Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-29
CROP DIVERSIFICATION

one OF two crops are grown exclusively.
Only where a variety OF food products
for animals are raised can the business OF
stock farming be organized and conducted
along profitable lines. This is one OF the
most important reasons why crop diver
siication should be practiced on every
southern farm.
Now is the time to get ready for the
season of 1872. Let every farmer devise
q plan OF operation for next year and
stick to IL no matter what comes. DO
not be misled by the notion that the sea-
son OF 1912 may be very unfavoraole
and cotton again bring 10 cents. All
kinds OF statements calculated to mis-
lead the farmer will be circulated during
the planting season Remember, how
ever. that unless you are willing to cut
that you cannot expect your neighbor
to reduce his The spirit of co-opera-
ton among farmers has not developed
as rapidly and completely as II should.
The tendency to selfishness in crop grow
ing Is strongly marked. There IL a de-
sire on the part of many, in other words,
to have their neighbors cut down their
cotton acreage while they continue to
plant even a larger crop than usual.
There is no money in producing 16-cent
cotton II two-thirds of the returns re-
ceived from II have TO be sent else
where to buy products which can Bet
ter and more cheaply be raised at home
and of course, all farmers realize low
that with a relatively low price for cot
ton very serious mistake was made
in not diversifying more extensively in
the season Of 1911. AS a matter of fact
the south can only become prosperous
when our farmers regard cotton as a
surplus and not as their main crop, and
when thney come to understand that
heir time and effort must be directed o.
wards the problem of living OF the land
exclusive of what they may obtain from
cotton. II only small part Of the
ready money received for the cotton
crop could be saved each year, it would
do more to make the south financially
independent and to bring permanent
prosperity to the farmers than anything
else which can be done. This is a mat
ter that is entirely in the hands of the
| farmers themselves.
The facts set forth in this paper are
not new. They have been talked over
and discussed at thousands of farms IS
meetings. but somehow or other the
farmer has not taken these truths nome
with him and put them into pracI; e.
He realizes the Importance of crop di-
versiflcation. He knows fun we'll what
II means to him individually and to his
friends and neighbors. The lesson Of
| 1871 has been a bitter one Let us
hope that 1t has sunk in so deeply that
il will make a permanent and lasting
impression on the farm practice of the
south. not only for 1872 but for succeei-
ing years. and that we may develop
that measure Of crop diversification
which is to bring to our homes many
- g. -.
kets a variety OF food products which
have hitherto not been produced in he
south, and bring financial independence
to our farmers through making colt IN
in reality a surplus money crop.
HOW TO APPLY LIME TO LAND
A. B.. Augusta, Ca, writes: want
to. broadcast some lime on my farm
and wish to know how many pounds to
use the acre.
Where caustic lime is applied to the
land. 1t Is generally best to put on at
least one ton per acre. Ordinarily. the
ground should be plowed before the
lime is applied. The lime should then
be pulverized ~ grinding or handling
in any other Fay which will result in
its being reduced to a fine powder ana
distributed uniformly over the lana.
OF course, there are lime spreaders ana
these can be used to advantage where
the operation is to be carried on
large scale. Ordinarily the lime may
be put in the wagon bed and distrib-
uted by means of shovels throwing IL
always to windward as a protection to
the men handling IL and the animals
attached TO the wagon. We have dis
tributed a good deal of lime through
the use of manure spreader. The
machine should be run slowly and a
layer Of straw and trash put in the.
bottom to keep the lime from workins
through the Stats of the carrier ana
being distributed too rapidly Caustic
lime is of course more expensive than
the finely ground rock and more UNI
pleasant to apply because Of its biting
properties. II is the most active form
Of lime. however. and can be used to
advantage on soils which are in a bao
physical condition. 1t is best to put
IL on several weeks before planting a
crop. 1t is well. however. to plant a
crop on ii after its application ordl-
narily because 1T may set free plans
food which may be washed or leached
from the land unless there is a grow
ing crop 10 take II up. Where finely
ground rock is used the best results
viii follow on land that is well sup
piled with vegetable matter. At least
two tons per acre should be applied.
II may be applied in the fall for crops