Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-25
Improving Land With Winter
lIegUmeS

o. j. w, Uvalda, Ga, writes
[ wish TO try a few acres of Grim
son clover and hairy vetch as a
soil builder. My land is a black
or dark sand, with a lighter
sandy subsoil. two to three feet
to the clay. L wish to know the
best preparation of the land, and
will the seed need incubation.
Do they take the same or differ.
ent incubation? Do you think
these crops are as good for build
ing up the soil as the coWpea or
velvet bean?
Crimson clover and hairy vech
are two very good crops to use for
soil-building purposes. Personally,
we have not used either one in the
form of green manure without first
grazing them TO a considerable eX-
tent or cutting the entire crop for
hay. Hairy vetch in our judgment
will make a better showing on thin
land than crimson clover. 1t is
quite a hardy plant and will stand
severe freezes. AS a rule, we have
not found it necessary to go to the
expense or trouble of inoculating
hairy vetcn. 1t will stand a con
then be allowed to mature seed
though, of course, either one of these
crops can be turned under for green
manuring.
When you seed crimson clover
use about forty pounds in the chaft
per acre. OF hairy vetch, sow TWEEN
ty-five to thirty pounds of seed per
acre. The state department of ag-
Ii lot inn IJl.
lures for leguminous crops. They
will supply you with what you need
at cost. I suggest that you commu-
nicate with Hon. j. J. Brown, com
missioner, state capitol. Atlanta, Ga,
The cultures made there should be
as reliable as those made elsewhere
A different culture is needed for
each of the crops.
For thin lands of the character
described, you should use oats and
Vetch as a winter cover crop rather
than crimson clover. l am also in
clned to think that you can probably
grow crop of corn on this land
and harvas: it to good advantage. IL
velvet beans are planted with the
corn, they will make considerable
growth without injuring the corn.
Their by hand or with live stock and
turn the refuse under. am in
clined to think you could build W
your soil mroe cheaply ard effective
ly by following the latter practice.
Merits of the Black Winter Dat
r. l.. NJ, Americus. Ga,
writes: I would like to know
something about the adaptability
and desirability of black winter
oats for this section of Georgia.
Is it as good as the more COM
mon varieties?
No special tests have been made
through the agency Of the college
to determine upon the merits Of the
black winter oats to which you re-
fer for this section. The writer, as
YOU doubtless know, was connected
with the Virginia A. & NJ. college
for several years and established
the demonstration fields at that in
stitution. AS YOU doubtless know,
the ton at the point in question
is about $500 feet above sea level,
and the climatic conditions prevail
ing there are entirely different
from those in Georgia.
1t is important that rust proof va
reties of oats be cultivated in this
section of the country, and only
those strains that are strongly re-
sistant 10 this disease should be Sc
lected. We have grown the black
jointed oats here at the college DEM
onstration field from time TO time,
1t is a variety extensively cultivat-
ed in Canada. We can not recon-
mend ii for this. section Of the Coun-
try. and we think YOU will find il
to your advantage to confine your
paintings of oats to the fulghum and
Texas rust proof varieties. The full
ghum oat is an especially stout
strawed variety and earlier than the
Texas rust proof variety. There are
lots of poor seed on the market.
You should therefore Suard against
the likelihood Of securing an infe.
vior quality Of seed.