Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-02
COTTON SEED OIL

some cotton roots taken from a field OF
two ana a half acres. This and has been
in cotton for three years in succession.
and when the cotton gets about a foot
high kind of rust attacks II and the
roots get dark inside and the leaves fall
of. hare made two and a half bales of
cotton on this land. but ! can hardly get
a stand now Would Ike to have your
advice in the matter.
The sample of cotton sent would APP
pear TO be affected with what is known
as black root, or wilt disease. This
trouble is due to the presence in the soil
Of a fungus. which finds acces to the
roots Of the crop through their becoming
abraided by cultivation or in other ways,
and then growing up through the chan
nels or ducts which convey water or
plant food TO the leaves to such an ex-
tent that it chokes the plant to death.
You will generally md the leaves turn
yellow and the plants whiting and
dying sometimes rather suddenly in
larger or smaller areas throughout the
affected fields. IL the plant is pulled up,
you will find the stem and root to he
rather black I'm the heart. BY these
signs you can generally identify the dis
ease without serious difficulty. This
trouble can only be controlled success
fully BY the use of resistant seed. such
as Dillon and Dixie. The seed of these
varieties is quite resstent to wilt, and
may therefore be cultivated on infected
land with considerable success. You will
md it impossible to grow ordinary va
rieties of cotton on this soil without
the disease spreading and becoming more
troublesome from year TO year, and It
will finally reach point where the land
is not profitable for cultivation in cot
ton. You should rotate crops, as this
lessons the tendency Of the disease to
spread. Drain low-lying areas. and be
careful TO disinfect tools and implements
used in cultivating diseased areas. If
only a few diseased plants appear, it is
good practice TO pull them up and burn
them.
SOWING BERMUDA GRASS SEED.
W. Z. c., Richland. Ca. writes: Can
sow Bermuda seed and by sowing a
large enough quantity obtain a good sod?
Labor is scarce, and it seems that seed
ing will be easier than sodding. Where
can ] get the seed, and what is the
usual price per bushel? How much seed
should be sown per acre. and when
should it be sown?
Bermuda grass has not been extern
sively propagated from seed. This has
been due no doubt to the difficulty ex-
perienced in securing good seed. Most
OF that used in this country apparently
comes from Australia. some of which is
OF good quality, and some not so salts
factory. Those who have experimental
widely in the propagation of Bermuda
grass from seed have had varying sue
cess. but probably the consensus of
= ms
pagation. You can establish Bermuda
grass, as you know. through the use
or sets. These may be distributed in
one OF several ways. I presume YOU
are familiar with the methods commonly
followed, and that you do not care to
have me outline them at this time. The
seed is best sown down from March
to June l, and 7 think there would be
no objection to its use now. though il is
very slow TO terminate, and might not
establish itself before cold weather IL
soWn so late IN the season, but in your
section OF the state frost does not fall
until late in the fall, and you might trv
q limited area and see how YOU come
out At least six pounds of the choicest
seed you can secure should be sovrn
per acre. The ground should be as well
prepared and fertilized as for any other
crop where you attempt TO propagate
the grass from seed. Scatter # over
the surface of the ground and cover with
a weeder or some other implement which
viii just barely cover it. The price of
the seed is rather high. and If Won
secure the best quality It will cost YOU
from 30 10 70 cents a pound in five
pound lots. / can tell you what price
you can secure it for by the bushel' but
believe you would find il rather expen-
siVe. ANY local scotsman can furnish
you with seed. and would be pleased to
quote you prices