The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-25
WITH THE FARMERS
BY Prof. w. F. MASSEY

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II he does this. that he is damaging
his land instead Of helping 1t.
Bob Seeds. tho humorous institute
lecturer In Pennsylvania. told recently
OF the craze that went over that state
many years ago for tho use OF land
plaster. tho sulphato Of lime At first
IL gave fine results. and they went to
grinding and using plaster. TIL finally
II had no further effect and had en-
obled them to rob their soil Then
they turned to lime ana built lime kilns
until the ltilns were az thick as flies
around sugar barrel on the 4th OF
July. They burned lime and hauled
il out and spread II over the land. and
everywhere they threw n shovelful OF
lime the land began TO produce and
yield. and tho old father and his boys
would line up against the old worm
fence and look over the field with d
smile on their faces from ear TO ear.
wondering what they would do with
all tho crops they were raising. To-day
tho old man is dead. and the same boys
orc leaning against the same old fence
and wondering what in thunder IS the
matter with the land Many OF the
limo kilns are covered with moss and
i
In them. and In many places farmers
would not board you TO spread lime
for them" All OF which WAS the result
Of not maintaining the vegetable de
cay In the soil, and assuming that lime
was 81 manure. They burnt out the
humus In the soil and failed 10 renew
it. Lime, properly used In connection
with good farm rotation. Will be OF
great help, but do not jump to tho con-
clusion that as first lining does good
that repetition will do better Main
tain the humue in the land and give a
light lining about once In SIX years,
and lime will help you.
FerdiIzins Irish Potntocs.
Nottoway County: 81 have plowed 4
held OF gray Handy coil. turning under
sod. and sown rye on It to be turned
under In the spring 10 plant main
crop OF irish potatoes in July. The
land is OF fair average fertility and
well-drsined what Kind o, fertilizer
should use and how much per acre
( The soil Is q trine acid. Would u to
better to apply lime this fall to s,veeten
( the soil, or walt till after the crop Is
off next fall? what Kind OF baskets
arc used for shipping snap beans to
/ the Northern markets. and what do
I they cost and whore to get them
/ What Is the best fertilizer for early
/ beans on sod plowed this falir How
early viii II be safe TO plant the beans
: hero
DO not lime the land to be planted
/ in potatoes. as the sweeteninE OF the
/ soil Will encourage the growth Of the
sCab fungus. Turn the rye under when
about knee high or less. and then SOW
/ New Era early cowpens on the land
and turn these under for the pota-
/ toes In July. This will greatly help
tic crop. You can SOW these peas the
Isl OF May. and they mature In about
sixty days and will give you plenty
! OF time for planting tie late potatoes
with this treatment you will need far
less fertilizer than for the early crop
You can get "A fertilizer ready made
! containing . per cent ammonia. s per
cent phosphoric acid and 10 per cent
potash. and 600 pounds of this in the
burrows Will make a good crop with
the nitrogen the peas viii furnish, and
the organic matter in the soil.
+ Beans are generally shipped In half
barrel baskets There are factoric.
OF these in Suffolk and Norfolk. ana
you can learn there all about them.
Beans being a quick crop and nitro
gen Gathcrers. do not need much nj
trosen, especially after weil-decay ed
sod y mixture OF 400 pounds OF acid
phosphate, nifty pounds OF nitrate Of
soda and twenty-five pounds OF muri-
ate OF potash viii answer very we'll
While not entirely safe. you can plant
early in April. as truckers always take
some risk. and If frost catches them
you viii only lose the seed and will
he as early with the replanting as any
in your section
Cnrbon lilsulphide for Peas
l-oudoun County: How much car
bon b!sulphidc should use TO kin the
( bugs in bushel of peas or,in other
words. the right proportion per BUSH
ell" The meas should be put in a box
or hin that can be closed up tight.
Put the carbon bsulphide in Il pan and
set IL on top the peas and close up
DO not have any tire around. AS the
FUMES are explosive. One pint 10 100
bushels IS sufficient Let it remain
till entirely evaporated
sowing Crimson Glover.
81 wish 10 Try some Crimson clover
ana Mammoth clover My soil is very
heavy dark and with clay subsoil.
wish TO know when and how TO SOW
preparation OF land and amount of
seed an acre. wish also 10 get some
bermuda grass. When is the best
time TO put 1t OUT" The time TO SOW
October. II is entirely too late to SOW
ii now, and II is not suited to spring
sowing. You can SOW the Mammoth
or Sapling clover in February on fall
sown grain, sowing In the morning
when the soil Is slightly crusted and
the thaw!ng VIII cover the seed Ber-
muda grass should be planted In late
April. Plant the cuttings of the run
ming stems. commonly called roots in
shallow burrows two feet apart and
cover and roll tight and they Will soon
cover the ground.
FcrtilizinS Cabbage, Peas aud Potn-