Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-07

1871 per cent water soluble phosphoric
acid at. time of mixing At the end OF
four weeks this had dropped to per
cent, and at the end of the six months
TO $50 per cent. 1t is seen from these
figures that the reversion of phosphoric
acid is very pronounced, especially after
a long period of standing
The question may arise as To the ad-
visibility of applying ground limestone
70 land because of its effect upon the
soluble acid phosphate An abundance
of lime in the soil is an ADVANTAGE to
the acid phosphate on most SOILS.
While it will revert mono-calcluh
phosphate to di-calcium phosphate
il will. by doing SO, prevent its being
changed to the less available phosphates
of iron and aluminium. But this rever-
sion will not take place before the wa
ter soluble phosphate has become falfly'
well distributed throughout the soil.
Another thing to be remembered Is
that the soils i'm different parts OF the
state and even the different types in the
same section, vary greatly in the total
amount of potash contained. Generally
speaking, the soils of the limestone sec
tion and those of the Piedmont plateau
are we'll supplied with potash, while
those of the coastal plain in the south
ern part of the state are extremely poor
with respect to potash.
ANY system of soil treatment that
aims to increase fertility must take into
consideration the total amount of plant
food found i'm the soil to begin with.
For instance, if a farmer wishes to bring
up the physical condition of his soil by
deeper blowing, drainage, increased or
ganic matter and by lining so that pot
ash may be largely or entirely dispensed
with in the fertilizer, il is presupposed
that the soil is literally supplied with
potash, a part of which he aims to make
available from year to year to meet the
needs of his crops. 1t is the south
Georgia farmer who is hit hardest by
the scarcity of potash because his soils
are lowest of all Georgia soils in their
potash content Many of the sandy
soils of that section are so poor
i'm potash that, even with ideal condi-
tions, they could not give up enough in
available form to meet the needs of crops
by half. This should be borne in mind
when claims are advanced that by the
use of lime the soil may be made to
give up enough potash to meet general
crop needs.
ENCOURAGING JAPAN CLOVERS.
J. ID. L.. Atlanta Ga. writes Lespedeza
not seem TO attain any considerable size but
is very thick, especially where there is
mat of Bermuda grass. DO you think it
will be wise 10 experiment with il, and
when and how should it be planted:
Lespedeza is valuable addition to
our pasture lands. 1t seems to take
kindly to the soil and climatic condi-
tions of the SOUTH and when once es-
tablished spreads itself over pastures
quite rapidly. It's growth can be great
ly encourage by seeding at the rate Of
about eight pounds per acre annually
along in May after warm weather comes.
1t should be scattered uniformly over
the soil and narrowed into it if practical
BILE, though this is not essential. We re-
gard Lesperdeza as one of the most val
liable of our summer grazing plants,
and il viii improve the quantity. and
quality of heritage obtained from a Ber-
muda sod. Lespedeza is grown for hay
in some sections where the soil is espe-
cially rich, and bottom lands are valua-
BILE for it's cultivation. On uplands il
seldom obtains a sufficient start toI
Justify its handling as a hay crop. You'll
that LespedeZa is essential
ly a summer growing legume and thatl
it is cut down by the first frost in thel
fall and slow in starting in the spring
We advise that you plant at least twol
bushels or more of bur clover seed onl
your Lespedeza pasture lands as SOON
as seed is available from the spring.
crop which will be from the 1st to 18th
of July. If you can secure a stand of
bur clover it will grow i'm the fall and
winter to be succeeded by the Bermuda
and Lespedeza i'm the summer, and thus
furnish you an all the year round pas
ture. i
a GOOD RATION FOR A DAIRY COW.