The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1916-06-30
ALFALFA IS VALUABLE
ASSET To ANY FARM

The Editor of the journal has
kindly consented to allow space in
his paper for the discussion of any
subject which has for it's purpose the
upbuilding of the agricultural inter
ests of the County, and l am going
TO take advantage of the opportun-
ity to lay stress upon the Importance
of our farmers growing more al
falfa.
Some few are beginning to get in
terested in this greatest of hay plant is
but its growth is far from general
and its merits ought to be brought
to our attention.
The other day | saw a farmers
wagon ready to leave town and it
was loaded with timothy hay and an
other was partly loaded with alfal-
ia. All of this came here many hun
dreds Of miles, from the West, and
the consumers cotton money went
back, or will go back this fall, to the
same spot where this hay came from.
Then | thought it was time the col
umns Of our weekly papers, as well
as all the farm papers, were carry
ing some kind of reading matter
tending to encourage Cobb County
farmers TO correct this evil for most
of our farmers take and read the
centage, perhaps, are readers of our
best farm journals.
| think it would be a capital idea
if our Editor would publish an ar
ticle upon farming each week
throughout the year written by our
best farmers giving their experience
with various crops we do grow and
ought to grow. 1t would do a lot OF
eood in Cobb County and while every
farmer would not care to read such
articles, | think large number
would be glad to read them ana
would be proftted to some extent.
1t appears to me that the first
thing we ought to read and discuss
or write about, is the growing OF
alfalfa as a hay crop. 1t is used n
the North and West as a pasture "
g:azing crop but this could not be
done here in North Georgia where
our fields can not bear, the tram OiE ?
of cattle in wet weather. If we could
SOW velvet beans, peas, peanuts, etc.
in our fields and let our cattle and
hogs gather the crops in the late fall
and winter, like they can and do I'll
the sandy country to the south OF
us, we could certainly take the blue
r bbons on making pork and beef, rut
W. can't afford to pack our fielAf
that way. So we must grow thih;s
We can pick and NOW and store III
in our barns for winter use.
Alfalfa is the easiest to handle arr
| about the highest in food value Il
would carry our cattle through tn;
winter without anything else as il
is a we'll balanced food by itself
Apparently our greatest trouble a.
bout it is we think we can't grow il
here in this country. | think we Ger.
tainly can if Wen give it half {
chance.
Now is the time for you to lay
your plans for fall Sowing. The
land should be ploughed deep now
and sowed in some early variety OF
peas. If you have the ground lime
on hand il would be better to spread
it on now (not less than two tons
per acre 1t costs only $2.20 pei
tom and harrow it in with your peas
then cut your pea crop as early il
the fall as possible and remove then
from the field as soon as you can
Your land will then be just right tc
work up fine seed bed using a disc
harrow, drag-harrow and roller OF
drag. If you don't get to put yOu
lime on when the peas are sowed put
it on after the hay crop is cut but
before you begin to disc. Be sure