The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-08-06
FARM WORK FOR AUGUST.

rtn he kent ND TO advantage mucn
fator than is usually done This is de-
sirable when crimson clover IS 70 Dt
sown. 50 that the soil may De IreSH,
and the seed germlnate petteT. L
have become convinced, from many
evidences | have seen and from my
own tests, hat earlier sowing OF
crimson clover seed will be Of advan-
tage. In the South, September, is apt
to be a very dry month, and 1t is Tar
better to take some risk or the carry
sowing rather than wait till Septem-
Der, for if the August sowing sue
cceds. you will have a far better fall
growth than from later sowing.
In Maryland the best crop | have
seen Of later years was soWn in July,
and / have no doubt that in certain
seasons the July sowing might do in
North Carolina. especially in the
mountain section and in the mountain
regions generally Of the South. Last
fall there was general success from
the September sowing Of clover be
cause there had been a long dry sum-
mer and the rains came later than
usual. This summer we are having
the usual summer rains, and in all
probability will have the usual dry
September, and would urge the SOW
ing Of crimson clover during August,
wv II lllS ~ IL lhIIS, i z L > Stlll
time to SOW again.
I soWed some turnip seed along
with the crimson clover last fall. and
found it a very good plan, for the
turnip seed terminated quickly and
gave the needed shade for the young
clover, and the turnips came in as a
catch crop with little cost.
The practice Of side-dressing on
cotton has risen out of the fact that
farmers have been in the habit of US
ing their fertilizer at planting time
only in the burrows and the wide
spreading roots Of the cotton soon get
past it. Then a side-dressing is found
to have a good effect in feeding these
roots. Now, so far as the prOsphates
arc potash are concerned, it would
nave been better to have applied al
broadcast atp Ianting time, for the soil
VIII hold on to these till the plant
roots call for them, and the only thing
that | would use as a Side-dressing or
cotton IS nitrate OF soda, in case there
rs not sufficient growth, or the cottor
looks pale and yellow.
Cuttings Of vines Of sweet potatoes
made now will make the best small
potatoes for bedding next spring
Make cuttings a var long and col
them around the hand. insert The
whole coil in the hill with onlv thu
W tip exposed, and you WI
make a mass of small potatoes tina
VIII keep more easily in winter thar
the early ones.
Cut a for hay when the pods ar.
fairly mature. but before they ar,
iipe enough to cause the failing o
the leaves. A North Carolina. far
nier, writing in another paper. sait
ina he had made a lot of moIdy ha,
from following my directions, an
now he leaves the hay lie out on tn
ground for several days before rak
ing 1t, as he has abandoned the fool
isnness Of the professors. It is har,
TO get men to understand written di
rectlons about anything. and there i
"thIn in my experience, harder I
set people to understand than the cur
Ing Of cOWpea hay.
II the method ! have advised wa
merely theory, there might be som
reason for men to call it foOlishnes.
but ! have made the hay for NOR
years than ! remember, and neve
maze any mOldy hay, never used
stake or a scaffoId. or any contriy
ance except what is used in curin
hay OF my sort. In fact, as / hav
often said, there is no hay mo,
easily cured than cowpea hay. if yo
VIII SIMPLY let 1t cure and do NJ
monkey with all sorts of contri1
ances to spoil it.
Starting with the crop in the pro1
er state of maturity | cut in tt
mornings only, and put q tedder rig1
after the mower to toss the hay ar
hasten the willing. Rake it in,
Wlrdrcws that afternoon and the ne,
morning turn the windrows with tt
RAKE, AND that afternoon put in cocl
as narrow as Will stand we'll, and
soon rs You can take a bunch ar
TWIST It IN your hands, and can 81
no SAP run to the twist, put it in tt
harm while still limp, and then let
alone. and it will cure all RIGHT.
1t starts to heat and you stir it to co
1t. YOU will let in the germs of mo
and will have moldy hay. Now.
have done this year after year Al
h ave had we'll cured swee1 hav. wi
the leave green in color after curin
Timely Garden Work.
August begins the work for Il
coming fall and winter The fir
week in the month is a good time
COW. Sna1 ,f tho BIO Pncf0n loff,,n, &