Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-03-19
AGRICULTURAL
.n:1EDUCATToNl
5I@Ao SUCCESSFUL tARnw@ {
a9&D ANDREA N. SOULt.

As to cotton, we must produce it not
only to provide the fiber needed for
clothing. but for it's food value as
we'll. If we will follow the program
outlined above in 1918, we can feed
ourselves, have a reasonable surplus
to send to other sections of the coun-
try. do our full duty as cotton-pro-
ducing state, and at the same time
leave ourselves in an enviable condi-
tion of prosperity.
There is an impression that high
prices last year made Georgia prosper
GUS; that cotton was solely respon-
sible for the great amount of money
which poured into the state. In this
our people are mistaken, however. Last
year was the first year that we ever
came to the point of being self-sustain-
ing in the matter of food production
We were therefore able to keep the
money we obtained from cotton at
home instead OF sending it to other sec
tions for the purchase or essential
food. If we follow these suggestions
the same or better results will be wit
messed in the fall of 1918 as occurred
the previous year.
Plant Food Needed by New Ground
]. S. j., TalbottOn, Ga, writes: l will
appreciate any information yo ucan give
me on how 20 fertilze a forest ground
that has had two crops on II. VIII aclu
phosphate be a satisfactory fertilizer and
how much per acre should be used for
cotton7
New ground that has recently been
reclaimed from the woodland this year
should contain a fair amount of Vege-
table matter, possibly enough to supply
a sufficient amount of nitrogen to meet
the requirements of most crops. Every
thing depends on how long this land
has been in woodland and whether it
has been frequently burned over or
not. OF course. the more often it has
been burned the less nitrogen will be
found in the surface Soil You state
that this land has been cultivated for
TWO years. This may or may not have
exhausted the original humuS from the
land. Much depends on whether you let
il lay out in the open all winter and
failed to use cover crops or not. Also,
il Ihls land was subject TO violent erod-
ing and washing good amount of the
plant food contained in quickly avail
able form may have been carried away.
You are the best judge as to whether
this land will produce sufficiently well
or not without liberal fertilization. In
the event it does much nitrogen will
not be needed. In any event it will be
advisable for you to use fairly liberal
supply of acid phosphate and we sug-
gest that you use 300 pounds per acre
1t might also be advisable to use a
sack OF cottonseed meal in addition.
When and How to Use Japan Glover
J. L. H., Hazlehurst, Ca, writes. /
have about fifteen acres in wheat and
oats. At present prices of cowpeas l am
thinking OF putting on this land Lespedeza
instead. Some of the cat land is tnin and
needs improving. Expect 70 put corn and
cotton this land next year. What do
you think Of this plan!
Lespedeza or Japan clover is a sum-
mer-growing legume which will pro-
duce a considerable amount OF grazing
after it has become we'll established
This clover. of course. grows slowly
and hence you could not count on OBJ
tanning much food from it this year
In two or three years it might estab-
lish itself fairly well on land such as
you describe provided il is left undis-
turbed for that length of time. 1t is a
PROSTATE small growing clover and is
not valuable for hay except when grown
on very rich land. 1t only grows in the
summer season. hence it is of little
value for early spring or late fall graz
ms.
This crop will require about eight
pounds of seed per acre. They should
be scattered over the ground and har-
rowed in as soon as warm weather
comes
Cowpeas. though the seed may cost
a good deal. will certainly make a much
larger yield of hay or forage than you
will obtain from the Japan clover this
year. COwpeas, as you know, can be
seeded with success after wheat or oats
and in an ordinary season will make
from one up.to two and a half tons of
hay, and, we will say, from ten to if
ieen bushels of seed. These yields, of
course, apply 10 land in a fair state of
fertility.