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

me what to plant on this land, and how
the ground should be prepared and fer
tilted?
Several methods of handling the land
referred to in your letters are open to
you. First, you might seed it to alfalfa
ana If you succeed in securing a stand
of this crop, it will be more satisfac
tory as grazing patch for poultry
than anything else to which you could
devote the land. To grow alfalfa, how
ever, calls for special preparation and
care of the land, and we could not adj
wise you to attempt to seed it this
spring. The land should be sown to
some crop such as cowpeas and the
whole mass of vegetation plowed under
say late in August or early in Sep
tember The idea in growing cowpeas
is to smother out the weeds and enrich
the land with vegetable matter After
the crop has been turned under, sow
20 pounds of recleaned alfalfa seed to
the acre, inoculating the same wirh
special culture or with earth taken
from field where alfalfa has been
grown successfully scattering 800
pounds over each acre. Before sowing
the alfalfa YOU should use one to two
tons of caustic lime per acre as a top
dressing over the lanu. Put the lime
on two or three weeks before seeding
the alfalfa Then use 1000 pounds OF
a fertilizer containing 10 per cent of
phosphorus. 3 per cent of nitrogen, ana
6 per cent of potash. The alfalfa may
be sown broadcast and brushed into the
ground, though we would prefer to use
the weeder to cover it. 1t is important
that you have the land in excellent
condition before planting the crop. The
seed should be sown about the first or
October. If you are afraid to under
take the preparation of the ground on
an extensive scale. try growing alfalfa
On a half acre along the lines suggest
ed, and if you succeed with 1t the first
year you may extend your seedlings
from year to year.
In a semi-shaded location some
grasses will give better results than
others. We suggest that you try a
combination of orchard grass, tall oat
grass and alsike clover on the land in
question. If you can prepare the soil
as for a garden, you may seed these
grasses almost Immediately. Break the
land if you can, harrow to fine 1t, and
put on a ton of caustic lime and let
stand for ten days or two weeks. Then
use 500 to 500 pounds of a fertilizer
containing about per cent of phos-
phorus, to 3 per cent of nitrogen and
to per cent of potash. Sow mix
ture of the above mentioned grasses in
the following proportions: One bushel
of tall oat grass, one bushel of orchard
grass, and five pounds each of alsike
and white clover.
You can also make another good
grass combination by putting out Ber-
muda sets on a part of the land in
question and seeding Burr clover on
the sod in the fall The sod should, of
course, be sacrificed before you seed
the Burr clover. You may also seed
Japan clover in the spring This will
help TO give variety to the combina-
ton. Either one of these last men
toned mixtures will make a fairly per-
mapent and satisfactory grazing lot for
the purpose you have in mind
FUNCTIONS OF ESSENTIAL FOOD
ELEMENTS.
r. w. L.. Lavonia Ca, writes:
have some ground I want to plant to
cotton. The ground is sandy with yell
low clay subsoil and is somewhat run
down. What formula would you advise
using and how much? Also what func-
ton does each perform, that is, nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash?
Sandy land with yellow clay subsoi
which. has been badly handled for a
number of years is certainly not likely
to be in the best physical condition or
very rich in the essential elements Of
plant food needed for the production of
a large crop of cotton. On this account
liberal fertilization should be practiced
The land should be prepared by breaking
it systematically and then applying yard
manure If the same can be secured. In
its absence apply not less than 900
pounds of a 9-3-4 fertilizer per acre. Put
400 pounds of this material under the drill
row at the time of planting and use 200
pounds as a side application. If you can
secure the yard manure suggested, put
il under the drill row and mix well with
the subsoil
The specific function of nitrogen, as
understood at the present time, is TO pro-