Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-20

:ors r,g gard one ton of cottonseed meal
- equal i'm milk production to two to
three tons of velvet bean meal. The
real value is probably somewhere DE
,ween these two eNtrmeS.
As grazing crop the velvet bean has
been used to a considerable extent in
many parts of the south. Such sta
tistics as are available indicate that an
acre in velvet beans will furnish about
half the grazing needed by a COW for
thirty days. Even then there may be
some beans left to be harvested. There
are statements on record TO the effect
that an acre in velvet bans will carry
beef animal for about four months
Three months of grazing on this crop
has been known to put beef animals in
fairly good condition for slaughter,
though some additional feeding to i'm
prove the quality of the fat seems to
be desirable In the case of pigs fed
exclusively on velvet beans, the fat has
been found to be dark and disagreeable
in odor and taste. This difficulty may
be overcome, as already indicated. by
pen feeding on corn for a few weeks be-
fore slaughter
In handling velvet beans the greatest
economy will probably be obtained by
grazing them as extensively as possi-
BILE. thereby lessening the cost of har-
vesting. The beans are so hard that
they do not decay and the crop may
therefore be grazed on sandy lands dur
ing the greater part of the winter. This
is wonderful advantage to land owners
mall the coastal plains region, enabling
them to handle large numbers OF live
stock during the winter season and fin
ish them off with a fair degree of sat
isfaction at a comparatively small cost.
Results obtained to date indicate that
one of the best ways to feed velvet
beans to horses and mules and beef and
dairy cattle which are being stall fed is
TO soak them for about twenty-four
hours. 1t may not be necessary to soak
them for hogs, but If soaked. this class
of live stock will eliminate the bulls to
better advantage. In spite of the ire
mendous crop which has been made in
the southeastern states. we have plenty
of animals. or can obtain them to util-
ize every pound of velvet beans pro-
duced to advantage. Just in proportion
as we do this will We make possible the
enrichment of our lands with yard man
ure and so place our agriculture on a
more permanent basis.
\. W. s.. Thomson. Ca. writes: We are
being warned around here that II we do not
rase wheat will not have any next year.
| have tried for many years to raise
7
bushels to the acre, which OF course docs
not pav EXPENSES. If I could raise from
eight 10 twelve bushels, | would not mind
trying. ] am interested in farming, though
mos tof nv farms are rented. hut wish ~
comply with the wish Of the government
in far possible.
As you probably know, the govern
ment OF the United States has under
taken to guarantee farmers $500 per
bushel for the wheat crop of 1918. ThiS
was done after mature elaboration be-
cause the government realized that a
special effort must be made to induce
our farmers to raise more wheat. .Ameri-
ca is one of the few countries in which
, wheat can be grown on a large scale.
The lighting countries of Europe are all
short of wheat 1t has been proven after
careful investigation. that it Will cost
the farmer eighty cents to produce a
bushel of wheat, thus the guaranteed
price of $500 will net him pront Of
S1.2O per bushel.
There is no reason why YOU should
not be able to grow wheat with success
in YOUR section of the state. Top dress
| ing with sulphate of ammonia or nitrate
of soda is desirable in the spring or the
year The government is very much IN
earnest i'm it's request to have our
Georgia farmers raise, rot only all the
wheat that is needed for home consump-
| ton. but for export abroad as we'll. il
we cannot undertake 10 feed ourselves
with the wonderful amount of land and
splendid climate we have at our COM
mand the government is right in feeling
that it should not be called on to supply
| our needs from other sections or the
country 1t is certainly not unreason-
able that they should ask us to 40 our
part under the existing situation.
Treating a Cold in the Kead.
p NJ L Esnn Iill. Ga. writes: J