Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-07-14

The severe drouth IN many sections OF
he state win materially cut down the
corn crop. thereby reducing not only the
supply Of rough feed but OF grain as well.
* Georgia farmers could save the money
aow sent out Of the state 10 buy hay
anu grain for their live stock. it would
amount In the course OF a year to many
millions OF dollars. There is no reason
why this should not be accomplished, ex-
cept for the fact that attention has been
centered too closely on the cotton crop.
In view 81 existing condition. il is i'm
portant THAI special attention be given
Immediately 10 planting crops which will
produce plenty of rough feed and in some
measure take the place Of a part of the
grain which has previously been fed
Judging from the correspondence COM
ing 10 hand many farmers believe that
the season is too far advanced TO plant
many OF the crops which could be utilized
for the purposes indicated TO excellent
advantage. On the college farm at Ath-
ems. COW peas were planted last year up
10 the first of August II is true that
some Of the earlier maturing varieties
were used among which may be men,
TONED the Warren's Extra Early. the
New Era and whippoorwill. Though the
months Of August and September were
unusually dry il Is surprising how very
considerable a development these peas
made. yielding an excellent quality of hay
and surprising amount of grain. They
were. of course. gathered before frost in
jured them ANY crop planted late in
the season makes a greater effort TO ma
ture seed than one planted earlier in the
season though one can frequently plant
crop 50 late as 10 accomplish but little
thereby
There Is a tendency to stop planting en-
ffrn1r- to a~4u H. 81 Of
our farmers As a result. they do not
have any leguminous crops 10 supply hay
for winter feeding nor any soluble to en-
rich the soil for the fall planting. When
hay costs 50 10 50 a ton. and one can
grow SIS to 50 worth on land which has
already produced crop. II is well worth
while 10 make an effort 20 do 50. Quite
a variety OF crops can be planted as late
as the 18th Of August in Georgia. and
viii make good hay. Reference has al
ready been made TO varieties OF COW
peas. and some Of the early maturing
varieties Of 500 beans may also be used
One Of the best is the Extra Early Black.
Both the COW peas and soy beans should
be sown with the grain drill so as TO COW
er them uniformly into the ground. This
is very important matter. as IL affects
the stand and determines the quantity OF
seed 10 use Cultivation can also be pur-
eAtu NHeEE the crop = pAdiALtu III AiAhS -
10 - inches apart. and this hastens de-
velopment especially IL the season be
somewhat dry
II Is important that the land be broken
for these crops. Many make the mis-
take Of trying 70 plant them on stubble
land which has not been turned. Occa-
si0naily a good season is secured in the
ground to produce a uniform stand. and
as resuf. good crop. but this is the
exception and not the rule. The thor
ough preparation OF the land is impor-
tant OF course. when one plants these
crops as late as has been indicated,
yields such as viii be obtained from early
planting are rarely II ever obtained. but
X Is easily possible to make a ton Of hay
per acre. which is worth al least $50. The
soil has also been improved by the roots,
stubble and fallen leaves to the extent OF
at least S. Late planting has therefore
been a fine investment. and il is for this
reason that its Importance is urged so
strongly upon our farmers Moreover.
where one can grow a crop OF legumes
and secure as much as ton per acre he
has obtained crop which will replace a
part OF the corn ordinarily fed. and in a
season when this crop promises TO be
rather short throughout the country and
unusually high in price. this is matter
Of the utmost importance OF course.
cowpea OF soy bean hay viii not take the
place OF corn altogether bu< where one
feeds a roughness rich in protein such as
this would be. the corn ration may be cut
down BY one-third or one-half. Surely,
this suggestion Is worth taking into seri-
Gus consideration and putting into prac-
tice as extensively and completely as pos
-fble in every part OF Georgia 1t means
the saving TO our farmers Of several mil
lion dollars
Another crop which can be used ad-
vantageousIy for late planting is German
mIilet- There are a great variety of mil
lets. but probably this Is one Of the
very hest 10 use. II will ordinarily ma
ture sufficiently for hay in about 50 days.
and may be sown broadcast or with a
grain drill. Planting with the grain drill
is very much to be preferred as il econ
oruizes seed and insures a much better
stand Mfllet is rather hardy crop and
viii grow where soil conditions are not
50 favorable as are required by cow
meas and soy beans However, it gives its
hest results where the land is fairly rich
and has been well fertilized- A good fer
tiIfzer 10 use on millet would be a, 1855
on sandy land and a So on clay land.
one should prepare a good seed bed.
This can not be emphasized too strongly
II Is better to break the ground and
harrow IL and wait two weeks 20 secure
a season rather Enan 10 Try ana hasten
planting BY seeding the crop before the
ground is ready TO insure its rapid and
complete termination MiIlet is not as
rich in feeding nutrients as the le-
cumes mentioned. but IL makes an excel
lent hay II cut just when in the earliest
dough stage II should not be fed in I'M
limited quantities TO horses as il some
times overstimulates the kidneys. but IL
led in combination with some other
roughness. il constitutes an excellent food
stun for live stock. and the farmer has
the advantage of producing il at the
cost Of the seed and a little labor. where
As. he would have to pay so a ton prob
ably for mixed western hay containing
40 more nutriment per ton than millet-
MfIlet may be combined also with soy
beans or cowpeas- Where this practice Is
followed the miIlet and peas should be
sown at the rate of one peck to one
5ushei Of mIIlet with from a bushel 10 a
bushel and a half OF peas or beans. IL
A-oadcasting is followed the heavier seed
* VIII be found necessary II the plant
ng = done with a grain drill. half the