Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-07-06

and ceremony at the front door of
the state capitol building.
rather than in one. Fifty pounds at
time would be a very good guam
be made about two weeks apart.
We think the real cause of the
loss of melons in shipment is most
likely due to what is known as stem
end rot. You can control this trou--
BILE with a considerable degree of
success by proceeding as follows:
When the melons are out in the field,
leave a long stem on them. When
they are transferred into the car,
take a good, sharp knife and cut a
piece of the stem off. Daub the fresh
cut ends with a mixture made up Of
water and starch and containing
about 6 per cent bluestone.
Improving a stand of Blue Grass
r. L. S., Commerce, Ga,
writes: The blue grass on my
lawn is not as thick as 1 would
like to have it. Should let the
blue grass go-to seed and let it
fall, and come up volunteer
another year, or would it be bet
ripe and threshed by hand and
sown on the thin spots? Which
is the best time for sowing,
spring or fall? My front lawn is
we'll shaded and 1 think blue
grass should do well on it.
There is no reason why blue grass,
when it attains proper maturity In
this climate should not produce vi
able seed. OF course, comparatively
few seed is produced in Georgia on
account of our climatic conditions,
but there is no reason why more of
it should not be developed under ia
vorable conditions. This grass is
quite likely to make a desirable de-
velopment and reach a satisfactory
state of maturity on a lawn which IS
we'll shaded as yours appears to be.
It would be an advantage, therefore,
to let your blue grass mature and
drop after it ripens on the ground.
When it's transformation has been
completed, then you might harrow,
rake, or scarify the soil so as to COW
er it. 1t would be a good plan to
ing vegetable matter obtained from
low place in the forest or with
thoroughly rotted yard manure.
One desiring to seed blue grass on
a lawn should sow it about the f1f-
teenth of October to the first of No
vember. A good deal depends on
seasonal conditions. OF course, you
should sow the seed more thickly on
those parts where the grass is now
thin. We de not think you can hope
to have much satisfaction from seed
ing blue grass in the spring in our
climate.
believe a formula running high
in nitrogen is desirable to use on
your lawn. 1 generally use about
two sacks on my own lawn of a for
mula containing from 4 to per cen!
of nitrogen, to 9 per cent of phos-
phoric acid and from 3 to 5 per cent
of potash. I generally put one ap-
plication on in late March Or early
April and the other some time in
May or June, when there is a good
season in the soil. 1 seldom use any
fertilizer in the autumn, preferring
to enrich the land in the, manner in
dictated above.
Feeding Barley to work Stock
H. C. E., Bostwick. Ga, writes:
My oat crop this year is about
10 per cent barley, and after be-
ing cured the barley heads are
very hard and dry, and wish to
know if you think it is safe to
feed it in the straw.
There is no reason why you should
not feed the oat hay containing a
little barley to your live stock. This
crop is extensively grown in the
north and the straw is largely used
for stock feed. Occasionally the
boards may make the mouths of ami
mails sore temporarily This is
passing condition which soon adjusts
itself Our experience with feeding
hay of this kind makes us feel that
we can recommend it's use to you in
the manner indicated with safety.
GROUND OYSTER SHELLS AS
POULTRY FEED
D. G. E. writes: l would like to know
something of the value of ground oyster
shells for poultry feed, and also as
fertilizer.
Ground oyster shells make an ex
ceIlent grit food for poultry, and
this material is used when properly
prepared to considerable extent
by up o-date poultrymen. Pulverized
oyster shells are of much value for
supplying calcium to land deficient in
this element as any other carrier Of
this material. The strength and
value of oyster shells is Influenced
to some extent by the amount of
mud or dirt adhering to them. Under
normal conditions, oyster shells run
high in lime, containing 80 to 95
per cent of calcium carbonate. There
is no reason why material of this
kind. if relately finely ground. should
not be a valuable amendment to any
soil deficient in calcium.
In the south we grow a consider
able quantity of leguminous crops,
and we are adding annually to the
areas of land devoted to this type of
plant. Land intended for alfalfa,
cowpeas, soy beans, velvet beans, pea
nuts, vetches and other standard farm
crops will be benefited bv an appli-
cation of finely ground oyster shell
lime. This material should be used
in proportion to the needs of the
soil and the requirements of the
crop. Under normal conditions, an
application of one ton every three to
five years will be found satisfactory.
When preparing the land for planting
to alfalfa as much as four to six
tons should be used per acre.