The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-30
| WITH THE FARMERS
By Prof. w. F. MASSEY

tiliZer rs more good farming. Merely
gambling on the chances with poor
land and fertilizers has kept the South
crn soils poor. We want to do all we
can to change all that. and get our
farmers to realize the Importance of
growing and using the legume crops.
You need not tell me that you cannot
grow crimson clover in Eastern North
Carolina. for l know that you can, IL
you get the land in condition for clover
TO thrive. Now, j am not trying to
argue that commercial fertilizers are
not valuable. but that they should be
used where they pay best, and then
literally, and that the incomplete fer
tiliZers, like phosphate and potash. can
be used to encourage the growth Of
the crops that feed the stock and feed
the land, too, and, through them, and
their use as food for stock. to get ma
nurc for the land and build up the
hunus in the soil. until you will never
need to buy nitrogen for any OF the
usual farm crops, since you can get II
more abundantly and free OF cost In
the legumc crops
Big Boston Lettuce.
az am truck farmer and am inter
cstcd in getting the best seed. no mat
ter what the cost. intend to set
three acres of land in Big Boston let
tuce in tile early spring. starting the
plants In frames under glass. One
scotsman asks $3.50 for one strain Of
this lettuce per pound and So u pound
for another strain. Another leading
scotsman offers a special stock for
$40 per pound, while still another
very prominent scotsman offers this
lettuce for sips per pound. Now II is
not the price OF the seed I am anxious
about, but 7 would like to get the best
stock possible. How much difference
in time of heading is there usually
where one sows seed In March In loose
peaty soil. and sets plants from the
cold frame three weeks later? We can
make good market after tho South
ern lettuce has stopped and VIC are
several weeks ahead OF the Northern
outdoor crop. will also grow 'hc
Gibraltar ana the Prizetaker onion for
trauEplanting. Tho Gibraltar has not
kept as well az the Prizetaker. but
neither are great keepers. Whose
stock Of these IS best Now while
cannot name the parties hero wouhl
say that / have tried tho lettuce seed
from the sources you name. ] have
grown the So pound sort. and have
had 1t do very well In fact. l have IL
row growing In my frames. Tho seeds
man who you say offers this lettuce at
Sl.25 per pound is ono OF the most
reliable men in tho seed trade In this
country. / happen to know tho great
care he takes in. testing all the seed
he sells under the same outdoor con-
dition that his customers will have.
have been on his trial grounds and
have walked along his beds OF let
tuce and have been struck with tho
uniformity OF type shown. and ! had
as SOON trust his seed as any other.
Then IN getting Prizetaker onion seed
/ would get them from the scotsman
who introduced and named The variety.
ard YOU probably know to whom
refer. The Giant Gibraltar Is an Inn
mensc and good sweet onion, but. rs
you say, 1t 81 about the poorest keeper
OF any, and must be sold off rapidly.
But there is no difficulty in selling IL
on account Of its size and beauty, end
a white onion Of great size Will always
sell faster than onions OF other colors.
Prizetakcr keeps fairly well, but not
after the weather gets warm. While
like you. do not care so much about
the price OF the seed as ! DO OF its
quality. ] would have as much conf
dencc In the man who offers the seed
at sl.25 4 pound AS in the man who
charges 81 q pound, for l cannot say
that have found any difference in the
plants that would warrant the differ
ence in the price. The only claim for
they are Frcnch grown. The man sell
ing them IS simply an importer OF
French seed. ana ] have more cont
dence In tho man who has extensive
trial grounds and tests every seed he
sells. In carlincss ! have not found
any difference in the different strains