Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-12

able to make the change How
long would be required to pre-
pare the average Georgia farm
for growing special crops for
seed, and what particular crops
are adapted to this section? Can
the loganberry, blackberries and
raspberries be grown profitably?
To what extent will county
agents assist in planning for soil
improvement and cultivation Of
crops? I would be glad for any
suggestions from you on this
subject.
There is an old saying that at is
good practice for every man to stick
to his trade-last." 1t may be that
there are retirement regulations
which you are anticipating at your
age. Otherwise, it seems to me it
would be good policy for you to stick
to the line Of work in which you
achieved distinction. On the other
hand, there is no objection to any
individual owning q small area of
land.
Most of our people think they
must possess several hundred acres
of land in order to be successful.
The average farm in Belgium con-
sists Of one and one-half to two and
one-half acres. The climate and soil
are not at all favorable to the pro-
duction Of farm crops, yet by care
full management and an intensive
system of farm practice, these small
farms are made to yield abundantly.
We can do the same thing in the
south, though much of our farm land
here in Georgia is in more or less
rundown condition. If the land is
badly washed or eroded, 1t may take
several years to put it in good con-
dition. If it has simply been de-
pleted Of humus and vegetable mat
ter, this difficulty can be more
quickly overcome. Flowing under
leguminous crops will prove help
full. The use Of waste and litter
from the woodlot and the barnyard
will also prove beneficial. In adj
dition, you may be able to buy and
apply several carloads of yard ma
nure. You probably could secure this
material at a reasonable cost from
some of the stables in or adjacent
to the city of Atlanta. There is no
finer way to enrich land, and it can
be built up in the manner indicated
in a comparatively short time. My
acquaintance with much of the ordi-
nary farm land in Georgia is such
that I feel it important to enrich
it in the manner suggested above
throughout a period Of two or three
years. I would naturally not expect
to make very much money out Of
it during this time because soil build
ing, like any other building process,
is expensive. After the land is built
up to a considerable degree, truck
ing, the cultivation of small fruits
and poultry raising may be un-
dertaken with profit where there
is a ready market available. All
sorts of small fruits and veg
etaoles can be grown to adj
vantage in our climate. The logan.
berry and the blackberry can be
cultivated with profit, as can also
the strawberry, but the land on
which Strawberries are grown should
De irrigated to secure the best re-
suits in a dry season.
Our county agent will be pleased
to call on you and give you such
aid and advice as you may need as
to the type of soil to select and the
various crops to plant. He will also
help you to formulate a plan of
operation and give you any other
help or assistance YOU may need.
G. J. c., LAGRANGE, Ga.
writes: Last spring we planted
Bermuda grass in drills over
the fairway Of our golf course.
A great deal Of this has not
lived, and am anxious to gnow
II 1T is better to resod the vacant
places during the next three
months or to wait until next
spring.
Bermuda grass will probably
make you as dense and tough a sod
for your fairway as anything you
could plant. This grass becomes
brown, and does not present an at
tractive appearance Immediately aft
er cold weather sets in, but it makes
such a dense, tough cover over the
soil that it provides grazing and
also withstands tramping remark
ably well.
We have established Bermuda
grass in variety Of ways. I think
probably our best results have fol-
lowed cutting the roots up into small
SeCIIOAS, say TWO TO three inches
square and filling the soil very full
Of them. In other words, we did
not plant in rows, but scattered them
very thic1<ly over the gorund and
covered them up with earth. A lit
tie covering is sufficient. The whole
mass should then be rolled so as to
compact the soil and insure a rapid
growth.
Bermuda grass is not likely to
make a good deal of growth from
this day forward. You could prob. |
ahlv count on ito making some de. |