Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-27
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
By DR.. ANDREW NJ SOULG

with profit on practically all the red
lands of Georgia and especially those
which have clay subsoil. 1t does
not seem to do so we'll on the lighter
and smaller types Of soil, but it may
be that we shall yet discover types
suited to the needs of such areas.
At present, very little money has
been made available to study the
problems associated with the sue
cessful extension of the areas devot-
ed to alfalfa in Georgia. Those who
are familiar with the situation know
that there is much still to be dlscoV-
cred that is of vital Importance to
the welfare of our people. The state
could make no better investment
than to encourage the work which
has been instituted along this line
by the Georgia State College of Ag-
riculture.
Up to the present time it would ap-
pear that there are number of va
rieties of alfalfa now not cultivated
in the state that are better adapted
to our climate and soils than those
on which we have been relying in
the past. Our general experience
leads us to conclude that some va
rieties developed in South America
offer special promises for cultiva-
ton on an extensive scale in this
state. Only a beginning has been
maze IN testing out ING dudpldDllIIy
of the various strains cultivated in
the west, and there are plenty of
new sorts of alfalfa which, so far
as we now know. have never been
grown even in an experimental way
in the state of Georgia. Aside and
beyond this situation, however, let
us review the present status of al
faIfa production in Georgia and see
how those interested in its cultiva-
ton should proceed in order to es-
tablish it successfully. Men ion has
already been made of the type of
soil to which it is best adapted. The
first thing, therefore, is to choose a
proper site. This should be we'll
drained area Uplands have proven
more successful in our experience
than bottom lands. Alfalfa will not
stand prolonged overflow. The crop
does best on a well-drained, rather
porous soil. There are undoubtedly
many areas on which an effort has
been made to establish it and where
a record of failure has been written.
All these lands needed was tile
required better surface drainage
or deeper preparation prior to plant
ing. Lots of our soils have been Gull
tiVated so shalloWly for years past
that a hard-pan has formed few
inches below the surface which even
the unusually vigorous tap-root OF
alfalfa cannot penetrate. Let us not
charge the plant with failure to do
it's part until we are sure that we
have provided it with a fair situa-
ton under which to grow and de-
velop.
Having chosen a we1l-drained site,
the next thing to do is to break the
land to a good depth. This may be
done at any season of the year that
will tho nl1H6lin0 of the SllD-
soil. In preparing land for alfalfa,
it is best to subsotl the ground. 1t
is neN desirable TO increase the
humus supply to an appreciate de-
gree. A legume should, therefore, be
planted on the LAND. Of course any
but cowpeas, by reason of their pc
culiar characteristics, are best suited
for this purpose. The land should
be lined before the peas are planted,
raw lime rock should be used for this
purpose. Scatter the lime broadcast
over the soil after 1t has been broken
and work it we'll into the surface
with a harrow. Fertilize the cow
peas with acid phosphate applied at
Use along with the acid phosphate
100 pounds of kainit or some other
carrier of potash that will supply
the same proportionaIe amount OF
potash. When the cOWpeaS are ready
to cut for hay turn them under to
the greatest depth practicable. Cow
peas are usually in condition to cut
for hay when the lower end of the
pods and the peas down near the
ground begin to turn yellow. Just
as soon as the cowpeas are turned
under. the land should be rolled. This
is to firm and compact it. 1t should
then be narrowed. By this means,
the moisture from the lower soil will
be brought promptly to the surface
of the ground. This will. cause the
cowpeas to decay more quickly than
would otherwise occur. If harrow
were not used. the moisture brought
to the surface would escape, into the
air, thus causing. the land to dry
out. When this happens, the cow
peas will fire-fang in the. soil, and
the nitrogen they contain would
largely be lost into the air, the ply
steal condition of. the land would not
be improved as a result of turning
them under and the benefits which
it was expected to secure from the
whole operation would be largely
nullified. After cowpeas have been
turned under and the land rolled and
narrowed as indicated. put on two
to three tons more of crushed lime
rock. Rather finely ground rock
should be given preference so that
it will exert the largest measure of
benefit in the soil in the shortest
period of time. This lime should be
narrowed into the surface areas
and NOT ba ploued Updar Tba ran