Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-11
think of ashes from oak, pine
and poplar timber?

and poplar timber?
Land of the character you de-
scribe, no doubt, contains a fairly
liberal amount Of nitrogen, but is
| likely to be relatively deficient in
phosphoric acid and potash. Most
! low-lying soils are not as well sup
piled with these elements as upland
areas, therefore, I would suggest
that you use a fertilizer under Irish
potatoes which contains a relative
ly large amount of phosphoric ACID
and potash 1 believe you will find
a formula containing 8 per cent
phosphoric acid, per cent nitro
gen and A or per cent potash very
satisfactory for the purpose you
have in mind. 1t makes very little
difference from which sources the
available elements of plant food are
derived.
There is an opinion that it is bet
ter to use sulphate Of potash rather
than muriate in connection with the
production Of Irish potatoes. This
is due to the fact that the muriate
is supposed to make the potatoes
more watery when cooked. We
have not observed much evidence
Of this, however, in our own expert
ence and would not hesitate to use
either sulphate or muriate under
this crop. Some potash can be OBJ
tanned from oak, pine or poplar
trees. The amount of potash obtain
ed in the ashes derived from these
trees, however, is relatively small
and you would have to use a large
amount Of unleached ashes per acre
to supply your land with an appre-
GABLE amount of potash. If these
ashes have been subject to teaching
it would hardly pay you to haul
them. If not, it might pay you to
put or as much as three tons per
acre. Scatter them over the sur
face Of the ground and harrow them
in before the crop is planted.
Irish potatoes should prove to be
satisfactory crop in your section Of
the state, provided you get them in
the ground early enough.
Value of Buckwheat
r. D. j., Adairsville, Ca,
writes: I wish to know if buck
wheat can be grown profitably
in this section of the south.
Buckwheat is crop which should
be grown far more generally in the
south. It is valuable as a food for
poultry and for other purposes as
well. It may be sown in the early
spring or the late summer. 1t takes
about two months to mature. 1t is
crop which is easily grown and
makes a good yield of grain. The
flowers furnish a very desirable nee.
tar for bees, and it is an excellent
soil improver. Where weeds prove
troublesome, it is a good smother
crop, and helps put the soil in ex-
cellent condition for fall planting.
Buckwheat, Of course, makes a
fine grade of flour, and is used large
ly for the making Of hot cakes in
many sections of the country. This
crop does not produce grain well in
hot weather, hence sowing should be
done early in the spring and late in
the fall. It takes about one bushel
Of seed per acre, and may be broad,
casted or put in the grain drill. We
prefer the latter method Of plant
ing. It is an easy crop to grow, and
there is no reason why relatively ex-
tensive areas should not be pro.
duced in many sections Of Georgia
where this crop could be produced
for a variety of purposes.
The Japanese and the Silver Hull
are two Of the standard sorts.
Growing Oats i'm an Orchard
G. D. S., Tallapoosa, Ga,
writes: I have some oats plant
ed in an apple orchard and they
are doing very well, but I have
recently been told that they will
kill the trees. Is there any
thing in this?
Oats and rye are often used as
winter cover crops in orchards. The
idea in planting these crops is tc
furnish a winter cover to the land
and prevent it's washing or erosion.
Their use is particularly desirable
on hilly land or where there is an
evident tendency for the soil to
wash away. We use cover crops
in our orchard every winter. It is
difficult sometimes to get them
planted as soon as we desire because
of the dry weather which often pre-.
walls in the fall in this part OF
Georgia. We plow these crops under
very early in the spring for the en-
richment Of the land, then harrow
S|AlA ASAA IAO oOllD anu LLlSl1 plctIl
cowpeas or some other 1egume for
the purpose of providing a sum
mer cover crop. This is done also
with the idea of preventing erosion
and for the enrichment Of the soil
Legumes gather nitrogen out OF
the air and so provide an essential
plant food with which our lands as
a rule are not overly we'll supplied
OF course, they may become so rich
| in nitrogen that they over stimulate
| the growth of the trees at the ex
pense Of the fruit production. Should
this occur then one might leave of
the use Of the cover crops. We
| have seldom seen an instance o.
this character, however, and do moi
think it is likely to occur under
ordinary conditions pertaining in
| Georgia.
| In addition to using cover crops
it is good practice to fertilize your
land quite literally with phosphorit
acid and potash so as to keep the
soil in well-balanced condition as
to its supply of plant food, and thus
more adequately meet the needs
and requirements Of the growins
trees.
Potato Slips From Old Vines
| w. r. H, Whigham, Ga,
writes: Will sweet potato vines
left out in the field all winter
make good potatoes if put out in
the spring? Would they be as
good as slips taken from a draw
! bed?
It is true that sweet potatoes may
be propagated from the vines lief
in the fields as per- your suggestion
When vines are preserved for this
purpose they are generally rolled III
in masses much as one would stacl
hay for curing, and they are ther
covered with straw and other mate
rial to protect them from damage
during the winter. In the spring
| these stacks are opened up and the
| vines c1It ont and p1antnd We dr