Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-10

acidity of the different soils is Civ
en- along with the analytical data,
and soils that show very high acid
ity would be benefited by it's use. 1t
is essential to success with such
crops as alfalfa and clover, AMI
cover, and other legumeS will usual
ly give profitable returns from lime,
as they can perform their functions
of fixing the nitrogen of the ar
more readily when the soil is well
provided with lime. In this way, it
will indirectly benefit other crops
that follow by giving them a. great
err supply of nitrogen. Lime also eX-
erts a beneficial effect on the soil
itself. Sandy soils are made less
open and leachy, and heavy clay
soils are rendered less compact and
sticky, and are thus improved in
filth, and a better circulation of air
and water is effected. In this way
it probably aids in making some of
the insoIuble plantfood in the soil
available to crops.
Flowing Clay Lands
The heavy clay lands of southwest
Georgia, such as the Greenville clay
loan, as we'll as some of the shall
low sandy loans underlain by heavy
clay subsoils, are hard to keep in
good filth. The winter rains cause
them to run together badly, espe-
cially when the organic matter is
low. Shallow blowing on such an
impervious bed does not afford suf
ficient depth of loose soil for the
absorption of moisture or for the
proper development of plant roots.
While the value of deep blowing is
often questioned, it is undoubtedly
great factor in increasing soil
fertility in connection with a lib
eral supply of organic matter. In
addition to giving a greater water
holding capacity, and drought re
sistance, deep tillage gives a greater
area for root development, and
consequently a greater supply of
plant food to be drawn upon by
for plant food and moisture in such
a soil when broken only four or
five inches may be amply supplied
if the depth Of we'll titled soil is
increased to 10 or II inches. Ere
quent shallow cultivation will De
necessary to prevent the loss by
evaporation of the moisture thus
stored up
A system of permanent agricul-
ture must be based upon a sys-
tematic rotation of crops. The ro-
tation should be so planned that
Clearly cultivated crops, such as cot
ton, may be followed by some crop
leaving considerable litter or stubble
on the ground; and that crop draw
ing heavily upon some element of
plant food, as say nitrogen, may be
followed by a crop requiring less
nitrogen, or legume which will get
part of it's nitrogen from the at
mosphere.
The presence of the boil weevil
has forced the farmer to give more
attention to rotation and diversifi-
cation, and the peanut is becoming
an important money crop in the
Coastal Plain section Of the stats
Any suggested rotation should in
clude this crop as it takes the place
of cotton as a money crop, and at
the same time aids in starving out
the weevil. While the peanut is a
legume, it will not benefit the sell
where the entire crop is removed,
being even harder on the land than
cotton, since no residue is left on
the ground. 1t is a poor practice,
therefore, to follow small grain with
peanuts as money crop. There is
an advantage to the soil, however.
when thte crop is left on the land
to be grazed off.
The following is a good rotation
for southwest Georgia:
First year-Corn with velvet
beans and North Carolina peanuts
(for grazing).
Second year-Cotton or Spanish
peanuts (money crop.
Third year-Small grain followed
by cowpeas for hay, or to be turned
under for green manure.
Fattening Pigs in the Winter Time
e. s., Quitman, Ga, writes: I am
thinking of buying 200 to 800 head of
pigs, weighing about 100 pounds. to
feed for the spring market. What feed
would you suggest giving them so they
will make tn chest gains? What amount
of fed in self-feeders with tank
age? Is it better to feed on rye
patch or rape during this fattening pc
Rod or would you advise either? What
profit might L expect to make?
Hogs weighing 80 to 100 pounds
would have to be fed for so to 90
days to finish them off satisfactorily
for market. The profits to be made
from an enterprise of this character
depend on conditions which cannot
be always foreseen or controlled. If
there is a good price for hogs next
spring then this enterprise should
be successful. If you have to feed
on a falling market with high priced
concentrates it is doubtful under
taking. Much depends on the amount
of grain you might have at home