The Mena weekly star., 1913-08-21
Jobn D. 49age's
 OQeeklp 1etter
On Secondary Crops.

On NhOPS'
 The final cultivation of the corn and cotton crops have now been made. and much of the hay has been made. and the time for harvest IS coming on and will soon be here. There is yet a short interval in which the farmers can prepare the land and make ready to put Ill small acreage of some of the most important leguminous crops for winter pasture and cover crop for the land. Burr clover is one of the best and makes good winter pas ture for cattle and hogs. as well as other stock. If you have a good Bermuda pasture, blow 1t up dur ing this month and harrow 1t down and SOW it to Burr clover. It will make you a good pasture all Wln- ter and last on through the spring, until the Bermuda comes out again. Then il will die down and give way to the Bermuda, and will re-seed itself next fall. This will give al most a year-round pasture for stock. and will enrich the land, too.
 Crimson clover is another good | one. and while 1t may be little dlt- ficult to get stand, it is one of the | best legumes you can get. and pro vides more nitrogen gathering mo- dulles than any of the others. Grim | son clover can be seeded later. An other good one is vetch. Try some | of it. The experiment is worth | trying. IL will make a good pasture, | will produce lots of hay, and IS a | fine soil-builder It would not be a | bad idea to SOW any of these grasses | in the corn field, going through be- | tween the rows with small harroWs. | Later. when the corn is gathered, there will remain a good winter pasture and a cover crop, too.
 If you cannot persuade yourself to try Oui any of these new crops. then 0Iv some rye. Most everybody knows about rye and what it will do. Rye may be soWn between the corn or cotton rows in the fall and makes good winter and spring pasture. and will help the soil, be- Sides being fairly good cover crop. But he sure to try something. You really can't afford not to- Then there is the alfalfa, some of the best and mo>t progressive farmers have been trying fl out and sue cecdine. It sometimes takes pcrsr- verance and patience. but they will win in most cases.
 If your soil is sour. add some ground limestone. If you will ap-| ply to the agricultural department al Washington, or the county dem- onslration agent, you can get free all the nilrOgen-fNing bacteria you need. When you SOW alfalfa, be careful to put your land in good condition. and have il well pulNer- ized. It is best to use plot of ground that has been in peas or grass, or used in some way to keep it free from weeds, or on which the weeds have not seeded this season. Then use plenty of seed. Sow about 30 pounds to the acre. If you have tried alfalfa before and did not get a stand, try it again on the same ground Do not change loca- tion. Some of the best alfalfa pro ducing land in the country has re- quired as many as the third sowing 10 get a good stand Each time it is re-sceded the soil is becoming in ocuIated, and that is necessary to maintain a good stand.
 Take care of the ditches now Clean them out and cut the weeds and briers off. If you don't they will fill up so badly this fall and winter that you may find the job too big for you next spring, and when you are pressed for planting time you may find the ground too wet for cleaning ditrhes or plant in. either. Attend to them now. Take care of the hay and cut all you can of every kind. even unto he crah--ro~~. Save it all. The stock love it and il is easy Io feed. Remember llo county auI state fair Go and lake ~omathiug To JN- hibit if you can. Give my regards to the hogs. .hc real monry-mlar, on the farm and fell them hope they will make il through lo acorn time" if they have been neglected. as many have