Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-06

| ed States many years ago, and is more
or less favorably known in many sec
lions of the country. In some parts
of the south IL has been grown for
several years past on a considerable
scale. This appears to be notably true
of certain sections of North Carolina.
The movement of the boil weevil
across the southeastern states having
led 30 the conclusion that il will be
difficult to grow cotton economically
and successfully I'm some Of the infest-
ed territory, attention has been center
ed on the possibility of growing other
crops as substitutes for cotton which
would add TO the income of the farmer
in an acceptable manner and supply the
oil mills with a sufficient amount of
seed to crush TO enable them to con-
tinue their opera tons in the face Of a
decreasing supply of cotton seed. Just
what damage the boil weevil is going
TO do i'm the affected territory is still
a matter of speculation, and it may be
that there will not be any decrease in
the total tonnage of cotton seed as
some peopel now anticipate. In fact,
the chances are that if the infested ter
ritory is properly handled and the
farmers adopt the new plan of manage
ment which the presence of the weeyil
makes necessary, il will still be posi-
BILE to produce as much cotton as for
merly though the centers of production
may be somewhat changed. In fact,
the demand for fibers in all parts of the
world is likely to be so great that it
would be the part of folly to abandon
the cultivation of cotton. However, the
foregoing is aside from the main issue
of the present discussion. for in any
event there will be an increased de-
mand for oils and fats in addition to
what we are now producing. should we
maintain the present output or even In
crease il materially.
Ii is natural, therefore. that much
interest should center in the POSSIBLE
ties of soy bean production in the
south. This legume has been sufficient
" cultivated to show that it is adapted
for growth over wide areas of terri
tory. and that while it can probably be
grown with considerable success in the
coastal plains area, il will have
strong competitor i'm that section in
the peanut which thrives so admirably
in the sandy soils which predominant
there and which has already establish
ed itself firmly in the affections of the
people and is likely TO be much more
extensively cultivated in the future
than i'm the past on that account. In
fact. in a considerable number of coun-
some damage. the cultivation of the
peanur has already taken on consider
a Die proportions, and since the farm
ers have obtained a good return per
acre as compared with cotton, they are
likely to emphasize the production of
this crop.
The peanut is not so we'll adapted for
cultivation in the red clay land of
the Piedmont section as the soy bean.
and on that account will not likely find
the favor on clay lands which will be
accorded the soy bean. In so far as oil
WELD is concerned. the peanut will pro-
duce more per ton than the soy bean,
but apparently the yields which may
be expected from the soy bean and pea
nut crop are so nearly alike that in
the long run the output of oil per acre
will be approximately the same. Hence,
il will not be a great advantage to Gull
tivate one to the neglect of the other.
This would appear to be one of natures
wise Conversations in providing two
distinctly different soil and climatic
areas with crops which can be grown
with equal advantage. The quality of
oil produced by both crops is certainly
very fine. and either one under refine
ment can be used with equal satisfac-
ton for the porpose to which the other
is adapted. Either one of these oils
can be substituted for cotton seed oil.
The soy bean when the oil is extracted
produces a meal very rich in protein
and very desirable for combining with
corn and other cereals as food fo-
live stock. In this respect ii enjoys
quite as much advantage as the peanut.
Moreover. the soy bean is easily she'll
ed. and therefore a higher grade of feed
can possibly be produced than is true
Of the peanut unless the manufacturer
is willing to go TO the trouble and eX-
pense of removing the hulls. This does
not seem TO be either wise or desirable
practice at the present time as peanut
meal naturally runs high in protein.
In the matter of planting soy beans,
one should follow much the same prac-
tice as with cowpeas when sown in
drills In other words, this crop may
be planted in rows "a to SO inches apart,
depending on the size of the variety and
the natural fertility of the land. We
are inclined to favor planting nj rows
about 80 inches apart. The beans should
be sown so as to leave them about one
foot apart in the drill. They could, of
course be planted in hills and cultivated
in both directions if this were desirable.
They should be planted on the level and
NAV be drilled into the ground. This
inSureS. their UNIFORM covering. " hSi
pIanted in drills a large quantity of
seed will not be required, only about
half bushel per acre. When broadcast
ed probably A bushel should be sowr.
we do not think broadcasting desirable
method of handling this crop, however.
When sown in drills light surface Gull
tivation should be given to hold weeds
and grass iu check. At the time OF
pIanting not less than 300 pounds Of
acid phosphate should be used under
the drill row In former times some
potash could be added with advantage
II should not he necessary to use nitro
gen on land intended for soy beans IS
they belong TO the family Of legumes
and should be able to elaborate such
nitrogen as they need from the air. As
a rule. this crop does not need to ne
though possibly this might
be an advantage once in a while on new
soil II the land is very acid ii shoU
he lined at the rate OF one ton of the
ground lime per acre.
As to varieties which may be grown
TO advantage, the Virginia, Black, Mann
moth Yellow, Wilson and Pekin have all
done well i'm our test plats at Athens.
where they have been grown for several
years in succession. The largest yield
ever obtained was 3S.4S bushels per acre
which was a distinctly exceptional yield,
the nearest approach to IL on any other
occasion having been 1913 bushels. The
average Weld with Virginia for three