Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-09

mote growth and give the plant vigor-
Gus development and the characteristic
dark green color. PhOsphoric acid is con-
cerned in the production of seed and the
Fastening of maturity, and since the lint
develops from the seed, it is important
tAlat there be liberal supply of this ele-
ment available to the growing crop.
Most of our soils are quite deficient in
phosphoric acid; hence it is generally
advisable to use it with some degree of
liberality. Potash is concerned in the
various life functions of the plant. At
is, for instance, necessary to the lebora-
ton and transference of starch from one
part of the plant structure to another.
Starch furnishes the basis out of which
through chemical changes and metabol-
ism - other elements entering into the
life activity of the plant are largely de-
veloped. 1t is important therefore, to
the welfare of all cultivated plants.
DETERMINING THE TERMINATING
POWER OF SEEDS.
G. F. H., Kennesaw, Ga, writes: How
can a person tell before buying and
paying for its whether any kind of
small grain is all right to plant? 1
sowed some rye on snow this winter,
but very little has come up. and think
the seed was not good. see that Illi-
nois spends $4,000 year in finding
what elements her soils contain. Why
can not Georgia do the same?
Seeds of any kind may be easily test
ed as to their terminating power by va
rious simple methods at the disposal of
the farmer. For instance, he may take
100 grains of rye from. heap which
has been thoroughly mixed and put on
moist plotting paper in dinner plate.
Cover it on top with sheet of moist
plotting paper, and place another plate
over it, but not so tight as not to ad-
NIT of the circulation of air. In few
days you can determine the terminating
power of the seed. You should only buy
seed which is guaranteed to give
termination of 95 per cent or upwards.
If the scotsman will not guarantee the
seed 1t is an evidence that he has not
tested it or is afraid of its terminating
power.
1 note what you say concerning the
amount Of money Illinois is spending for
a soil survey each year. If we had any
such amount as this in Georgia, we
could do for our farmers just as much
as can be done in any other state. The
college is ready and anxious to do this,
but we have less than one-tenth of as
much money as Illinois is giving. The
first money ever secured fer a soil sur
vey was appropriated last summer, so
you can hardly expect us to have made
much progress when we are at the very
beginning of this line of work, and
have had 50 little money at our dis
posal to prosecute it. We hope the
farmers will realize the essential char
acter of this kind of investigation, and
VIII see that the legislature gives us
not less than $4,000 next year to extend
our soil survey investiga tons.
WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT SOY
BEANS.
w d. S., Arlington, Ga, writes: when
is the best time to plant soy beans, and
when will they be ready to scut for hay?
viii soy beans and German millet, sown
together, be ready to cut at the same
time? When should German millet abe
planted, and when will it be ready to
cut for hay2 Would early amber be good
to plant with German millet for hay?''
Soy beans may be planted any time
after danger of frost is past. They should
be handled very mucn the same as cow
peas except they are oftener planted in
drills "a inches apart than peas apd are
cultivated until they become well estab-
lished. They will be ready to cut for
hay about the same time as peas, Much
will depend, of course, on the variety
selected, as they viii require from 100
to $50 days to mature. The Ear
" Black is one of the first
to mature, and the Mammoth Vel