Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-02-13


be determined by seasonal conditions.
Choose the variety Of corn to be planted
with skill and care The best local
strain should be used. Test the seed to
be certain that enough will germinate
to insure a perfect stand. Plant at such
distances as the soil is likely to justify
and give shallow and thorough cultiva-
ton.
FERTIIIzING CORN AND COTTON
ON GRAY SANDY LAND.
w. H. F., Washington, Ga, writes:
have been reading the agricultural col
unns in The Journal for about two
years, and 1 have started to farming
this year ON gray sandy land with red
clay subsoil All the land was in corn
and cotton last year. and I would like
to know what guano would suit best.
will use 500 pounds per acre, and
think it will be better for me to mix
the materials; so please advise me about
the mixing. The land will make plenty
of weed and stalk. Is 1t too late to
sow oats on land that will make 20
bushels of corn7 I want to put II
acres in cotton and 9 acres in corn;
the land 1 had for corn made about
1000 pounds of seed cotton last year.
Would like to have your advice in re-
gard to fertilizers.
1t should be good practice to use
9-S--4 fertilizer for corn on gray
sandy land with red clay subsoil, and
about an $50 for cotton. If you
have observed any tendency to rust,
ues an S-3-4, or possibly an SIS
if you have experienced much loss from
rusting These fertilizer formulas will
give better results on land of the type
about which you write If you can use
them in association with vegetable mat
ter. This you evidently cannot do, as
your land has been in clean cultivation,
no doubt, for several years past. and
it is too late now to get any vegetable
matter to turn under. You should
make a special effor to get leaf mold,
yard manure or any other litter which
may be incorporated with the soil.
Failing in this, put about 800 pounds
of the formula mentioned under the drill
row at the time of planting the crop.
Open a wide, deep furrow for both corn
and cotton, and mix the fertilizer well
with the subsoil by means OF a bull
tongue, running through the furrow two
onthree times. Then, for corn draw to-
gether and plant practically on the
level. Planting In a slight water fur
row is often good pratice for sandy
soil. The cotton is best planted on
low bed. Use a side application of 200
pounds of the above formula alongside
the drill row about 80 days after plant
ing. and you may find 1t advisable to
use nitrate of soda as a top dressing
on both crops, if the season is at all
favorable. AS you say this land makes
plenty of weed, the chances are that
you will hardly find 1t necessary to use
nitrate. No doubt this soil will respond
70 heavier applications than has been
suggested, but it's physical condition
should be improved before you attempt
to use from 700 to 1000 pounds, be-
cause inthe absence of vegetable mat
ter the fertilizer cannot be utilized as
freely and as completely by the crop as
where it is supplied to the land. Break
the land to a good depth and give thor
ough cultivation before and after plant
ing, as these are important matters
to bear in mind. You may prepare a
s-3-4 formula from several combina-
tions of fertilizers. You will find, how
ever, 1000 pounds of 16 per cent acid
phosphate, 700 to 500 pounds of cotton
seed meal, depending on the per cento of
nitrogen 1t contains, and 100 pounds Of
muriate of potash running so per cent
or potash. There are several grades of
cotton seed meal available, running
from 5.1s to z per cent nitrogen. Sc
cure the highest grade you possibly can,
as this will not raise the nitrogen too
high. An $50 may be prepared by
reducing the amount of potash and acid
phosphate suggested above.
1t is too late in our Judgment to sow
oats with the best results. OF course,
spring oats can sometimes be raised
with advantage. Probably the Burt is
the best oat to plant at this season of
ten year. IL you do SOW them put them
in as soon as the ground isin condition
TO receive the seed. Fertilize with 500
pounds OF an S-2-4 formula. Then
top dress with z pounds to 100 pounds
OF nitrate of soda on the land two to
three weeks before the oats begin. to
head.