Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-28

is particularly true OF rye II The crops
are left to make a greater growth, the
chances are that they will sap the mois-
ture from the ground and it will break
up lump and in had physical condition.
Occasionally, rains Will prevent the
time. and IL the ground should break up
In bad condition, there is nothing to DO
except wait until sufficient rain does fan
TO enable surface working implements
TO put il in proper mechanical condition
for seeding. Cowpeas, velvet beans ana
other legumes should not be plowed un-
der until they are in good condition for
hay making; that is, when the lower
leaves are beginning TO turn yellow ana
the tips of the pods presenting the same
color.
All green crops should be plowed un-
der deeply. Nothing less than a two
horse pillow should be used for this pur-
pose. A disk or deep filling implement
will be better. and If three horses or
mules are used the work can be done
mere satisfactory. There is absolutely
nothing in the contention that green
manureS viii sour the land If the work
is done at the proper time. It is true
that they might be plowed under when
in a very green sappy condition and
cause some undesirable fermentation.
but this would not provide a satisfac-
tory reason for neglecting soil improve
ment through the use Of green manures.
In conclusion, green manures may be
made the means of providing the greater
part OF the nitrogen needed by farm
crops They form a cheap and efficient
source from which TO obtain humus in
sections where livestock farming is at
q low ebb. They provide the soil with
materials which produce fermentation
and thus renew the activity of friendly
bacteria without the aid of which plant
food can not be digested and brought
into condition for use by growing crops.
They changes the whole physical char
acter of the soil. making IT friable, Civ
ing depth and porosity, ease of cultiva-
ton. and an increased ability to absorb
and hold moisture Every farmer who
uses green crops. II he uses them judi
ciously and in proper correlation with
commercial fertilizers, can certainly
build up his soils with surprising rap
idity.
PLANTING COTTON ON ''coLD
LAND"
T. J. D.. Piedmont, Ala, writes: have
a piece OF cold gray land, which / want
20 plant in cotton, and | want TO know
II can use high-grade guano and kainit
as a fertilizer. ] planted 1t in cotton
one year and 1t had black rust or black
wilt. / sowed 1t the next year in peas,
turned under the vines and let it rest
last year. and turned under good crop
OF grass and weeds. Ny cotton Is al
ways slow starting off. and 1 want to
know IL 1 can use guano with kainit so
as to stimulate it more in the spring.
Would phosphate and cotton-seed meal
make a good fertilizer for corn on red
basin land?
Rusting OF cotton is generally due to
one OF three things. namely. lack of
drainage, deficiency of vegetable matter,
and the need Of available potash In the
soil. From what you say, it is probable
that all Of these influences affected the
crop which you attempted to grow on
your gray land. which you speak of as
cold. though by that term you probably
mean wet as well. This land would no
doubt be benefited by an application OF
lime. but we would not advise you TO
use II this year Another season you
should make an effort to cover It with
at least one ton per acre in the fall of
caustic lime, or two tons OF finely ground
limestone. No doubt a complete fertfl-
izer win be the best to use on this land.
II makes very little difference whether
you use kainit or muriate as a source of
potash. Muriate is generally considered
S~A~0A 0GN4NtA1C
ted nature, and on that account you
can prepare a fertilizer formula contain
ing higher per cents of available plant
food. For land such as you describe
we would advise the use of at least per
cent OF nitrogen, 10 per cent of phos-
phoric acid and z per cent OF potash.
This may be prepared by mixing together
cotton-seed meal, nitrate OF soda. acid
phosphate and muriate of potash. OF
course. one would need to use high7grade
goods. Phosphates, cotton-seed meal and
potash would make a good fertilizer for
mula for corn on red land. Use not less
than 500 pounds per acre and the for
mula for this crop should certainly not
be less than 10 4 per cent OF nitro
gen. 10 per cent OF phosphorus and per
cent OF potash.
THIS LAND NEEDED ROTATING. .
G. Z. C.. Greenville. S. c., writes: I
am young farmer and would like to
have some advice as to what kind of
fertilizer to use for cotton on some gray
sandy land with mulatto clay subsoil. II
has been planted to cotton for several
years and only small amount of fer
tilizer used. 1t only made six bales on
20 acres I have some OF the same kind
OF land IN cat stubble which was turned
plow. ! also have two acres OF red land
with stin red clay subsoiI Would like
10 make two bales on it. What kind
OF fertilizer and how much must I use
The two acres made about 80 bushels of
corn last year without any fertilizer ]
have turned it with two horses and sub
soiled in same furrow to the depth of
II inches.
For the gray sandy land use a formula
containing per cent of nitrogen. 10 Der
cent of phosphoric acid and 5 per cent
Of potash. For the red clay use a 2-s-a
formula In both instances apply at
feast 500 pounds per acre. Breaking the
land with two-horse pillow was good
practice. Now prepare II by means OF a
disk or harrow until a fine friabIe sur
face has been secured. Then lay of the
rows four feet apart, opening a wide
deep furrow. and IL any vegetable mat
ter Is available, put 1t in the furrow and
let II stand in this condition until ten
days before planting. Then mix the fer
tilizer thoroughly with the subsoil and
make low bed on top of it. Plant the
best strain OF cotton you can find in
your community and SOW in hills two
feet apart. Leave two plants in a hin
when chopping to a stand. Cultivate
lightly and rapidly, and force the crop