Newspaper Page Text
6
THE ATLANTA SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA.. FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1913.
AGRICULTURAL
£>- Education
amd Successful
£)QVLt
This department will cheerfully endeavor to furnish any information.
Letters should be addressed to Dr. Andrew M. Soule, president State
Agricultural College. Athens, Oa.
PRACTICAL RESULTS IN DAIRYING
Just what may be anticipated in the
way of profit from a dairy herd of thirty
cows is naturally a matter of general
interest. For the information of the
public, therefore, the results obtained
with the dairy herd of the State College
of Agriculture for the ye*ar commenc
ing June 1, 1911, and ending June 1,
1911, are herewith presented. This herd
of cows is maintained on a commer
cial basis, the milk and other by-prod-
*udts being sold largely in the city of
Athens. It is not maintained for the
purpose of making money, but to illus
trate to the students and the farmers
\the possibilities of the dairy business if
managed with any degree of skill. It
would, of course, be useless to main
tain a herd of this character for the
purpose of illustrating' the practicabil
ity of the dairy business if it contin
ually showed a deficit rather than a
profit.
Since the sale of milk and its by
products directly to the consumer of
fers one of the most remunerative lines
of dairying open to Georgia farmers,
this type of dairying has been especial
ly emphasized by the college during the
past few years. The milk from this
herd is sold in bottles and is put up
in a sanitary manner and delivered by
wagon directly ^ to the customers. The
dairy barns and the milk are regularly
Inspected and tested by an official of
the board of health of the city Athens.
The cows are annually tested for tu
berculosis by the college veterinarian,
and it is interesting to note that a re
action has never been obtained. As the
herd of cows now consists largely of
pure-breds, this becomes both an inter
esting and important factor to those
concerned in the purchase of dairy ani
mals. As the herd has been developed
largely from native cows purchased in
the vicinity of the college, it is a fur
ther indication that tuberculosis is not
widespread in this section of the state.
From this is should not be concluded
that the farmer can afford to neglect
testing his herd or to purchase animals
without a proper guarantee as to their
freedom from this dreaded disease. The
chances are that cattle kept as much
in the open as they are in Georgia on
account of climatic conditions are not
so likely to be infested with tubercu
losis as herds further north, where they
are confined for several months in close
and often unsanitary stables.
The receipts from the sale of dairy
products from the herd of thirty cows
during the year in question were $5,-
099.44. During this time the herd con
sumed 130 tons of silage made from
corn and sorghum and valued at $2.50
per ton when placed in the silo. This
represented an outlay of $325 for rough-
age. In addition there were consumed
four tons of* shredded corn stoVer, val
ued at $4 a ton; five tons of oat straw
at $4 a ton, and three tons of peavine
hay at $15 a ton, representing an outlay
qf $81 for dry roughage during the
period in which the cows were con
fined in the stable. In addition there
were fed twenty-seven tons of cotton
seed meal at $24 a ton, representing an
outlay of $648. Cotton seed meal con
stituted the sole conceitrate fed. The
amount given per day varied with the
size of the cow and the flow of milk,
but four to five pounds was the aver
age amount fed. The herd consists of
some grades, though pure-bred Jerseys
and Holsteins now predominate. It will
thus be apparent that there was much
difference in the size of the animals,
their weight varying from 800 up to
1,200 and 1.300 pounds. Naturally, the
grain had to be fed in proportion to the
need of the individual and the flow of
milk. Some of the Holstein cows at
the time this record was being made
were giving forty or more pounds of
milk per day. Of course, the cows were
on pasturage for six months of the year
which was charged to them at $1.50 per
head per month, making a total expen
diture for this purpose of $270. Two men
gave their entire time to the feeding
and care of the herd. Naturally, there
was quite a large number of calves to
feed and care for, and there were two
herd bulls to look after as well. One
man was paid $35 per month for his
services and the other $30. It should
be remembered that these men were em
ployed in the vicinity of a city of some
20,000 people where labor is higher than
would be the case out in the country.
The men were given houses in addition
to the wage mentioned, but no other
perquisites. The driver of the milk
wagon received $40 a month. The total
outlay for labor in‘connection with the
feeding of the cows and the distribu
tion of the milk was therefore $1,260.
The expenses of the delivery wagon,
including the feeding of the mules used
thereon, were approximately $250, and
incidentals, such as ice, buckets and
bottles totaled $447.74. This may appear
like a large sum of money, but when
it is' remembered that the milk had to
be put on the market in the warmest
months of summer in a thoroughly cool
condition in order to insure its having
proper keeping qualities, the expendi
ture will be shown to be a modest one.
Moreover, the breakage in the handling
of milk bottles through having to wash
and sterilise them with hot water and
steam is very considerable. It is also
extremely difficult to get the bottles re
turned promptly by patrons. This is one
of the leaks in the milk delivery busi
ness which it Is difficult to overcome.
The total outlay in connection with
the herd is thus seen to be $3,281.84,
leaving as net earnings $1,917.60, which
represents a profit of $60.58 per indi
vidual cow. Some of the animals made
a much larger profit than this, and oth
ers a smaller one, which aghin illus
trates the wide individuality in dairy
animals, and indicates to the farmer
the necessity for his testing his herd,
weighing and measuring the feed to
each animal, and keeping a record there
of so that he may be informed as to the
relative merits of each individual and
be in position to weed out and dispose
of the unprofitable ones as quickly as
possible.
From the foregoing it appears that a
herd of dairy cows developed without
the expenditure of any considerable
amount of capital within a period of five
years may be brought up through se
lection and careful feeding to where
they will net the owner a fairly large
return. To do this, of course, calls
for the exercise of an unusual degree
of skill and care in feeding, breeding
and management. Where these impor
tant and essential factors are neglected
success will not be attained and the
profits will rapidly dwindle.
In this connection it is desirable to
comment upon the character of the feed
used. It will be noticed that the rough
ness consisted very largely of silage.
This can be made from corn and sor
ghum at a relatively low cost on any
farm in Georgia, as these crops grow
well in all parts of the state. Certain
ly, every dairyman can secure an abun
dance of cotton seed meal as the prin
cipal concentrate for the nutrition of
his cows. He purchases his protein at
a relatively lower cost in this material
than he could secure it in any other
form, and when cotton seed meal Is fed
in proper combination with silage it
constitutes not only an ideal but a very
economical ration as well. The fact
that this herd of cows has been fed al
most exclusively on cotton seed meal
and silage during the winter for sever
al years past shows that the ration is
a satisfactory* one and may be fed with
great advantage.
It is important to remember that
the cows are not credited in this report
with the value -of the manure produced.
This, as all know, i^ a very .consider
able item, especially when a food as
rich in fertilizing constitutuents as cot
ton seed meal has been used as the
principal source of grain feed. The
fact that the college farm has improved
in producing power and that the lands
are considered to be in a better physical
condition now and worth from $5 to
$10 per acre more for agricultural pur
poses than they were several years ago
is in very considerable measure to be
attributed to the effect which applica
tions of farm yard manure have had on
their physical condition and crop-yield
ing ability. There is no reason why
the dairy business should not be suc
cessfully organized and promoted in
Georgia, provided proper attention is
given to details. There is no business
which requires closer supervision than
dairying, but where skill is exercised in
the feeding and management of the herd
a large increment upon the investment
may ordinarily be anticipated.
* * *
PLANTING ALFALFA IN AN OR
CHARD.
J. R. G., Raymond, Ga., writes: I want
your opinion as to planting alfalfa in an
orchard. Do you think it would retard the
growth ana prift of the trees? Chickens
run on the piece of land in question and
I find it hard to plant to use it to ad
vantage;
CASHjBALANCE ♦ 5.00 PER MONTH
Guaranteed 3Years-
Lateat, up-to-date style, twin auto seat,
top removable to convert into a runabout, genuine
leather upholstery, finely trimmed and finished, best
of material and construction—retails for $100.00.
Will
Last 20
BUGGIES $29.50 UP.
We cut oat the middlemen's profits on all
Century Vehicles and save you $25.00
to $45.00 on a buggy; $35.00 to $60.00 on a
wagon; $45.00 to $f 00.00 on a surrey*
Sold for cash or on easy monthly payments—we trust
honest people the world oyer, shippedon approval—
Guaranteed toplease oryourmoney back. Write today
lor Free Catalog. Also Ask for our catalog of Fine
harness at wholesale prices. Get our Freight Paid
Piices. Reference—Southern Illinois Nat’l. Bank.
CENTURY MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
dept, goo " • East St. Louis, Ill.
ot 360 200 Fifth Ave., New York City.
In our judgment it would not be de
sirable to plant alfalfa in an orchard, as
this crop makes a heavy draft on soil
| fertility, and would no doubt, if it be
came well established, interfere some-
what with the growth and fruitfulness
of the trees. Cover crops in an orchard
should consist primarily of legumes, but
they should be used for the purpose of
enriching the soil by reason of their
being plowed under rather than perma
nent crops to be harvested for gain. If
a piece of orchard land produces trees
and fruit successfully, it is doing about
all you can expect of it, and you will
find it desirable to feed it with vege
table matter and certain commercial
elements in order to keep the trees In a
thrifty condition and gather profitable
crops of fruit therefrom. It would be
better in our judgment for you to select
a relatively small area of land, say
from one to five acres, and prepare it
with skill and care and plant it directly
to alfalfa. If you succeed in obtaining
a good stand, you can allow It to re
main on the land as long as desirable.
Alfalfa is an admirable food for chick
ens. It is also valuable as a hay in
the nutrition of all classes of farm
stock. Land intended for this crop
should be prepared with care. Plow it
thoroughly and enrich with large quan
tities of yard manure. Apply one to
two tons of finely ground lime and seed
twenty pounds or more of recleaned
American seed from the 15th of Sep
tember to the 15th of October, depend
ing on seasonal and soil conditions. At
the time of sowing apply 1,000 pounds
of a 10-3-6 formula. Allow two weeks
to elapse between applying the lime and
fertilizer.
# */ *
MAKING A PASTURE FOR HOGS.
R. 8. E., Llncolnton, N. C.. write*: We
have a piece of new ground that is full of
stumps, etc., which we want to pnt in
pasture. What we want to know is what
kind of grass to put in It and when to sow
for hogs, cattle and horses. We want a
permanent pasture.
While partially cleared land can be
used to some advantage for the pro
duction of crops, it is much mor# sat-
i isfactory in the beginning to remove tho
stumps and stones even though It takes
some labor and effort and costs some
money. Dynamite op giant powder will
take the stumps out quite satisfactorily,
and after this is done you can fence
your land up and lay it on in permanent
lots. In other words, you have then
prepared yourself to utilize it to the
best advantage for a period of twen
ty years or more, whereas, now even
though you make the best possible ar
rangement, it will only be a temporary
nature. Situated as you are, we would
prefer to put one acre of this land, say
in alfalfa, a second in cowpeas and a
third in rye and vetch. The alfalfa
and the rye and vetch should be seeded
in September or even in late August
if you can get a favorable season. Of
course, there is little use to seed alfalfa
unless you prepare the ground thorough
ly and fertilize and lime it. The cow-
peas can be grazed off as soon as they
are in good condition to make hay. The
rye and vetch should be of considerable
: value as a winter pasture. The alfalfa
could not be grazed until the following
spring. If this land ts not adapted
o these crops, and Bermuda grass does
well in your section, it is one of the
best sod formers you can utilize on
the whole area. You should sow burr
clover on it early in the lall. Ir you can
once secure a stand of this grass you
NOW IS THE TIME TO CAN AND
PRESERVE FRUIT FOR FUTURE
The common fruits, because of their
low nutritive value, are not, as a rule,
estimated at their real worth as food.
Fruit has great dietetic value and should
be used generously and wisely, both
fresh and cooked. Fruits supply a
variety of flavors, sugar, acids and a
necessary waste or bulky material for
aiding in intestinal movement. They
are generally rich in potash and soda
salts and other minerals. Most fresh
salts are cooling and refreshing. The
vegetable acids have a solvent power
on the nutrients and are an aid to di
gestion when not taken in excess.
Fruit and fruit juices keep the blood
in a healthy condition when the supply
of fresh meat, fish ancl vegetables is
limited and salt or smoked meats con
stitute the chief elements of diet.
Fresh fruit is generally more appetiz
ing and refreshing than cooked. For
this reason it is often eaten in too
large quantities, and frequently when
under-ripe or over-ripe; but when of
good quality and eaten in moderate
quantities it promotes healthy intesti
nal action and rarely hurts any one.
If eaten immoderately, uncooked fruit
is apt to induce intestinal disturbances.
If eaten unripe, it often causes stom
ach and intestinal irritation; over-ripe,
It has a tendency to ferment in the ali
mentary canal. Cooking changes the
character and flavor of fruit, and while
the product is not so cooling and re
freshing as in the raw state, it can, as
a rule, be eaten with less danger of
causing stomach or intestinal trouble.
If sugar be added to the cooked fruit,
the nutritive value will be increased.
A large quantity of sugar spoils the
flavor of the fruit and is likely to
make it less easily digested.
Nowhere Js there greater need of a
generous supply of fruit than on the
farm, where the diet is apt to be re
stricted in variety because of the dis
tance from markets. Every farmer
should raise a generous supply of the
kind of fruit that can be grown in his
locality. Wives and daughters on the
farms should find pleasure in serving
these fruits in the most healthful and
tempting form. There are a large num
ber of simple, dainty desserts that can
be prepared with fruit and without
much labor. Such desserts should leave
the pie as an occasional luxury instead
of allowing it to be considered a daily
necessity.
In the season when each kind of
fruit is plentiful and at its best a gen
erous supply should be canned for the
season when both fruit and fresh vege
tables are scarce. A great deal of the
fruit should be canned with little or no
sugar, that it may be as nearly as pos
sible in the condition of fresh fruit.
This is the best condition for cooking
purposes. A supply of glass jars does
cost something, but that item of ex
pense should be charged to future
years, as, with proper care, the breaking
of a jar need be a rare occurrence. If
there be an abundance of grapes and
small, juicy fruits, plenty of juice
should be canned or bottled for refresh
ing drinks throughout the year. Re
member that the fruit and juice are not
luxuries, but an addition to the dietary
that will mean better health for the
members of the family, and greater
economy in the cost of the table.—
Farmers’ Bulletin No. 203.
I
will have a very good combination pas- j
ture for most of the year. If this land is
sufficiently moist and rich, you will find'
red top and alsike clover good crops to /
use. We would prefer to use the three J
acres for the growth of the first series
of crops mentioned, depending on the
eight acres as a rather open range for
hogs. You should arrange to get as much
grazing off this land as possible, for
you can make pork cheaper by this
method and keep your animals in better
condition.
• • •
FERTILIZING LATE PLANTED CORN.
E. C. H., Clinton, S. C., writes: Will
you kindly tell me what the following fer
tilizer mixture will analyze: 200 pounds of
8-3-3 guano, 100 pounds of kalnit and 50
pounds of cotton seed met? What is your
opinion of that grade of guano for corn?
The mixture suggested i nyour let
ter would contain approximately 19
pounds of nitrogen, 7.26 pounds of phos
phoric acid and 19.5 pounds of pot
ash. Its percentage composition would
be approximately 5.4 per cent of nitro
gen, 2 per cent of phosphoric acid and
5.5 per cent of potash. This would not
be a well balanced formula for corn in
ourv judgment. It contains a good per
centage of nitrogen, but the phosphoric
acid is too low. We think this formula
would be materially improved for corn
if you would add 160 pounds of 16 per
cent acid bringing it up to 600 pounds.
This would give you 81 pounds of phos
phoric acid, 19 pounds of nitrogen and
19 pounds of potash. Its percentage
composition would be S.8 per cent of
nitrogen, 6.2 per cent of phosphoric
acid and 3.8 per cent of potash. An ap
plication of 500 pounds per acre would
not be too much to use. We think this
formula could be applied under the drill
row to very good advantage. Of course,
on sandy land you might desire to in
crease the potash and nitrogen slight
ly, which would be a simple matter.
* * *
INJURY FROM RED SPIDER.
W. C. M.. Woodbury, Ga., writes:
Everything in my garden is entirely killed
out by a tiny red spider, 1 have troubled
two or three years but worse this year tbau
ever before. Have not used anything for
fertilizer but stable manure. Would like to
know what to do for it.
It is rather unusual for spiders to
prove so destructive to a garden as you
indicate in your letter, and if the in
fection referred to is limited in area, it
is quite likely you can destroy the
spider by the use of certain spray
formulas. As a matter of fact, heavy
rains generally knock the spiders off
and the damage it does is thus greatly
lessened. You should make it a busi
ness to cut and destroy any green vege
tation in the vicinity of your garden
which is likely to serve as a winter
shelter for this pest. It is a very im
portant matter to destroy loose litter
and anything which will afford them
protection during the winter season.
Watch carefully for the areas which
this pest is infesting and treat them
promptly and you can likely prevent its
spread in the future. One of the best
sprays to use would be a soap solu
tion made at the rate of one pound of
soap to two gallons of water. Other
solutions which will give good results
are scalecides in the strength of one
to two per cent, or the lime-sulphus so
lutions in equal percentages. Soap so
lution while probably not so effective
as the others mentioned is so simply
prepared that it has been suggested for
use, believing that its thorough appli
cation will result in the control and
eradication of the spider. You can ap
ply the spray quite readily by means of
a knapsack sprayer.
* * *
DESTROYING CATTLE TICKS.
G. C. C., Culloden, Ga., writes: I want
to know what will take ticks off a cow.
They seem to be concealed under the hair
and there are a great many of them.
If you only have one cow the best
thing for you to do is to get a good
currycomb and thoroughly curry the an
imal. Do not miss any part of the body.
This is a matter of utmost importance.
The cow may be placed on an area of
dry hard ground, and after you have
curried her thoroughly sweep the ticks
up and burn them. Then we would
suggest that you take some crude cotton
seed oil, fish oil or crude Beaumont oil
and grease the lower part of the legs
and switch of the tail and rumps. This
greasing should be done every few days.
The ticks, as you probably know, hatch
out in the pasture and travel up on the
blades of grass and as the cow passes
by attach themselves to her and begin
to suck the blood and multiply by
methods with which you are no doubt
familiar. If one has a number of cat
tle it is best to have a dipping vat, but
by exercising care and vigilence and
currying and greasing the cow from
time to time, you can keep the ticks off
her and keep her in a fairly comfortable
condition. Remember that ticks will
be with us until severe frosts fall, and
the methods suggested must be fol
lowed vigorously to keep them under
control.
* • •
W D M., Pine Log, Ga., writes: 1
have a mare that found a eolt. After
weaning the colt the udder rose before I
noticed it an<i is swollen up very bad and
is hard and caked. I bad it lanced twice
but it does not seem to get any better and
the sores keep running. I would like to
know what to do for the trouble.
The trouble about which you inquire
is no doubt due to what is regarded as a
case of caked udder. The treatment
should have been different from what
you pursued. The udder should have
been milked out once the weaning pro
cess began, say once a day, and then
once every day until finally dried up.
When it caked you should have treated
it with fomentations of hot water, say
for twenty-minutes or more at a time.
Then it should have been rubbed with
some soothing, softening ointment. You
may have considerable trouble in re
ducing the swelling now as no doubt it
has become more or less chronic in na
ture and the inflammation deep seated.
We would suggest where you lanced the
udder that you treat with a drying, heal
ing powder, such as 12 parts of finely
pulverized air slaked lime to one part
of tannic aci pulverized. The following
absorbing ointment may be of service in
helping to reduce the swelling: Crystals
of Iodine 1-2 dram, iodide of potash
1-2 dram, lard 1 ounce. Mix together
thoroughly and apply once daily. Rub
in until the part begins to get sore,
then withhold treatment for a few days
and repeat.
• • «
M. B. J., Milledgeville, Ga., writes: I
wish a summer feed for live stock composed
of cotton seed meal, corn shops an ( i oats.
I should like as large a proportion to be
oats as is consistent with a balanced ra
tion as the oats are homegrown and the
chops have to be bought.
You may prepare a very good ration
for horses and mules by mixing together
100 pounds of cotton seed meal, 360
pounds of oats and 300 pounds of corn
or corn chops. If you have an abun
dance of oats you can increase the quan
tity of this concentrate to 460 pounds
and cut the corn chops down to 200
pounds. This will make the ration rela
tively high in protein and well adapted
for the use of horses and mules per
forming hard labor in hot weather. It
is not so treating as a ration of corn
alone and is a better balanced food in
all respects with this ration from 12 to
14 pounds of clean bright hay or stover,
preferably the former.
Uncle Sam Urges
Farmers to Make
Vinegar of Apples
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, July 17.—Farmers
need have no fear of violating the law
in making vinegar, if they use pure ap
ple juice, and dealers need not hesitate
to sell it.
The federal bureau of chemistry so
declared in a statement issued today
to encourage farmers of Western Penn
sylvania to resume the making of apple
vinegar, and thus save thousands of
bushels of apples.
Some years ago, owing to a misun
derstanding of the law. dealers were
said to have become afraid to handle
farmers’ vinegar, believing it would not
meet the government’s requirements and
the farmers allowed their apples to rot
for the same reason. The government
pure food experts now seek to reassure
both the farmer and the dealer. .
MORE BIG LAND DEALS
IN ALBANY, GA., SECTION
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
ALBANY, Ga., July 17.—Big deals in
farming lands in this section have been
quite frequent recently, indicating that
the attention of investors is directed in
this direction.
The latest big deal of this kind to
be made public is the sale of about
5.000 acres in the northwestern part
of Dougherty county, and lying partly
in Terrell county, by L. C. Durham, of
Dawson, to Massachusetts capitalists,
who are said to have bought the land
for colonization purposes.
It is said that Atlanta real estate
figured largely in the trade, and that
Mr. Durham wiir make his home here
after in the state capital.
The land sold in this big deal, which
is said to represent about $250,000, com
prises the Gamble place and the Peek
place, on the Dougherty-Terrell line.
Another big deal that has just been
made is the sale of the Pine island
property in west Dougherty by O. S.
Barnett, of Washington, Ga., to Charley
H. Talley, of Atlanta. This property
comprises 5,500 acres. Tepr hapecidieta
comprises 5,500 acres. The price paid
has not been made public.
PULASKI COUNTY FARMER
IS KILLED FROM AMBUSH
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
ABBEVILLE, Ga., July 17.—J. W.
McGlamary, a prosperous Pulaski coun
ty former, was shot from ambush and
killed Monday morning when he went
to the river to examine his fish baskets.
Although accompanied by his younger
brother and a nephew, neither saw the
party or parties who did the shooting.
Warrants have been issued for a
white man by the name of McAllister
and a negro named Sing Brinner, with
whom McGlamary is said to have had
trouble some time ago about his fish
baskets.
Yes, men, it’s true—never before a
I chance like this to make big money
j oasyl No money—no experience—no
I salesmanship needed—Elk clothes sell
| themselves. Our agents coin big
| money—make $50 a week and more. Let us show
. you how you can do the same or better.
•Sample Outfit Free
Most wonderful display of fashions
and patterns ever gotten out.
_ Orders come easy—everybody
, eager to get these swell clothes,
i because you save them $5 to
$15 on a suit or overcoat and
S ive them values they can't
uplicate elsewhere.
Wo give you a handsome
__Fsult FREEI Write at once for
amazing free offer and big outfit.
Everything absolutely froo
sent at once express prepaid.
Write today Sure!
—c Tail<
Elk r J
k Dept. 10
•urel
lloring Co.
Ctkato
Delicious-Refreshing
Thirst-Quenching
*' • - ; .
Ask for it by it’s full name
then you Will get the genuine
3**4 ; Tor. oui*
free' booklet
THE COCA LOLA CO,. ..Atlanta,Go.
TOtmO MAN BUT
25; 50 or 100-acre RED PEBBLE FARM, Improved and under cultivation,
on long, easy terms.
THESE FARMS WILL FAY FOB THEMSELVES.
WRITE TODAY for our DAKOTA FARMS BOOKLET.
COME ON to DAKOTA Thursday. Friday or Saturday of any week.
We are here to show crops to prove
Dungeon for Convicts
(Special Dispatch to The Journal.)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., July 17.—
Following the indictment of five work-
house employees, guards and foreman,
and that of the county physician, fol
lowing alleged cruelty to convicts from
which one is alleged to have died, the
workhouse commission has asked the
county court for $11,000 to build dun
geons for recalcitrant prisoners. Whip
ping is abolished.*
Edwin P. Ansley
Realty Trust Bldg., Atlanta.
it.
G. 0. McKenzie
Ashburn, Ga., Dakota, Ga.
CULTIVATE THE SWEET POTATO
CROP OFTEN AND THOROUGHLY
BY J. HOLLISTER TULL, Mena, Ark.
Cultivation should be thorough and
often. As soon as the plants begin
taking root cultivation should begin.
After each rain the crust should be
broken and pulverized, and, if the sea
son is extra dry, cultivation should be
more often; this not only conserves
moisture but it keeps down the. weeds.
The depth will vary from two to four
inches, according to implements and de
sires. The Bateman or a similar tool,
with a vine attachment, has proved to
be very satisfactory. After the vines
begin running, the half hoes should be
put on each side of the harrow and a
seven or nine-inch hoe in the back.
When cultivating both ways it will
necessarily be deeper.
Some growers contend that letting the
vines take root and grow seems of no
consequence in the yield, in view of the
fact that it would be an endless job to
prevent it, especially during a wet sea
son. Other growers never allow them
to fasten and grow, claiming it retards
the development of the tubers. The
writer has seen fields where, in addition
to a larger yield in the hill, there were
many potatoes formed on the vines in
the alleys, some of which were large
enough for canners, and all good for
stock feed. The hill did not seem to
suffer as a result.
The time for harvesting begins in
July and runs through until frost has
killed the vines. The vines, where pos
sible, should have at least three grow
ing months in the field, and the harvest
time should be judged by this. This
short growing season will produce Some
potatoes, but not the full market crop.
Some growers plant for an early crop
arid dig it as soon as the tubers reach
market size. Others dig especially early
of their regular crop, and though there
Is not a full yield in either case, the
early prices are generally good and they
are warranted in doing so. Besides, they
receive more money for less work, ma
terial and packages. The commercial
crop for shipping long distances, or for
storage, should not, as a rule, be dug
until September or October, giving the
vines about five months’ growth. The
vines will show a yellowish mature cast
when ready to dig, and the weather will
indicate that frost is near and it is
digging time.
The vines of the sweet potato are very
tender and show the effects of the
slightest frost. They should be dug
immediately after the vines have been
killed or the vines should be cut away
from the hills.
For digging a small area a hand dig
ging fork is satisfactory, but for dig
ging large commercial patenes special
devices for cutting away the vines and
lifting the tubers have been produced.
Some of these work together and some
work separately. A machine is on the
market, and used a great deal in the
eastern sections, which cuts the vines
and throws them over into the middles.
Party of Campers
Asleep in Wagon
Struck by Lightning
QUITMAN, Ga., July 17.—-A bolt of
lightning turned a wagon bottom side
up in the woods at Knight’s Ferry sev
eral nights ago and C. H. Swilley and
his three little sons, who were sleep
ing in it, had a narrow escape from
death.
Mr. Swilley and his sons were on a
camping and fishing trip and were
sleeping in their covered wagon. The
storm came up about 10 o’clock, with
much lightning and thunder.
A bolt of lightning struck a pine tree
about ten feet from the wagon and its
force was such as to lift the wagon over
and throw the startled occupants sever
al feet. A mule hitched nearby was
also knocked down by the bolt. Neither
the men or the mule were seriously in
jured but were very much frightened
and shocked.
The experience disinclined the party
to spend another night in the woods,
and they left for home next day. When
Mr. Swilley reached home he found that
a very valuable mule had died the night
before on his farm, the night having
been a peculiarly unfortunate one for
him.
This machine does not dig the tubers,
but leaves the patch in a very satis
factory condition for digging. Another
machine, which is used largely and
gives very satisfactory results?* is simi
lar to an ordinary plow. The mold
board does not turn a furrow, but runs
under the ridges or hills and loosens up
the soil and tubers. The mold board
terminates in a number of rods, or has
an extension on it that only lifts the
tubers or loosens them up so that a man
can follow and, by giving a slight pull,
lift the whole hill intact out of the
ground. This implement has two sharp
rolling coulters, which cut the vines
ahead of the plow, and on each side
of the hills. As an ideal potato soil
is a loose, sandy loam, and free from
stones, these implements for cutting the
vines work very satisfactorily.
To have the potatoes come out in a
clean, dry manner, the soil, at digging
time, should be comparatively dry, and
after the potatoes have been exposed to
the sun for several hours they can be
picked up. The handling and shaking I
will practically clean them of all adher
ing soil. It is desirable that warm, sun
shiny weather prevail, so that they will
dry properly after being dug. They
should be moved to shelter or storage
the same day and not be allowed to lay
out in the open over night.
STORM DAMAGES CROPS ,
IN COWETA AND TROUP
Wind and Rain Storm Sweeps'
Big Section—IVTany Barns
Were Struck !
LAGRANGE, Ga., July 17.—A ter-J
rifle rain and windstorm swept over'
Coweta and Troup counties late yester
day afternoon, doing considerable dam-|
age to cotton and corn crops. 1 Many
barns were struck by lightning and;
damage*-; telegraph poles were blownj
dows along the Atlanta and West Point|
railroad, and for some time this section,
was cut off from Atlanta and other!
points.
CONGRESSMAN WALKER |
TO PAY ATLANTA VISIT
WAYCROSS, Ga., July 17.—Congress
man J. Randall Walker, of the Eleventh 1
district, was in Waycross today. He]
will be in Atlanta tomorrow en route
to Washington. Postoffice appointments
in the Eleventh were not discussed.
A DAKOTA, GA. FARM
IS THE REAIEST CUT TO INDEPENDENCE
THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, Atlanta, Ga.
Enclosed find One Dollar, for which send me The Semi-Weekly Journal
18 months, Farm Life 12 months, and Every Day Life 12 months, and mail
me absolutely free your NEW Ready Reference Parcel Post Chart.
NAME
P. O R. F. D STATE
New Parcel Post Map and Chart
of Horse Remedies
We have just bought a large
number of New Four Leaf Charts,
which we are going to give with
The Semi-Weekly Journal. This
Chart contains a 1913 Calendar,
Pictures of our Presidents from
Washington to Wilson, a Chart of
Horse Ailments and Remedies,
giving Symptoms of Diseases and
How to Treat Them; a Parcel Post
Map of the United States, with
instructions; a large State Map of
your own state, besides other in
formation and statistics, valuable
in every household. We are giv
ing a Chart to each person sending
us One Dollar for the following
papers: The Semi-Weekly Jour
nal 18 months, Farm Life 12
months, and Every Day Life 12
months. Use coupon below.