Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-26

dusty on the library shelves. Most OF
these books win cost from 81 TO $50 and
some OF them more. This is because sci
entiic works have not as wide distri-
button as popular literature, and there
fore, II is more costly 70 prepare and
publish Then, as a matter of fact most
OF these books represent the effort of a
life time, and 1t may be said in passing
that the monetary reward of those who
are giving us our most valuable knowl-
edge on agricultural topics Is very small.
1t will be a pleasure and qualification
to the editor OF these columns to give
advice and suggestions from time to
time concerning reading courses. We
shall be glad to have those who purchase
any or all OF these books write US con-
corning questions which may occur to
them as . result OF their reading. occa-
sionally& there Is much debate in the
mind 8 10 the proper Interpretation Of
q word ora phrase. and II viii be q
pleasure to have all OF these topics
brought I'D for discussion and amplifca-
ton in the agricultural columns of The
Journal
SECURING A STAND. OF ALFALFA.
CHI B., Jonesboro, Ga. writes: am
anxious 10 get start OF alfalfa and
would like to have some points on prep
aration OF ground. time TO SOW, etc. 1t
Is my purpose to start with about a
quarter OF an acre. and 1 have thought
OF dynamiting a portion OF It. VIII II
paw How far apart should the dynamite
be put and how deep. VIII II grow sue
cessfu1Iy in this section?
It is rather dificult 20 secure a start
Of alfalfa on lands that are low in veg
- - -
abundance. OF lime. Alfalfa is very
desirable crop TO grow. being very rich
in protein and furnishing several cut
tings of hay a year, which is valuable
for all classes OF stock. Where one can
establish q patch OF II. IT will prove
a profitable addition 70 the crops of the
farm. In preparing land for alfalfa dy-
namiting the soil will not be obJecuona-
BILE. You had better bore holes TO the
depth OF four to four and a half feet
deep on centers four feet square. Use
a stick OF dynamite in each hole with
long fuse attached thereof Put the stick
Of dynamite down into the hole, lamp
the earth lightly. above II. leave plenty
OF fuse above the ground. and you will
have no difaculty in setting a number
of them or at one time ana getting out
of reach before the explosion occurs.
This viii break up the lower soil thor
oughly and viii help to enable the roots
of the alfalfa to penetrate the soil. 1t
viii also, increase the WITHHOLDING ca
pacity OF the land. In preparing the land
you should first OF all seed it TO velvet
beans this summer and pillow them under
in the fall. Apply not less than five
tons of hnely ground limestone rock
which IS rich in carbonate OF lime. Get
all the yard manure you can and apply
as a top dressing, working in well with
a disk harrow. Then apply 1000 pounds
OF a formula containing not less than
u per cent Of phosphorus, 5 per cent of
nitrogen and to per cent Of potash.
This may be broadcasted and worked In
with the sol. and some time should
elapse between its application and that Of
the lime. At least 20 pounds of choice,
selected alfalfa seed should be broad
casted and covered in with brush har-
row. Inoculate the. land by securing
some soil from a field where alfalfa has
grown successfully and scattering it over
your field. Many efforts to grow alfalfa
have failed because Of the development Of
crab grass which seems to choke the
plants out 'xou should therefore spare
no EFFORT to clear the land of weeds and
crab, grass before attempting to secure a
stand of alfalfa. +
WEEDS AS A SOURCE OF PLANT
..-,s FOOD. p. :
]. L. ~, Cave Spring. Ca. writes;
Are green weeds and grass as good to
turn under as rye clover and other WIN
ter cover crops? Does sorghum injure
land. ana is it wholesome for cattle.
hogs and mules? Does it cause worms?
Which would he better to sow on run
down land and turn under next fall
peas sorghum or something. else? 4
have some land that I am more inter
ested in building up than getting a
crop of this year, Can you recommend
any particular kind or stock food2
sri 49,
Green weeds and grass plowed under
viii probably enrich the land about as
much as rye or other winter cover
crops, provided they! both make about
the same growth. Glover will enrich
the land more than ordinary weeds or
rye, because Il has the power of gath
ering nitrogen from the air which the
otner plants, do not possess. Sorghum
does not injure the land more than any
other crop which makes a proportion
,atelS.. heavy yield. Sorghum is a
gross feeding plant and yields a larger
tonnage per acre than other crops. and
II necessarily takes more plant food
out of the soil on this account hence
the opinion that II is hard on the land.
II is good for cattle and mules when
fed in the form of fodder or made into
nrst-class quality of hay. It does
not cause worms any more than any
other feed. Worms are due TO a spe-
ciffc infection and their destruction
can be quite readily accomplished.
The best thing to sow on badly run
down land would be velvet beans. which
kn r01a In ACT
apart in each direction as soon as dan
ger of frost is past Fertilize with
500 TO 400 pounds of a 1914 mixture.
and in favorable season hey SHOULD
make Tremendous growth.
Stock foods can not be recommended.
MosF OF them consist principally o
corn. bran and other feod etuffs TO
which few continental materials have