St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1921-03-19
OF INTERESTTO
FARMER AND
STOCK MAN
(By A. E. Briggs)

In the course of these articles ]
In he course of these articles
have frequently urged the point that
in this parish the only practicable
place for reforestration is in the
farm timberlot, that our land, is
more valuable for agricultural pur-
poses than for growing timber, that
the annual fires and the pinepwoods
"razorback" as long as they con-
tinue will prevent reforestrat OF
these lands, that the posi- oillty Or
agriculture for profit depends upon
drainage, that with drainage they
have a very high value which will
bring more wealth to the parish and
to the owners of these lands than
is possible through any other means.
Last week called attention to the
velvet bean, which has unequalled
value as a green manure fertilizer
and which is also one of the most
valuable of stock feeds, and is a
on this land when well drained.
Let us now consider the conditions
under which the sweet potato may
be most important factor in de-
veloping the wealth of this parish.
Sweet Potatoes on Pineywoods
Land.
'.SWeet potatoes are particularly
adapted to newly cleared lands, such
as the cut-over pine lands OF the
South. It is better, however, to grow
corn the first year and follow with
sweet potatoes the second year.
This is especially true OF land that
has been recently cleared, because
the roots interfere with the cultiva-
ii On and harvesting of sweet po-
tatoes.' =
The sweet potato is exceptional
in that a fairly good crop can be
grown upon soils that are too poor
for the production Of the majority
Of farm crops. Sweet potatoes yie-d
far crop on the worn out tobacco
and cotton lands of the South, es-
pec1ally when used in a. rotation in
cluding some leguminous crop for
increasing the humus in the soil:
Like many other crops, the sweet
potato thrives on newly cleared land,
but the crop should not be planted
continuously in the same place.
With the sweet potato, as with other
crops, rotation is the key note 81
success"
Drainage Necessary.
s.Good drainage is essential, the
original idea of planting upon high
ridges being for the purpose OF Sc
curing better drainage. The sur
face soil should extend to a depth
of to inches, and the subsoll
should be Of such nature that it
will carry off excessive moisture
without teaching away the fertilizers
applied to the land. Planting upon
land having a loose, sandy surface
soil underlain by well-drained clay
subsoil will tend to produce the type
of rather thick, well-formed potato
that commands the highest rate. II
the surface soil is Of insufficient
depth, it should be gradually in
| creased by plowing little deeper
each year or by Jsubsoiling in the
furrow behind the regular turning
plow. /"
In this connection 1t should be
realized, as heretofore pointed out,
that drainage consists of several fac
tors. IN the fiat lands Of this par
ish, far the most important factor
is public drainage, consisting u
| opening and cleaning up the natural
streams, rivers and bayous and dig
! ging the necessary canals; some OF
| this is also necessary in the upper
part of the parish. In fact, in the
| hill lands the need for surveys and
planning is greater than in. the
southern part Of the parish, for II
requires more expert knowledge to
| plan for the great variety Of condi-
!. tons existing in. the hill lands; al
though aside from advice to the
individual farmer how to lay out hls
drainage the projects which might
be proftably made cooperative
concern will probably not be very
| considerable in mott of the upper
/ part of the parish.
The most important factors in the
northern part OF the parish are