeding clover or b=ggar
weed. great care must be exercised not
to get the seed too deep in the ground.
Neither should the seed be sown when
the surface soil is exceptionally dry,
because under such conditions the
suns rays are apt to penetrate and de-
stroy the vitality of the seed before 1t
has q chance to sprout A very good
way is to first thoroughly prepare the
field and then SOW the seed directly az
ter heavy rain.
Often much can be gained by SOW
Ing these seeds directly between the
rows of vegetables at theis last work
ing. The land at that time is free Of
weeds and the growth of the young
plants is not apt to interfere with the
vegetables before they can be har-
vested. BY this method considerable
labor can be saved.
Should 1t be desired to save seed of
any kind, great care must be taken to
choose dry time of the season to pick
and cure them in, as otherwise the
vitality viii be impaired. Velvet beans
are best If picked right from the field
and cured in an airy, shady packing
house. Should they be infested with
weevil. as they are liable to be, the
seed. directly after being threshed out.
he v,1aoa1 n, lob