Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-12


secure a handsome dividend on the by
product of yard manure which this
practice renders available.
In conclusion. every farmer should
make an effort TO feed as large a num-
Der OF animals as possible. save and util-
ize with the greatest care every bit OF
the manure, and increase fits value by
feeding as much cotton-seed meal as he
possibly can.
PLANT FOOD REMOVED BY GER
TAIN CROPS,
@. H. N, Augusta. Ca. writes: How
much plant food is removed from an
acre OF land producing 1850 pounds OF
seed cotton? Also how much is re-
moved from an acre producing so
bushels OF corn? I am concerned to
know now much phosphoric acid, am
monia and potash viii be required to
replace the plant food taken up by the
crop. Do you approve or the William
son method OF planting corn?
A bale of cotton with the seed will
remove approximately 90 pounds of nj
trogen. pounds of phospnoric acid
and Is pounds potash. This. of course
does not include the plant food re-
quired to produce the stalk, Fifty
bushels OF corn with the stoyer will
remove from the soil approximately
rs pounds of nitrogen, 81 pounds OF
phosphoric acid and ~ pounds Of pot
ash. You understand, of course, that
the amount OF plant food removed by
the crop varies considerably with the
season and the vigor of growth. For
instance, II the stalks OF corn grow
unusually large in proportion TO the
yield Of grain. they will require more
plant food for their development than
would be the case where a moderate
sized stalk IS produced The same Is
true OF cotton. You should also remem-
Der that in supplying fertilizer to crops
you can hardly figure on more than
so 10 so per cent OF IL being re-
covered the first year under ordinary
methods OF farm practice. IT is pos
sible Of course, in exceptionally favor
able instances that as much as 40 per
cent will be secured, but this would be
the exception rather than TO the rule.
Moreover. owing to the small amount
of vegetable matter in our soils. the
tendency to- loss from teaching is ag-
gravated thereby. so the chances are
that the crop will not recover more
than half the phosphorus and potash
applied to the soil, except in those in
stances where a large amount OF veg
etable matter is present.
The Williamson method of cultivating
corn is not an Improvement from our
point of view from the ordinary meth
DDS of practice. The Williamson meth
cd requires the thorough preparation
of the land and heavy fertilization,
but with the same preparation or the
land. the incorporation of vegetable
matter and the high fertilization, the
chances are that the yield. secured
from ordinary methods of practice VIII
be quite as good as these from the
Williamson plan. OF course. II one mas
very sandy soil it is better to plant
corn Slightly below the level and throw
the earth TO IL.
utinxing Sorghum for silage In the
south.
r. H. B. Dancy, Alabama. writes:
DO you think sorghum is satisfactory
as a sflage crop this far south? l am
expecting to PUT up silo this SPRING
and would be glad TO get any inforina-
ton can as to varieties. time OF cut
ting. etc. Is silage made from sorghum
equal TO field corn for milk production
sorghum is a very satisfactory crop
to use for hlling the silo. 1t makes
a large yield. grows well even though
the weather conditions are not always
as favorable as they might be, and pro-
vides a paiatable form of food. It is
important to remember that sorghum
should not be cut for silage until itAfs
nearly matured; that is, until the seed
heads are virtually ripe. II cut; ear
Tier than this the chances are that II
will contain so much sap and moisture
as to cause the silage to sour Persons
cutting and handling it at the wrong
-
toned have become prjudicd against sor-
ghum when the fault was not with the
crop but due TO the method OF man
agement pursued. Personally. we would
prefer to plant corn and sorghum to-
gether for siiage. This may be done
by planting the sorghum as early as
danger of frost is past and putting in
the corn two to three weeks Iater.
Where this practice is followed the sof-
ghum should be planted in rows at least
six feet apart and the corn planted in
between, as indicated. A good variety
Of corn to use is Virginia Ensilage. and
an excellent variety of sorghum is the
Red Head. BY planting the corn later
than the sorghum. the two will mature
about lhe same time, but even II the
corn should become quite dry and ripe
before il is put in the silo, If mixed
with sorghum there is generally enough
juice in the latter crop to preserve both
perfectly. We find by combining the
two that we secure more satisfactory
yields and a more palatable form of sill
age than by using them separately.
We are feeding this combination ON the
college farm with most excellent results
and can recommend it as the most salts
factory for growth in the south. The
deep blowing of the land, the use OF
yard manures and heavy fertilization
are essential TO large crop yields. We
have raised as much as is tons of this
crop per acre on land that three years
ago would not produce FIVE tons.
VALUE OF A GIVEN GRADE OF
LIME 5k
T. s. y, Jefferson Ga. writes: ! am