The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-03
WITH THE FARMERS
By Prof. w. F. MASSEY


buy from nrst-class seedsmen and pay
what n first class seed is worth
An Old Field aud Some ArtIchokes.
Gloucester County: "I have n piece
OF land which was In scrub pines
myrtle and other small bushes. Have
Rrubbcd 1t completely and plowed II
TWO weeks ago. Land has lain idle
Ior eighteen years. previously cult
Ta.ed IN corn. Water has been al
loved to lie on tho land, and conse-
Guently, when plowcd II It was very
Wet ~ is fairly we'll drained now, and
after narrowing IL several ti,ncs I
want to plant 1t In yellow corn about
tho middle Of April I am anxious TO
get as good II crop IA possible, and
would like you to tell me the best fer
t'i'zer' where obtainable and how TO
use TO produce results? The so!I Is
sandy loan with clay subsoil
Il planted some French Globe orti.
'hokes last year and from the seed got
several plants. reset them last fall,
ana they all seem to have died to the
ground except three plants nut
pi"hty OF stable manure around them.
and hiiled UP. thinking Il would keen
mem warm. Have not dug down around
t thc roots TO see if they are alive
snail do this 10 those 7 know s-e
plant to die down in this way? ONLY
ono plant gems TO be making amy
growth. What shall do for item -
fou can buy fertilizer from a num-
Der OF dealers in Richmond
The old field probably needs all
sorts OF plant food. Now as ! hav.
oiteh said, 1t does not pay to con
s'antIv depend on fertilizers to make
corn. but we should ALWAYS have q
winter np Il
LOT the corn crop. But In the start
with this land you will have to use
come complete fertilizer A brand tina,
VIII run per cent phosphorio acid.
. per cent ammonia and per cent
potash will answer very well If used
literally in tho hill and broadcast too
that is. say zoo pounds an acre IN the
burrows and 900 pounds broadcast. for
corn roots run all over the ground
Ihen az last working SOW cowpois
among the corn. and after the corn is
cut and shocked disk these down thor
ouEhiy and SOW the land 20 oats with
300 pounds an acre OF the same fer
tilizcr. and sou can follow tho oats
with peas for hay. And then you
can get the land into :; rotation that
wiil bring clover on the land every
winter. The mistake YOU made with
the artichoEcs was in TRANSFORMING
them In the fall. You should have left
them TIN spring Plants from seed
often vary great deal. and most
gardeners prefer 20 grow them from
suckers OF the best sorts. The plants
should be set In rows three feet apart
ard two feet In the rows. and - is best
70 renew them every second year from
suckers. planting these in spring. The
plants should show some little green
all winter n they are alive What YOU
have can be left 10 grow. and Hs YOU
manfred them last fall they will not
need more.
Tobacco Dnrns and Grass.
PittsyIvania County: II am going to
build ave tobacco barns out OF com
mon old Held pine logs. viii thank
you to advise me IL they will last long
or Il hewn slightly. Also. do you think
can get stand of grass sown with
oats in April on bottom land? The
land has been toe wet to get on II up
10 this time. Would you advise SOW
ing winter or spring oats?" The logs
Will lie closer II hcwn straight. and
you can make a better job, but ] do
not think that the hew!nE viii make
them last any longer. OF course, the
bark should be removed In any event.
have gotten very good stands Of
grass and clover from spring sowing
on oats. | sowed the clover after SOW
ing the grass seed. as 1t cannot be
well mixed with the lighter grass seed.
and then brushed over with a smooth
iug harrow. and always used tho Cray
Winter Turf cats.