Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-28

should be applied. Formulas suit
able tc use might contain or 3sper
cent of this element, s to II phos-
phoric acid, ard say to per cent
of potash. The amount to apply
will vary. Five hundred pounds and
upwards per acre could probably be
used with profit and advantage. Ma
terials of this character should as
rule be put on in the spring and
it is better after broadcasting them
the soil. This applies to a pasture
already established. In case one de-
sires to establish a grazing area from
seed, we would prefer that the plan,Li-
ing be done as a rule IN the taIt;
In the event fertilizer is to be usedd
it will be better to incorporate IL
in the land before the grass seed is
sown.
Pastures should be lined at least
once in three years. We are dis
posed to think that a ton of crushed
raw rock per acre would be the mini
mum amount to apply.
AS to varieties of grass to use,
there will be some difference Of opin-
ion. Undoubtedly Dallis grass is one
of our most valuable assets. Next
to it comes probably Louisiana car
pet grass. These two grasses are
especially valuable for the southern
part of the state of Georgia and in
the coastal plain region. In the
Piedmont section probably Bermuda
grass can be used to better ad-
vantage than any other of the tame
grasses. It's use can be supple
mented in favorable legations by
seeding orchard grass, tall oat grass,
meadow fescue, Italian rye grass:
and in some localities Timothy ana
red clover. On Bermuda pastures
Lespedeza should be sown. This also
applies to some localities in the
coastal plain region. White clover
can be used in some sections and
alsike in others. Alsike will do pet
ter on lands which are. somewhat
acid than probably any OIL the othei
clovers mentioned.
In establishing a pasture one
should exercise patience and consld-
Grafton, and not expect 1t to be nlgh-
1y productive for several years. Some
grasses will cover the land in a much
quently they. can be grazed carrier
and more freely. This applies with
particular force to Bermuda grass
when planted on soils to which IL IS
adapted. Most other grasses are
rather slow in developing, and early
and too heavy grazing may result in
their practical destruction. This mas
often led to the conclusion that there
were no grasses adapted to given 10
calities, whereas the factor OF mis-
for the condition which arose.
Undoubtedly the pasture problem
constitutes one of the greatest issues
confronting our agriculture at this
time. 1t will be many. years before
we need to use much of our idle lana
for the production OF general farm
crops. It seems clear from the eX-
perience we have had and the lnfor-
nation we have been able to gain
that grasses will be found adapted
to practically every soil and climatic
condition occurring in the great
southeastern group Of states. The
question is to find out which are the
best for a given locality, then study
their habits and plant them on SOILS
to which they are adapted and fer-
tilize and handle under condltlons
which will bring about the best re-
The cotton industry in Georgia is
said to be based on the planting OF
few seed by Oglethorpe in the VI
cinity of Savannah about 100 years
Eago, and now we see what aston1Sh-
ing proportions it has attained: 1t is
said that a prophet is not without
honor save in his own country, there
fore prophesy is dangerous and
probably an undesirable thing, but l
feel certain that before another CEN
fury has rolled around we will have
developed an animal industry in the
southeastern states of unbelievable
proportions from the STANDPOINT OIL
today. To do this we will have to
develop vast area of pasture lands
of fine quality and of great carrying
capacity. We will certainly do this
with the same relative degree of
success as attended the humble eff
fort of Oglethorpe to establish the
cotton industry.
Grass is the best friend of man
kind. The cotton farmer has had a
notion all his life that he has to
fight it. 1t is true that he does not
want it IN his cotton field and there
is no reason why he should have 1T
there. Ossacionally in wet sea-
son it has been q menace to the crop,
but under normal conditions grass
can be destroyed on land under wise
and efficient management. On the
other had, we need grass everywhere
Eoutside of our cultivated fields and
we must study the habits of the prin-
cipal varieties and adapt them so
they will help us 20 effectively solve
the problem by which we are now
confronted. This is not more diff
ficult task than we have set our
selves on many other occasions, and
I feel certain the same degree of
success will attend our efficient eff
fort along this line as we have Sc
cured with cotton, corn, velvet beans
and our other principal field and gar
den. crops.