Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-03-18
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW NJ SOULE

| ether is available. The best kind
of upland soil is loan, sandy loan
or clay loan. Either of these types
of soil should have a heavy loan,
sandy clay or clay subsoil that will
naturally retain the film moisture as
well as the soluble plant food with
IN reach of the plant roots.
The soil is a medium for holding
water and food, in an available FORM
for the plants to use as it is needed
Ey them, and briefly stated. a good
corr soil should be naturally fertile,
productive, we'll drained and one that
can be retained in a good mechanical
condition..
The proper preparation of the seed
bed is SO per cent of the crop. Upon
this part of the cultivation depends
the success in producing a large
yield. The seed bed is the home of
the plant and from it will receive
the largest part of it's food and wa
ter. Therefore. in order to insure Va
plentiful supply of food and water,
as we'll as a favorable condition of
the soil for the penetration of the
plant roots, the seeded should be
deep, well pulTerized, fertile and
thoroughly mixed with vegetable
natter.
When natural conditions are right
farm manureS generally give good
RESULTS though they may often be
supplemented with commercial fer
tilizer to an advantage. Where ma
nure is not to be had In sufficient
amounts commercial fertilizers may
be used to supply the plant food
needed by the crop in excess of the
natural fertility. AS an example,
suppose a field will produce 25 BUSH
els of corn per acre without any fer
- Mt ITin1d ic
be increased to so bushels per acre,
a sufficient amount of available plant
food must be supplied to the soil to
meet the needs of the increased
yield.
Applications Of 400 pounds per
acre of a fertilizer composed of
equal parts Of acid phosphate and
cottonseed meal is recommended by
some for ordinary yields. This could
be doubled where large yields are
expected. Soils that are rich in or
ganic matter need nothing further
than acid phosphate at the rate of
800 to 600 pounds per acre.
Upon the planting of the corn de-
ponds much of the success. Three
things should be noted. First, use
only good seed. Second, plant only
when the soil is in good condition.
Third, plant plenty of seed that
good stand may be had.
The distance apart Of rows will
vary with the character of the soil.
Fertile bottom land, rich in organic
matter may supply food and mois
tUre for rows three feet apart. Up
land soils are generally planted 3.5
feet to 4 feet apart. The following
table shows how many plants per
acre can be placed in rows of va
1ving distances, when the hills are
u inches apart in rows:
feet apart ..-...: 10 ~
3.5 feet apart L, 340
feet apart ............. 10, S90
! 3 feet apart '~.......':.'.'' 9 go y
feet apart ........-....... ., ~
Prolific corn can be planted much
closer than the larger cared varie-
ties. and under favorable seasons
will generally produce larger yields.
Large sing1e-eared varieties will not
yield so well when crowded close
ly in the row. 1t is often a good
plan, in order to insure full stand,
10 plant twice as thick as is desired,
and then thin to the desired distance
III Points on Selecting a Pig-"what
kind of pig shall I raise?' is the
question that many pig club boys are
asking themselves now Some have
already gotten their pigs and are
feeding them. The Berkshire, Poland
China, Duroc Jerseys and Hampshire
ere all good breeds. All four Of
these are excellent breeds and are
the only ones that are allowed to
&C mpete for prizes at the state fair
in Macon, and at the southeastern
fair in Atlanta in the pure bred class;
of course, any good grade hog VIII
be allowed to compete for the prize
in the meat class.
Mr.. James E. Downing, who has
charge of pig club work for GeoT
gia, urges every pig club boy to Sc
lect the very best individual. tina
should have good length Of bod;
should have a broad, Well-set back,
ana should stand on good, strong legs
and feet.
A number of the boys are begin
ming to think of their grazing crops
for the summer. Some are planning
to use Bermuda pasture and others
soy beans, velvet beans, peanuts ana
ether crops. Are you raising an
acre of corn to help feed that pig?
If you are, that's business.
Top Dress the Wheat-The boys
who are raising an acre of wheat are
advised to use some top dressing" OF
nitrate of soda on their wheat in
early March if they can get the nj
trate of soda at reasonable prices.
1t should be applied broadcast
when the soil is damp. However, the
Llants should not be wet for in this
case some of them may be killed by
the application. In some cases l1ghl
harrow or weeder may be run over
the acre following the application OF
the top dressing.
Are You Interested in Sheep?-The
supply of wool is getting low and the
club boys have been asked to help
out in the matter. Sheep ciuns
are going to be organized IN dlftef-
ert parts of the state and the boys
will be given a chance to help clothe
IS we'll as feed the world.
Sheep do we'll on pastures and are
very useful in cleaning up the farm
and keeping down the, grass and
weeds in the fence corners. They
pay good returns on the money IN
good pets, too. Let those who are
Interested in sheep write to Mr.. W.
J. Clarke, Athens, about getting
Why Not Join the Calf Club?-Be.
cause a baby beef is a Well-bred call
of some breed that will make the
most profitable gains from your feed
and pasture.
Because any intelligent farm boy
with proper instructions, can pro
duce a good calf.
Because every boy who can raise
feed and has a pasture can fatten
a calf at profit to himself and at
the same time produce food for the
Because your time will go further
toward increased food production
wher labor is nationwide need
Because a boy can learn how to 90
two things at time; work with live
stock and enjoy farm work.
Because the .Agricultura1 ct1b
members are expected to make the
calf division loom up at the VARIOUS
fall shows.