The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1916-01-21

That patch out there ought TO make q
good crop of corn"
some corn in with 'em, say, half and
half. When the corn gets almost to
| tassellng stage NOW vines and all on
for hay Break 1t and turn everything
under and drill corn In thick. Let it
get high as your head, and cut that too.
Wei need lots Of provender. Guess 1t
would be a good idea to plant cowpeas
along with the second crop too"
IL was thinkin' OF lettin' the oats
mature next spring Wen be needin'
en-" said his father.
well, that's all right Dat stubble
turned under Is help. and you can
| get good crop Of pea vine hay and
young corn fodder Off here after the
oats. expect that would be the best
plan"
"Ill do that, then"
won't try truck next spring." ask
ed Tom.
"No. Wen be short handed, and 1t
will be all Link an me can do to keep
the stock CROWN fast an get regular
crops and such. I'll wait until Joe
gets back"
Say, I've been doing some studying
too" said Tom Ralston as the three
walked back toward the house from
the corn plot. Father subscribed to
good farm paper for me. and I've
been reading II. and found out about
those oak leaves you've been putting
on the land. Here's what 1t says" He
pulled clipping from his pocket.
LES see-' said Joe, taking the bit
OF paper and reading 1t aloud
When leaves are put on the land
their chief value Is from the humus
they supply and not from the plant
food they contain. One ton OF oak
leaves. according to Van Slyke. con-
tains fifteen pounds Of nitrogen. seven
pounds Of phosphoric acid and three
pounds Of potash. At current prices
for plant foods those In ton of oak
leaves are worth about $3.50"
We'll I'm glad to know about It"
said Mr.. Weston.
ME. too" said Joe. IL knew in a
general way that leaves had some fer
| tilizing yalue-Dot very much. But my
idea was mainly TO get humus-decay-
ing vegetable matter-in the land. /
knew 1t was no account without 1t. so
just went 10 piling leaves on"
Even ut three-fifty ton fertilizing
value" said Tom Ralston. 'it will not
cost That TO put the leaves on. and
there's the additional benefit to the
land in humus which is more than that
sum-
Anybody would know his daddy was
manufacturer the way he fggersl''
said Mr. Weston admiringly
Its worth knowing" agreed Joe
This winter / want pa and Link to
haul all the leaves they can and bed
the cattle in them. The dry leaves will
absorb the urine salts and ammonia
and droppings. Then put on the ground
and plowed under there is no better
manure to be had anywhere
81 win see that that is done" said
Mr. Weston. Link has got to put in all
his spare time on leaves. He's got a
younger brother think I'll hire just as
soon as the leaves are off the trees
I'm going TO treat that patch o poor
land just beyond yours, Joe. It's SO
poor it won't hardly grow bitterweed.
well, you know what to do"
Sure do, and Wen do it.
"Think I'll put those two colored
boys over home TO work on the leaves
too" said Tom Ralston. Major Dean
claimed he had to buy so much COM
mercial fertilizer until there wasn't
any more money in farming. He's
just farmed that place so long, without
giving the soil anything back, that It's
wearing out,
THE major sure was big believer
in commercial fertilizer said Mr..
Weston.
well, I'm going TO see II we can't
farm with less of 1t when have
charge, and good way is to get
years start now, I'll have a shed
built and give orders that every speck
Of manure about that lot goes under
tha' Sn'u ~ fiNt'' ' - t' t-S 49,