Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-02-18

| true the average farmer may think that
the seed contain some plant food, and III
| this he is right, but never by any
stretch of the Imagination can the ter
tilizer content of the seed be made "a
approximate more than half the value
or the plant food content of a ton OF
meal.
These facts seem TO make it clear
that cotton seed is possessed of no spe-
: cIal virtue as a foodstuff; i'm fact, that
the meal is much to be preferred for
use on the average farm and with the
class of live stock we maintain in the
largest numbers From any point OF
view, the retention of the seed on the
/ farm can only be accomplished under
existing conditions at monetary loss
to the owners. and the deprivation of
the world OF a human food material in
the form of cotton seed oil which is
of the greatest importance to our rapid
l. increasing population and the return
of which TO the soil through the use
OF seed directly as fertilizer a detri-
ment and not a benefit.
ASHES IN GREEN OAK WOOD.
&. NJ, Nichols, Ca. writes: How many
pounds OF ashes will green oak turn ont
per TOM What per cent of potash In ashes?
Do You think the following wound make a
suitable fertilizer for cotton composted
follows: layer each Of pond mud, phOs-
phate, turf and pine needles and oak wood
ushesT
a ton Of green oak wood will produce
about 100 to 200 pounds of ashes. Much
depends on the amount Of water in the
wood. and as this varies, a very accurate
figure as to the quantity of ashes availa-
BILE form ton of wood cannot be given
We think. however. that we have prob
ably overstated rather than understated
the figures. The per cent of potash in
wood ashes varies from 4 to s per cent
We would normally suppose that in oak
il would rNn anywhere from to or
per cent. If situated as you are we would
not go to the trouble of mixing all the
materials you have suggested. 1t would
not be good practice in the first placs
to mix acid phosphate and wood ashes
together If you propose to use rock
phosphate, you will ind this material
will become very slowly available unless
you use il on land which is unusually
well supplied with organic matter, which
we think would not likely be true in
your case.
we would prefer to make compost of
turf and pine needles and rich earth
by mixing these together so as to break
them down and rot them as quickly as
possible, and thus fine and make the
material easy TO handle. We would take
. two or more tons of this material and
scatter in the drill rows. On this we
would scatter wood ashes at the rate of
100 to 200 pounds per acre, preferably
the larger amount. Work the compost
and ashes we'll into the ground with a
bull tongue. Then, at the time of plant
ing the crop, we would like If practical
bic TO use a formula containing about ?
TO Is per cent of nitrogen, to 10 per
cent of phosphoric acid. II you will
mix together 500 pounds of cotton seed
meal and I 200 pounds of acid phosphate,
and use this at the rate of 200 to 300
pounds per acre, you will be fertilizing
vour land in about the best way possible
under existing conditions. We are in
clined TO think that this will be about
as economical a method of fertilization
as economical methods of fer
tilization as you can follow. If you can
not secure cotton seed meal or do not
care to use il, you may use any other
carrier Of nitrogen in the place of it
which will supply the nitrogen in as
cheap a form.
FEEDING MULES OK SPRING
GROWN CROPS.
l. W. T.. Madison. Ga, writes: What are
the best crops for me 70 plant to feed my
mules from now to the end OF the work
seasonI My corn and oats will not carry
ING through the season. How about beard
less barley OF course. l plant sorghum,
popcorn and whippOorwiu peas.
We imagine that about the first crop
you can count on to be of value for the
maintenance of your mules and work
stock this spring will be winter-sown
oats. If these are fed in the bundle
they make a very good forage and grain
ration for mules, and there is probably
nothing you can feed to better advan-
tage. OF course, some corn can some
times be fed with bundle oats to adj
vantage and profit. When the oats are
gone the next crop to mature would be
ninety-day oats like the Burt sown i'm
mediateiy. As soon as weather condi-
tions Will permit cOwpeas and millet
planted together should be sown. Use
about one peck OF millet and one bushel
Of oats. IL is generally better practice
TO plant the peas a few days before the
millet. This, of course, is difficult TO
do unless you go TO some extra trouble.
For instance, plant the peas IN drills
about two feet apart, and drop in two
rows of millet between the peas. about
six inches apart. II this hay is cut
when the millet is coming into head,