Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-07

like to know what kind of sheep is best to
raise for wool, am interested in grow
ing this class Of animals.
There are many breeds of sheep
which can be raised with considerable
success in Georgia. For your section
of the state we would be disposed to
advise the breeding of Southdowns'
Hampshires or Oxford-downs. We think
this type of sheep would prove more
valuable and desirable in your section
than the long-wool sort, such as the
Lincoln and the Leicester. In the south
a rather quick maturing, active breed
is better adapted to our condition than
the larger. long-wooled types such as
those last mentioned. OXford-downs
are especially we'll adapted to Georgia.
They are one of the smallest of the
better established races of sheep and
they are quite prolific and active and
therefore, good grazers and mature
early. They are valuable for what may
be termed LIGHTHOUSE lambs" They, of
course, have no special qualifications
to recommend them above the Dorset in
the matter OF prolificacy or early ma
turing and in fact. we would not hest
tate to advise the handling of any
of the breeds mentioned for the pur-
pose you probably have in mind.
In order to raise sheep economically
il is desirable that you have some Gull
tivated pastures and that you grow
considerable areas of cereals which are
planted early in the fall so as to afford
grazing during the winter and early
spring. Under conditions pertaining in
Georgia one should be able to have
lambs dropped in January, ready for
market by May. provided sufficient
green feed is available and suitable
com binatiOnS of grain are fed
X X *
Crops Suitable for Planting in Orchards
T. W. r., Rome, Ga, writes: What is
the best crop to plant in one and two
year old apple orchard? When is the best
time to plant velvet beans in corn, when
the corn is planted or wait until il is up?
We do not see that it makes much
difference when you plant a crop in an
APPLE orchard. We would prefer to plant
some crops in drills, leaving spaces TO
s feet apart on each side of the trees,
uncultivated. We would of course plant
a crop which would tend to build up the
soil. Any of the summer growing
legumes would be valuable for this, pur-
pose. Cowpeas, of course, afford one of
our best cover crops. The peas might
be picked by hand and the balance of
the crop turned under so as to enricn
the land. This would enable you to
gather quite a good deal or grain from
the soil, enough to pay you for your
time and trouble in cultivating them.
You may of course use velvet beans If
you prefer. The beans will make
good crop under ordinary conditions,
but will not yield much grain in your
section of the state. They will be valu-
able chiefly for grazing down or turning
under for the enrichment of the soil.
You should not expect to take much
plant food away from an area of land
devoted to the orchard, but should rather
endeavor TO build ii up through legu-
minous crops handled in some such man.
ner as indicated above.
Personally we would prefer to plant
velvet beans with corn or very shortly
after IL is out of the ground Beans
may be planted in the drill or along
side the stalks of corn. We think the
latter the best method If one or two
beans are dropped alongside every other
stalk OF corn and pressed into the
soil with a blunt pointed stick and COW
cred properly by the foot in passing
you should be able to obtain good stan'1
of peas. 1t will take from a gallon to
a peck OF peas to plant an acre in the
manner indicated.