Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-05-03


monia be as good a fertilizer for
sweet potatoes as nitrate of
soda?
There is no reason why sulphate
of ammonia should not be used as a
carrier of nitrogen under sweet po-
tatoes. Sulphate of ammonia is eX-
tensively manufactured and used
largely in the preparation of COM
mercial fertilizers, both in this coun-
try and abroad. 1t is a standard,
high-grade product, containing APP
proximately 81 per cent nitrogen.
The nitrogen becomes almost as
quickly available to growing plants
as that contained in nitrate of soda,
and it is, of course, not readily
leached from the land. This mate
rial will combine admirably with
potash for the purpose you have in
view. A complete fertilizer should,
as a rule, be used under sweet ptota-
toes. We recommend for your Sec
ton of the state formula contain
ing per cent nitrogen, 8 to 10 per
cent phosphoric acid, and to per
cent potash. It would not be good
policy to use a formula containing
only nitrogen and potash.
We have made a physical and chem
ical survey of the soils of your coun-
ty, as you doubtless know; therefore,
I feel that we can advise you either
specifically as to the nature and
character of the fertilizer best adapt
ed for use for various crops on the
lands in your section of the state.
We feel quite certain that mini
mum application of 800 pounds per
acre on lands of the character men
toned should be used, and 500 pounds
could be used to advantage.
Establishing an Asparagus Bed
r. P. H, Savoy, Ca, writes:
I wish some information in re-
gard to asparagus. L have four
acres 1 am thinking of putting
in asparagus, and ] wish to
know the best way to establish
it.
There are two ways in which you
might proceed to establish an area
in asparagus. You may plant the
seed, or you may put out the roots.
You will save about two years time
by planting the roots. or course
it will cost you much more to es-
tabIish four acres from roots than
from seed.
The best variety of asparagus for
cultivation in the south is known as
Palmetto. We would, plant aspara-
depending on the richness of the
land. The wider rows enable you
to cultivate it more rapidly and eff
fectively, and we do not consider this
TOO WIDE spacing. Inc lana INTENDED
for this crop should be carefully
prepared. We would prefer to en-
rich it as much as possible with
green crops plowed under, and we
do not think you can use too much
we'll rotted yard manure in associa-
ton with asparagus. In planting 1T.
it is best to lay off the rows and
then subsoil the land thoroughly.
deep trench, as it were, is de-
sirable. Put load of manure in
this and miv it well with the soil
and then put in the. roots, setting
them as you would almost any
crop of a similar nature. If you
put out the plants in the manner
indicated you should secure a crop
Of asparagus next year.
Transplanting may be done at this
,oason,. though it is getting late now
I my Judgment for the establish
slent of this crop. IF you wish to
grow your own plants proceed as
follows: Make a very rich seed bed.
1t should be we'll drained and have
large amount of well rotted yard
manure added to it. Sow the seed
thinly in the drill. The drills should
be one foot apart. When the plants
are well up cultivate frequently and
continue until the roots have deVel-
pned for one year. Transplant the
roots in rows IS inches apart and
, set them about four inches below
the surface.