Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-07-24
Wide Drought Not
Serious In North Carolina

(By c. B. Williams, Head Agro-
nomy Department North Caro-
lima College,
The current drought, holding a
large part of the nation in its
grip, has not affected North Caro-
lima to a serious extent.
However, in some sections of the
State, outside of the higher eleva-
lions in the mountains, drought
conditions have been such that be-
fore recent rains, farmers were un-
able to seed the proper acreages of
suitable crops for hay to meet live
stock needs this fall and winter.
In order to secure a sufficient
amount of feed for livestock as
we'll as to have the requisite acre
age of soil improving crops, the
following crops are suggested for
seeding during the next ten days:
COWPEAS
Cowpeas-This crop, seeded
broadcast at the rate of 50 to 80
pounds on good land during the
next ten days, may be expected to
give a fairly good growth, especial
ly if the remainder of the growing
season is at all favorable. In seed
ing use those varieties available on
the farm or which may be secured
quickly in the neighborhood. If the
seed have to be purchased from a
distance, get seed of the Brabham,
Iron, Croft, Whipporwill, or Black
varieties.
If sown in rows, have the rows
wide enough apart to permit about
two civilizations, using about 80
pounds of seed per acre. If de-
sired, the cowpeas may be seeded
with sorghum, using As to so
pounds of cowpea seed and 20 to
rs pounds of sorghum seed.
SOYBEANS
Soybeans-If seeded shortly,
soybeans should produce a good
amount of excellent hay or a fairly
large amount of material, which, if
turned under, will materially i'm
prove the productiveness of the
soil. The seeding should be in
2 IL to 3 foot rows. The crop
should be cultivated once or twice
during its growth.
Seed of the Mamouth Yellow
variety, most generally grown in
the State, may be obtained easily
and cheaply if homegrown or To-
cal seed of sone variety is not OBJ
tainable.
Soybeans should be sown in rows
at the rate of IS to so pounds Of
seed to the acre, the exact amount
depending largely upon the size
of the seed.
D GRASS
Sudan Grass-This grass will
grow rapidly and will make a large
amount of excellent quality hay
within two months or less after
seeding. Its growth should not be
attempted except on fairly pro-
ductive lands where the moisture
is reasonably fair to good. The
seed should be put in broadcast or
in "a to 30-inch drills in we'll
prepared land at the rate of 20 to
so pounds of seed per acre. This
crop has considerable value for
temporary grazing purposes.
MILLET
German or Golden Millet-This
is the best of the millets for late
summer seeding, and is particularly
we'll adapted for seeding on moist
bottomlands. 1t should be sown
broadcast on a well-prepared finely
p~ulverized seed-bed, using about
Is pounds of seed to the acre. The
crop should be ready to cut for
hay within s. or 50 days after seed
ing.
FERTILIZATION
In f~ertilizing the above crops,
which should be done if possible,
it is suggested that the following
fertilizer treatments be used to
each acre:
For cowpeas and soybeans, 800
pounds of a 2-8-4 mixture.
For cowpeas and sorghum, 800
to $50 pounds of a 4-S-4 mix
ture.
For Sudan grass and millet, 800
to $50 pounds of a 4-S-4 mixture.