The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-08-12
FARM NOTES BY
THE COUNTY AGENT

THE COUNTY AGENT
Now is fine time to give the cane
crop side dressing of fertilizer. I'M
less liberal application of lot fer
tilizer or of a commercial fertilizer
containing large per centage cf
ammonia has already been made to
the cane, it win pay to use dress
ing of nitrate of soda. Whether this
is needed or not can be determined by
the color and growth of the cane. If
the plant is well grown for its age
and has good green color. much am
monia will not be necessary. But If
the leaves are somewhat pale IN color
and the plant undersized, more am
monia will improve the crop. Cot
ton seed meal is generally recognized
as a good fertilizer for cane and is
the one commonly used. but at the
present price for it and nitrate of
soda it will be much cheaper to use
the nitrate. The meal will cost abort
$40 per ton and viii supply 40
pounds of ammonia. The soda is now
about $100 per ton and will furnish
2S0 pounds of ammonia. Allowing
$40 fo rthe value of the phosphoric
acid and the potash contained in the
meal and deducting this from $40,
the ammonia in the meal is found to
cost $50 or 40 cents per pound. The
ammonia from the soda figures out 26
cents a pound. From this it is easily
seen that the nitrate is So per cent
cheaper than the meal. Since the
quality of the syrup is about the
same from either fertilizer, it viii be
wise to use the soda in preference to
the meal so long as there is such a
great difference in the price.
Also, it will be well to prolong the
cultivation of the cane just as long
as it is possible to go through the
niddles. Extreme care. though,
should be used to cultivate very shall
low and not disturb the roots. It paws
to keep the weds and grass out of
the cane and to keep the soil stirred
ON top just as long as the cane con-
tinues to grow. or as long as it is
possible to get between the rows with
a team.
On the lime soils of the county
sweet clover (melilotus) should prove
an important hay and pasture crop,
It is close reltaive of alfalfa and
will grow luxuriantly on soils toe
| poor and otherwise unsuited for al
falfa. If cut when coming into bloom
the hay can hardly be distinguished
from alfalfa, and it viii give several
| cuttings in a season. It is one Of the
/ lest pasture plants for hill lands be-
cause of its ability to grow on soils
unsuitable for other plants. Also
as soil builder, it is one Of the bes'
known. In the South it win grow
both during winter and summer and
furnish grazing the entire year. Onet
/ field is seeded, it will continue te
produce annually if undisturbed
Seed should be sown in October anC
i November at the rate of 10 to IL
pounds per acre. the smaller amouni
for pasture and the larger amouni
for hay. We shall be glad to assis
any one in trying out this plant aEG
hope few farmers will be interested
enough to put in small planting
. All that we need to make Florida tn,
| greatest cattle section of the coun
II try is a good winter grass. or plant
II It may be that sweet clover will serv'
this purpose in Marion county.
i Also, we believe that the littl,
white clover will prove success o.
much of the land of the county. It j
lover of lime and can be seen nov
| growing splendidly in many vacan
places around Ocala and along tn
roads where there is plenty of linn
in the soil. It has preference. tho
| for rich and damp soils and on tn
| heavy hammock lands would no doub
do well If raw lime were applies
where no lime rock is present Thi
clover seldom grows high enough 70
hay, but makes good grazing for al
kinds of farm animals and supple
the important food element protein
which is deficient in our oats and ~
j pasturage. Either as crop alone
/ or with oats and rye, we think
worth a trial. BY itself, ten pound
of seed win be needed, but wit
other pasture crops two to Nv
pounds viii be sufficient Plant in DC
tober and November.
Il VIM. A. Seasons,
County Agent.