Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-06-15
Plant All Stubble Lands.

An even greater increase in the
food and feed crops in North Carolina
is going to result from the planting of
grain land in second crops than from
the additional acreage in the spring
planting is the opinion of the State
has begun a vigorous campaign to in
crease the cultivated acreage of these
stubble lands. If all Of the small grain
land could be cultivated In a second
crop the yield would be tremendous
in terms Of corn. something like 90
100000 bushels; in terms of forage
100000 tons. The whole situation is
interestingly and succinctly summed
up in a letter which the Commission
has just addressed to the Food Con.
servation Commission in the 100 coun-
ties of the state. In this letter Ex-
ecutiye Secretary John Paul Lucas
says:
We have presented to us in the i'm
mediate future our greatest oppor-
tunity for increasing our acreage of
food and feed crops. North Carolina
has this year approximately 100000
acres in wheat, oats. and other small
grain. All OF this land will be avail
able for a second food or feed crop.
In years past, according to the best
information am able to obtain some
thing like rs per cent Of this land has
remained in stubble until the follow
ing fall or spring. In some counties
little stubble Is allowed to remain;
In others almost all Of 1t is left idle.
The same percentage would give us
this year about 100000 acres OF tillable
land most of 1t in fine shape to be put
into another crop lying idle in time
OF stress-and in time Of oppor.
tunity.
The harvesting season for small
grains Is here. Land that can be put
in shape at once can very easily grow
and mature crop Of corn, which will
mature anywhere in the state when
planted by June 18th In some sec.
lions 1t will mature when planted even
later. Soy beans and sweet potatoes
can be planted any time during this
month. Cowpeas, soybeans and sor.
ghum for forage and Irish potatoes
can be planted UP to July Is and goth.
In the mountain sections buckwheat
is an excellent catch crop and should
be planted generally.
With all of these excellent crops
available for plate planting we have q
wonderful opportunity before us. In
many counties we are handicapped be.
cause Of the lack of labor and limited
by the capacity OF our livestock, but
we must overcome these obstacles to
as great an extent as possible. In
many instances land can be put into
acceptable shape by cross or double
discing instead OF breaking, thus per-
hitting OF an economy Of labor both
OF man and beast,
All sorts of seed are high, but to
Offset this the products are sure to be
high Also. And then IL the farmer will
be judicious in the use Of seed he can
stretch them out little further than
he has been accustomed to doing
Sweet potatoes can be planted from
cuttings from early vines.
Soy beans should be planted in rows.
one bushel being sufficient to plant
three acres. Cowpeas may be more
economically planted in rows, either
by themselves, or If planted for forage,
mixed with sorghum. Half bushel
Of peas or the mixture will be most
ample for an acre, and planted in
rows thus and cultivated once or
twice will yield approximately as
much IL they were broadcasted. BY
soybeans, cowpeas and sor.
ghum as suggested the seed per acre
will cost little II any more than we
have been paying In years past.