Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-12

such as coarse straw. a board or a
blanket, does not lose it's moisture at
1.-THE surface as rapidly as soil not COW
,ered. This is due to the fact that the
moisture beneath the cover does not
lc0me I'm contact with the air. When not
lowered, the moisture that rises to the
lsurface OF the soil eXaporates into the
air and is lost. Covering the soil sur
face to check evaporation of it's mois-
ltUre is called ''mulching'' and the ma
lterial used as a cover is called
l.mulch" A mulch can be made from
lazy substance that will tend to pre-
went evaporation. In the field the most
lpractical means for checking evapora-
ltion from the soil surface is the soil
mulch" This mulch is produced by
frequently stirring the soil to depth
of from one and a half to three inches
The surface soil when stirred, dries out
land forms a blanket which reduces the
loss from evaporation. The soil mullen
should be maintained as much as pos
lsihle from the time of breaking the
Hand until the ears of corn are Wen
made. This can be done by stirring the
lsafI frequently, at least every seven 70
Item days, and as soon after each ram
las the soil will permit. throughout the
Growing period. Do not allow the son 10
l'run together and bake for this per-
units tire rapid loss of moisture. Keep
The soil in a friable and loose condl-
ltion at all times. -, =.
A weed is a plant growing where II
lis not desired. Cultivated plants are
lnot generally considered to be weeds
lint thew are as truly weeds as tnistles
and cockle-burs If they grow where
err, are not wanted. Wheat Is not de-
lsirss in an oat field if large yield
81 oats is expected, neither oats nor
wheat are wanted in corn flelo II tIe
largest yield of corn is desired. why
Because they take water ana plant IOou
from the soil and will prevent the %"
est WELD OF the desired crop
srra rlan.s we class as weeds ahe
/ - dge4cuit to combat and XIII tnah
are wheat or oats. because they ar
harder and will resist many OF Ine
| sor,s 20 kin them. No plant should DC
/ -oryngtted tn grow in a field with corn
/ 90 we desire the largest yleIo, eAoep'
nerhaps. some Of the smaller leg ullles
such as cowpeas, bur or crimson 49, . -,
/ rye, these will take up moisture anu
80 food which the corn should use,
brt they may repay with nitrogen wnlch
| .ra,- ada TO the soil Frequent clean
c,,Itivation will prevent the growth OF
/ weeds and thus save the avallaoie PlaIl1
| food and moisture for the corn. heep
the soil clear of weeds.
| Corn cultivation should begin as SOON
as the corn has been planted, even pe-
| fore il begins to show above the srO
| The hest time to kill weeks Is Wheh
they are lust sprouting. Thy can De
LiIIad early and a mulch can be formed
| ON the soil surface by tillage with
| sniIxa harrow which has the teeth slant
ing backward This is a very eflcleht
frnn1eunent for early cultivation ana can
be used crosswise or lengthWlse OF lne
rows. 1t will not damage the corn I'M
| al IL gets three or four inches high-
| -rba r-aader IS also an excellent nipple
ment for early cultivation and can De
usad until the corn is twelve inches
| high II kills young weeds and breaks
mn the soil crust and produces a thlh
| mulch. It can be used in the same way
as the harrow but is not as effective on
heavy soils.
| THE use of the weeder, combined with
the heavier cultivators, Will ala greatly
| in keeping the surface of the SOIL leVel
| until the corn is twelve inches high.
When the corn has reached height
If three 10 four inches, cultivation may
he started with a fine-tootned cultlVator
| such as PLANET, Jr," or a spring-tooth-
ed implement of the one or two-horse
/ TYNE Cultivate as near the corn as
/ possible without injury, the hrst Time
/ Do not allow the implement to go more
/ than two TO three AAlIlCc NCCp NAAN -
each subsequent cultivation get farther
/ from the corn and run the implement
/ sbaIlower At no time must the roots
/ he broken or cut, as this will inJure the
pIants BY cutting the food and moisture
/ supplv and consequently decrease the
| WELD Continue the civilizations at fire.
! uuent intervals of at least seven 10 ten
| days and as soon after each rain as the
soil will permit. Keep the soil level,
A do in q
corn roots.
How late to cultivate corn will depend
uron the season and the soil. If the sea-
son is dry, cultivation should be con-
tinued until the corn is practically made
or at least until the shoots are set.
This will be for the purpose Of saving
moisture and killing weeds. II the
| season is wet, cultivation should be at
sufficient intervals TO keep the weess
killed out. until the corn has well de-
veloped
[ WILL INCUBATION PAY WITH
COwPEAS?
lie. NJ. Conyers. Ca. writes: Does il
increase the yield OF beIs and pea vines to
inoculate the peas before paintings
4 We have made quite a number of tests
of cowpeas to determine the effect or
I'd to the present time our experience
has been negative. In other words, only
in rare instances have we observed any
special benefit from using inoculating
material with this particular class of
llegumes We could not, therefore, con-
sisteutly advise you to use inoculin with
cowpeas People sometimes think that
peas need to be inoculated when, as
matter of fact, the soil is acid or they
are not using a proper fertilizer formula
under the peas. You should test the
soil for acidity with blue Htmus paper,
and il il turns red when inserted in the
moist soil, the land is quite strongly
acid and you should use at least ton
I OF finely ground rock on this land.
Cowpeas also require quite liberal fer
tilization with phosphoric acid and, in
normal times, with potash. Small seed
ed legumes, such as alfalfa and other
clovers, are benefited by the use of in
oculin. In fact, comparatively little
alfalfa can be established unless it is
artificially inoculated. Our practice at
present is not to inoculate cowpeas or,
velvet beans, or, in fact, any of the
large seeded legumes.
FIGHTING DAMAGE BY CUT WORMS.
J. X. F., Midtown, Ca, writes: The cut
/ worms cutting down my Irish potatoes,
/ beans. peas, tomatoes corn: in fact, ev-