Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-19

less cur, or at least to confine him so
that his depredations would not result
in the destruction of the sheep indus
try, as IL is true of some of our south
ern states where it can be said with
aptness and propriety that sheep have
literally been thrown to the dogs.
There is no reason why cereal pro-
duction should not be increased in the
southern states. We have given COM
paratively little attention to this phase
Of our agriculture, but with the coming
Of the boil weevil and the establish
ment of crop rotations and more IN
tensive practice cereals will occupy an
increasingly important position in our
agriculture.
A review of the situation therefore
indicates that while there are many
serious problems confronting us in the
matter of producing and maintaining
an adequate food supply most OF these
can be solved If we Immediately put
into practice the scientific knowledge
we possess which will enable us TO
eliminate the frightful waste OF AMI
NAL and other products and set In mo-
ton the forces necessary TO enable US
to use our undeveloped natural SOIL re-
sources i'm an intelligent and construc-
tive manner.
SILO SUITABLE FUN AliiiNA
COWS.
T. j. D., Montezuma, Ca, writes: l am
interested in building a silo. What Is the
hest type for farm use and the proper saLo
for twenty TO thirty cows Nouu Il crea'I
spparator pay for this many cows where
only take from six to eight gallons per ia!
from cRlyesF
You may build a silo of various ma
terials. A cheap wood stave silo. circu-
lar in form, can be built of rough UNI
dressed lumber and held together by
wooden laths silo of this kind can
be built quite cheaply. We do not ad-
vocate this construction, however, eX-
cent where the farmers income Is very
small, because it will pay TO build
better type of silo than this. we 90
not think you could do better ordinarily
than to build a stave silo. the cement
structures are, of course, more perma-
nent. but it is very difficult to get ce-
rnent now and the iron needed Tor re-
Enforcing. We think you are more like
ly to succeed in erecting a good staVe
silo at a fairly reasonable cost than
any other type which has proved salts
factory in Georgia up to the present
time.
A structure capable of holding the
food needed by thirty cows for reed
ing period of six months should be III
teen feet In diameter anu I'm y NV
high. We think it would be better for
Won to build a somewhat larger silo,
saw sixteen feet in diameter and thirty
FIVE to forty feet high. You Will hnd
il an advantage to have an abundance
of silage to feed from six to eight
months of the year, and most people
make the mistake of under, rather than
oyerbuilding their silo structures.
One having as many cows as you have
could well afford to purchase cream
separator, especially if one is engaged
in the butter making business. There
are many standard types of this ma
chine on the market which are satisfac-
tory. The one mentioned in your letter
has given satisfactory results in the
tests made here at the college.
THE AVERAGE ANALYSES OF WOOD
ASHES.
G. ID. Mashburn, Hawkinsyille, Ga,
writes: What is the analysis or hickory
ashes and what ought they 10 be worth
for fertilizer?
The analysis of wood ashes varies
considerably depending on the kind of
tree from which they are derived the
land on which the tree grew and the
method by which the ashes are han
died after burning. Ashes, as you prob
ably know, contain a certain amount
of desirable plant food, but it is in a
very soluble form, hence they should
not be exposed to heavy rains.
Hickory ashes probably contain be-
tween 4 and As per cent of phosphoric
acid and per cent and upward of pot
ash.
Hardwood ashes contain anywhere
from per cent of phosphoric acid up
to 4 or per cent. The average of many
analyses is about 2 per cent. The con-
tent of potash varies about as much as
phosphoric acid, but the average for pot
ash is about per cent. We think it
would be reasonably safe for you. to
conclude, therefore, that the ashes in
question, if not 1.5 to per cent of
phosphoric acid and 5 to per cent of
potash. Both of these, as you know, are
essential elements of plant food, hence
wood ashes at the present time have
a considerable fertilizing value. They
are particularly serviceable because OF
the content of potash which they con-
tain. This element is now so scarce
and high in cost that il gives ashes an
abnormal plant food value. Available
phosphoric acid costs now something
like ) cents per pound Available pot
ash on the other hand, costs about 30
cents. From this you can calculate the
value of a ton of wood ashes of the
grade mentioned.