The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-02-14
WORK FOR THE MONTH
CONTINUED from Page One.j

70 nut on such land is corn, because
This crop is less sensitive 10 al 90
condition Of soil, which Is the chal
acteristic Of all land set IN p.ooli-
ED 20. than any other crop ana y
ther if is q crop which IS capaole'
nv reason of its great root SSsttAi'
of better utilizing coarse NeStldoie
matter in the soil and OF foraslbs
widely and deeply for plant 1904
talent in the soil. Whilst We are
ALWAYS ayerse to destroying any Nese-
table matter by fire. yet We are sduS-
fed from experience that better re
Suits can be had in planting on d
hroomsndea sod by burning of the
tall dry straw than by turihn' II ~
der but in doing this care Should pe
taken not to burn off the snort grass
and decaying vegetable matter dt ,lie
bottom of the dry straw. me oeSt
way to dc this is to walt 10 pun 'lie
straw off until the ground Is covered
with snow or the sod itself is soaked
with water. Then as soon as the
straw is dry set a fire to it II 1t Will
RIM over and only destroying the drE
straw and leave the grass ana Negeta-
bic matter to be turned down to make
humus in the soil. The long dry
straw contains very little vegetable
matter and it is slow to decay When
turned down. The sooner TINS Is
done and the sod broken the better
will be the chance Of occurring a sat
isfactory crop, as more time VIII De
given for the vegetable matter to &c
cay and become aValiaDle. il lln1
can be had we would then give a
dressing of q ton to the acre Z har-
row in lightly and let lay for a few
weeks and then prepare by frequent
cultivation as good a seed-bed as pos
sible. During this cultivation apply
either 500 pounds OF acid phosphate
or Thomas Stag fBasic Slas) per
acre broadcast and work into the SOIL
and after the last Workln~ OF the
crop SOW coWpeas and crimson clover
in it. If a good stand of owpeas
and crimson clover can be secured
the land Will then be fairly on the
way to become productive and profit
able
Very little can be said as to the
condition and prospects OF the winter
wheat crop at the present time in
the great wheat sections of the coun-
try. It is more or less covered with.
snow and where this covering is good
it may be expected to come through
the winter in GOOD shape. but Wher-
ever the snow is wanting the severe
cold which has been prevalent in
those sections has, no doubt, injured
the crop. In this State and the ad-
S0NAA+i IL 49, IiS 49,
complaint as to the nOn-germination
of the seed. largely, We believe, owing
TO the dryness of the ground at seed
ing time. Very large areas seeded
have as Yet made little or no growth,
indeed, many farmers have reported
to us that they cannot see any signs
of growth as Yet, and have suggested
blowing up the crop and sowing oats
We have advised against this, as We
believe IL wheat will yet grow and
make a crop. We nave known al
excellent crop to be made where The
wheat did not show above the ground
until February. Wheat seed IS raret.
destroyed in dry land. It will ire
quently rot in wet land. Wherever
the land has been fairly dry and vel
drained We believe the wheat viii
come up and grow off as soon as W.
have some warm weather now tha,
sufficient rain has fallen. If wher
the wheat has commenced to grow
it looks weak and sickly we would
advise top dressing with nitrate OF
soda at the rate OF 100 or $50 pounds
to the acre. There has been Consid.
rable discussion as to the a%dvisabilit1
of reserving all fertilization of The
wheat crop until spring and then ap.
plying broadcast and narrowing in Z
top dressing of bone meal, acid phos.
phate or Thomas Stag and nitrate O.
soda. We have reports from seyera
parties who have done this. SOM
seem TO be satisfied With the result.
whilst others have not secured tn,
benefit they expected. We are salts
ned from our own experience that tn.
m1neral fertilizer supplying the phoS
phoric acid and potash are best ap
piled in the fall at seeding time. II
become available these must be som
time in the soil and undergo chemjca
changes. Nhen not applied unit
spring it is doubtful whether the Gro,
Will set the benefit it ought to do be
fore harvest time. Nitrate of sod;
immediately becomes available in III.
soil and if care is taken not to ami,
1t until n crop is starting vigorou
growth, the whole of the apnlicatio,
Will be utilized by the plants. w
have seen the color of a crop of Whea
alter applying the nitrogen requiret
by the crop the other elements re
CURED TO supply the p~hosphoric aci,
ana potash being already in the Ian,
ana available when the nitrate of sod;
Is appiled or it Will not give the hes