Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-07-30

down the weeds during the early part OF
the season, and the cowpeas choke them
out during late summer. The eowpea also
add nitrogen and humus. both of which are
important to, but usually deficient in, the
soil. The cowpeas and corn stubble should
be turned under during the fall or winter.
to insure their decay before. dry weather
begins. In the spring the land should be
replowed and then narrowed every ten
days or two weeks up to planting time, in
order to kill the weeds and pulverize the
soil. The blowing should be deep. 80 as
to increase the water hold;n: capacity of
the soil.
On level, poorly drained soils. it l. nee
essary to let the plants on raised bed, or
ridges. The beds should he A. fiat and
wide "a conditions will allow. for high.
narrow beds dry out more quickly. The
ridges or beds are commonly made BY
throwing together two or four burrows with
a 1-horse turnplow and l%eveling the top
with a light drag. Ii j. much better to
make the beds wide enough for two or
more rows than to make one bed for each
row. This practice j. followed with good
results i'm some sections of The South.
Ni,re there i no danger in al average
season that the plants will be- injured by
excessive moisture. fiat culture gives the
be~: results.
Fertilizers.
Il " a.. .lr.nI -. t,a AZ
berry growing are rich enough to produce
large crop, of fruit without the addition
Of manure or fertilizer If -ome kind.
Stable or ~barnyard manure i the best
fertilizer for Strawberries. because IT fur
nishes both plant food and humus but ma
containing weed seed should be avoided. II
manure i to be applied the season the
plants are set. only rotted manure should
be used. After the land has been plowed
the manure ~hould be spread broadcast at
the rate Of 10 Ia % tons per acre. de
pcndinc upon the fertility of the soil. and
narrowed in.
Manure does not contain sufficient pho>-
,lhoric acid and potash and for that reason
it >houli be supplemented by the use Of
commercial fertilizers rich IN these ele
mento. When manure j. not available, the
Ilant fcul ~hould he supplied by means of
commercial fertilizers and green manure
.rop~.
When \ commercial fertilizer J. used in
large quantities. two or more applications
~hould be made. The first Application
l,,lJ - ,n.J, hof.r. III. ,lant- n -at
and If NAV be scattered broadcast or under
the rows: later applications may be made
during the growing season a. side dress
ing. When u, much a. | 900 pounds !,
Inure containing weed seed should he avoid
able IT, scatter it broadcast: smaller guam
titles should be applied in the furrow and
thoroughly mixed with the ,oil. If all the
elements are to be supplied by means Of
commercial fertilizers. a mixture contain
ing 3 10 4 per cent of nitrogen, d to $ per
cent of p~hosphoric acid, and 4 to s per
cent of potash will be satisfactory. In the
South cottoLseed meal. acid phosphate,
and murIatc of potash are the fertilizers
most often employed. A mixture contain
ipg soc pounds Of cottprseed meal, 500
pounds of acid phosphate, and $50 pounds
Of muriate of potash gives the elements
in about the right proportion for the light
or soils. Apply TINS at the rate of 500 to
l 800 pounds per acre. depending upon the
fertility Of the soil. 1T the soil contains
a great deal of potash. part Of the muir
ate II potash may be left out on soils that
make a good growth ~ foliage it will not
he necessary q u" a large a quantity
f co.t.r~ccd neal Where fish scrap or
tanka.e can TIC bs.d 10 better advantage,
900 pounds of the former or 500 pounds
of the latter can be substituted for the
.cottonseed meal.