Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-07-20
Forage And Hay Crops.
BY MARTIN v. CALVIN.

not to say bumper, corn crop Is
delorous. The sections alluded to
are short of rain. The record at the
Georgia Experiment Station shows
an average rain fall for April, May
and June, 1910, of 3.65 inches; for
the corresponding months this year,
POP inches: That record is repre-
sentative of a number of sections in
this State and in neighboring States.
Providence so directs that crops
average up nicely, the world over.
Where a staple crop, like corn,
fails for lack of rain, extra efforts
must be put forth to provide as far
as possible supplementary crops. In
the presence of a prOtracted drought
such as is being experienced at this
writing, the pea-hay crop is purely
a contingency. 1t would be wise
therefore to begin right now to plant
a large acreage in the canes-Am-
Der, Orange and Link. # the soil
be broken carefully, stable manure
put in burrows and treated at checks
with half handful Of muriate Of
potash, covered, seed planted and
cultivated as corn, there will be a
crop of splendid forage within 30 to
70 days. At the expiration OF ~
days from the date the seed are
dropped into the ground, the seed
tufts will be laden with grain in the
dough state. Unless one wishes
both forage and grain, he may get
two cuttings; the first a heavy crop;
the second very good in quantity,
excellent in quality. Where forage
is sought, cut just before the cane
begins to head. Do not, in any
event, cut to feed until vegetable
wax appears on the stalks. Up to
that time, the cane is green and
unfit for food for stock Of any kind.
I have uniformly followed the
plan of making the rows 4 to 4 IL
feet apart and checking 2 ~ feet.
One can plant at each check as
many seed as he can take UP with
thumb and second finger. Usually,
that will give eight stalks to each
hill or check. The stalks will be
good average size. That plan re-
ouires some care and a little extra
work, but it will pay. The system,
rather the subterfuge, of drilling the
seed will not give returns the plants
stand ready and willing to make if
permitted half a chance.
There are many men who will
take a track the very opposite of
any suggestion made on any subject
or plan. They do not relish a
good idea that does not originate in
their own brain. They unWittingly
belong to the Opposition" and that
without sound reason. If some new
aud valuable plant be named as
worthy of a trial, they instantly ex-
claim, "Oh, that's no good. have
tried a lot of those new things in
the fence corners or between the
ditch and the fence. and they came
to naught just as | knew they would"
That is a habit akin to the habit,
which grows like nut-grass, of never
recognizing any good in any man or
woman or plan; of never saying a
kindly thing of person or plan. For
tunately, the name of these unfor-
Inmates is not Legion, but there are
too many of them for their collect
i've and individual good.
was born and reared a Demo-
crat. AS a small boy, it was my
great good fortune to come along
when public men discussed public
questions in a manner that was
educative to the people | recall a
distinguished gentleman of the OPP
posite political faith which was born
in me. He was wondrous orator.
He was eloquent and powerful on
the hastings. 1t was more than my
boyish mind could take in that this
gentleman, so useful to his party and
so prominent in its councils, was
never elected to Office. Years after
ward | learned the secret which
shut him out. He had early &C
quired the habit of thrusting a