The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-13
FARMERS URGED ID PLANT MORE OATS
 AND WINTER CLOVER
Planting of Grains and Grasses Considered of Prime Importance by
 Department

Montgomery, September 12.-(sps-
 eial) )-Necessity of planting an abun-
 dant oat and winter clover crop is,
 pointed out in the latest weekly bull letin of the state department of aeri- culture and industries.
 owing 10 the shortage of last vears corn crop, together with the depress- Ing condition of the cotton market the planting or large acreage in grasses
 and grains is considered by the depart
 'nent to be of prime importance.
 Aiapama is particularly adapted to the growing of oats and crimson cioVer, according to the department,s ouiietin' and the coming year will show sfeat advance in these farm produt,s
 Tn all parts of the state
 ne nope and promise of our farm Ing future in Alabama depends upon
 this diversification of crops thai o,,r experience with cotton this vaar bes
 made an inevitable necessifv,, con-
 eludes the report
 Department Bulletin
 The bulletin of the department fl. follows: ID - The cotton situation may be summes, up In the expression what will we do with it9' While the financiers bnsi- ness men and spinners, together with | tls leading opponents of the farmin~
 interest of the south. are wrestling with the proposition, it is incumbent 11por those whom the situation most vitality
 affects to turn their attention to other things of present moment This bul-
 leur Will be directed to impressing l upon the farmers the necessity of planting an abundant oat and winter clover crop.
 The shortage of last years corn
 crop. together with the depressing con
 dition Of the cotton market makes the
 planting of a large acreage in s.asses
 aha grains a thing of prime impor- lahce. Particularly does this fact ap-
 peal at this season, for we are on the eve or planting time for most of these hfodacts. Already many farmers have
 stai ted their fall breaking and the sowing of early oats and clovers will soon become general. Planting should lioi take place too early. because of tie l liability of the oats going to seed be- i feie frost if the fali is open and un-
 usually warm. In Alabama the seetf- lpg can usually take place if the soil | Is Tn proper condition any time from | September l to November l. but usually the best time is during October and | November. Care should be taken Ia treat the oats for smut before planting and the best variety of seed should be chosen.
 The qualities of seed that should be most considered in selecting a variety | Tor planting are resistance of diseases and insect enemies, adaptabilities to local conditions, weight of grain, kind and amount of hull and the size and color of grain. These are platitudes generally known by the farmers but lit is opportune to repeat them now l The European war has had the ef- feet of restricting the supply of crim- son clover which comes from Germany and for this reason and this reason alone. a smaller acreage in that crop will be planted; however, previous to 1 the war the question of large plant 1 ing of crimson clover had been aSi- tdted and great interest and enthusiasm created in it and in it's planting, and the result will be recognized in 3 1 large area devoted to it for the com i Ing year
 | This is in line with a modern deS hard of progressive farming and t IS bornd to be attendant of splendid re- | sulis in the crop economy of Alabama. One demonstrator reports that in his section conditions are causing farmers tc plant more clover and oats and Ivclch than ever before and this state-
 ment is typical of what is occurring else where. Of course it is understood that in advocating a larger planting of
 other things than cotton. that wheat. corn, and. in fact, all crop diversites
 suited to our soils are included. The hope and promise of our farming fu-
 tDre in Alabama depends upon this di- versification of crops that our eNpe- Hence with cotton this year has made an inevitable necessity