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THE ATLANTA SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1913. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION Successful Farming $t J&mi ft Smi- BRINGING AID TO THE PRODUCER IN DISTRIBUTING FARM PRODUCTS This department will cheerfully endeavor to furnish any information. Letters should lie addressed to Dr. Andrew M. Soule, president State Agricultural College, Athens, Oa. CROPS FOR AUTUMN GARDENS While considerable attention is di rected to the cultivation of the spring: garden, little effort is made, compra- tively speaking, to maintain a desirable autumn garden. In the spring of the year conditions for growth are general ly more favorable than those which prevail in late July, August and early September, and probably this accounts for the neglect of one of the most im portant and desirable adjuncts of the home no matter where situated. By taking forethought, however, unfavor able soil and climatic conditions can often be overcome and the ground put in condition to germinate y great variety of seeds or provide a sufficient amount of moisture for the growth of a num ber of hand-set crops. There is often a more or less protracted drought at the period of the year mentioned, but in nearly all instances there are times when there are one or more heavy showers and the succesful gardener must take advantage of the moment and improve the condition of his land and save the moisture essential for 'the growth of his crops. All garden soils should be rich in or ganic matter, and the more of this element tliey contain the less likely are they to bake and crust and to lose moisture with such a degree of rapidi ty as to prevent the germination of seeds. Gardens may be enriched by one of two methods, either through the plowing under of legumes or the appli cation of yard manure. Manure wil! generally be found more satisfactory because the area of the average garden is small, and since quick results are desired, the soil can seldom be spared for the length of time necessary to grow a green crop to be turned under for its enrichmet. The old method of maintaining gardens was through the exclusive use of yard manure, and any where from twenty to 100 tons per acre were frequently applied. Natur- aly those who used manure came to re gard it as the most desirable material to apply for even where forty tons were used per acre there would presently become available in the soil 400 pounds of nitrogen and potash and 200 pounds of phosphoric acid. To supply these amounts of plant food in a commercial form called for an application of more than one ton of nitrate of soda. 200 pounds of muriate of potash and 1,250 pounds of 16 per cent acid phosphate. One who would advocate the application of these amounts of commercial plant food would be deemed an extremist, and in fact such large amounts would seldom if ever be necessary for a gar den. On the other hand, as yard ma nure is not a well-balanced plant food, a combination of manure and commer cial fertilizer will be more economical and desirable for many reasons, one of the most important* being that in many instances gardeners can not ob- • tain t.^e quantity of yard manure which has been found desirable. Those contemplating* the establish- men of a fall garden should arrange to apply to the soil a good top dressing of organic matter, preferably yard ma nure. In its absence, leaves, compost and dead stalks, vines and other ma terial may be used. Incorporate this as completely with the soil as pos sible, but do not try to plow it under when the ground is too dry. Wait for a shower. Then the land should be so cultivated as to compact it and pre serve a dust mulch. After every show er cultivate again. Thus the storage of wdter in the soil is promoted against the time of planting. Moreover, fre quent cultivations hasten the decay of the vegetable matter. Plant immedi ately after or just before a rain. Be sure in any event to break the crust so that the seeds may germinate quickly. On all truck crops commercial plant food should be applied with freedom. As most of these crops can be cultivated from time to time all of the fertilizer should not be put under the ground, but a part reserved to use as side appli cations say at intervals of ten days to two week. On some crops several side applications may be made with profit. Among the crops which should be planted in late July and early August are rutabagas. These not only produce tops which make excellent •greens'* but the root is a most desirable and palatable vegetable. They have the great advantage of growing from the time they are seeded until extremely cold weather sets in. This crop, like all of its class, should be fertilized at the rate of 600 to 1,000 pounds per acre with a formula containing 8 per cent of phosphoric acid, 4 per cent of nitrogen and 10 per cent of potash. A sample mixture necessary to obtain these re sults is as follows: 250 pounds of nitrate of soda, 100 pounds of sulphate of ammonia, 350 pounds of tankage con taining not less than 6.5 per cent of nitrogen and 9 per cent of phosphoric Reid, 900 pounds of acid phosphate, and 400 pounds of muriate or sulphate of potash. The sources of the material suggested • can of course be varied; but this will be found a good general-pur pose formula for all loamy or sandy soils. Those which have been made ex tremely rich through long continued use and heavy applications of yard manure may not require quite as much phos phoric acid or nitrogen. On extremely sandy soils the formula need not be changed materially, but the amount ap plied should be increased. This com bination of plant food will be found not only useful on turnips, but on begins, beets, onions, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, collards, and all other crops adapted for planting in late July, Au gust or early September. As all know who have had experience, It is necessary to grow vegetables quick ly in order to secure the proper degree of succulence and other desirable quali ties, such as crispness, texture and fla vor. Garden crops must therefore be grown rapidly, and to accomplish this end the soil must be prepared with un usual skill and care, and the cultivation and fertilization carried on in a scien tific manner. It is important to re member that in dry spells the frequent stirring of the soil is of the utmost im portance. Light applications of fertil izers on such occasions are often quite beneficial, though, of course, they can not in any sense take the place of a uniform and well distributed rainfall. Those who have had success in the cul tivation of spring gardens can by tak ing care and thought so handle their soil and manipulate their crops as to have a remarkable measure of success with fall gardens as well. Few things can add so much to the comfort and luxury of the home as an abundance of fresh vegetables. The market demand for any surplus is al ways much in excess of the supply. There is an opportunity to add millions of dollars to the revenue of Georgia farmers through the successful estab lishment of a system of fall gardening. Thp investment required is very slight. Attention to details and the utilization of good judgment will do more to pro mote this neglected industry than any thing else. The importance of fall gar dens is so clearly defined that this mat ter will surely receive a larger measure of consideration in the future than has been accorded it^n the past. BOTS IX HORSES. E. H. W., Rome, Ga., writes: r have a four-year-old mare which Is troubled with bots. Would like to know some way to get them from her. She sometimes seems to have the colic. Bots are the larva of the bot fly. The female is about the size of a honey bee. During the summer she is frequently seen flying about and depositing her eggs on the hair of the legs, breast and other parts of the body of horses. As these eggs become moistened from biting them they hatch out. The young larva make their way from the horse’s mouth down the throat and attach themselves to the mucous membrane of the stomach. Here they remain until' the late fall, when they loosen their hold and the fly emerges, and after mating, the cycle of life outlined above is repeated. Bots are frequently found by the hundreds attached to the stomach of horses, yet practicaly no bad effects are observed from their presence. In some in stances they may block the passage from the stomach to the intestines, but so far veterinarians have not been able to attribute disease directly to, them. There is no known treatment that will remove bots, and they are extremely resistant to substances applied to their bodies. The only practical treatment is a preventive, by destroying the flies as soon as they are observed, and scrap ing the hair with a sharp knife once a week. The chances are that your animal is suffering from some form of indigestion as evidenced by the colic referred to in your letter. Give her a fairly good purge, and then a dose of Jamaica gin ger for several times, and feed her on bran mashes and other light laxative foods for a few days. Do not overwork her, and the chances are she will quick ly regain her normal condition as to health. WILL SULPHUR INJURE PLANTS? H. L. K., Benevolence, Ga., writes: One source of the nitrogen in my fertilizer is from sulphate of ammonia. I have been told by agents that sulphur is injurious to the soil. Is that a fact? If so, why is such a brand allowed to b e sold? You are laboring under a misappre hension in your opinion that sulphur as contained in sulphate of ammonia is injurious to plants. As a matter of fact, plants require sulphur for two distinct purposes in their economy. In the first place, it is related to the de velopment of protoplasm and also of proteids. These are essential basic compounds v out of which are evolved many of the important elements con tained in plants. In the absence ot sulphur plants do not grow well. Sul phur is also known to have some rela tion to the characteristic odor in plants, imparting the flavor to the oils of cru ciferous plants, and to the oil of on ions, garlic, leeks, etc. The form of sulphur which is injurous to plants and to which you refer is known as sulphur dioxide generated in large quantities in the manufacture of sul phuric acid. It apparently exerts an injurious effect on certain types of plants due to its overproduction in their particular vicinity. Many tthings that are good for plants would injure them if used in too large quantities. The nitrogen in sulphate of ammonia is quickly available and readily soluble in water, quite as much so as the ni trogen in nitrate of soda, but. of course, nitrogen in the form of ammonia is not supposed to be so readily available as in the nitrate form. It is certain that the ammonia contained tn nitrogen is changed quickly into the nitrate form. Since sulphate of ammonia tends to cause lime to leach out of the soil, it is best to use this material on soil to which liberal applications of the sul phate have been made rather recently. It- is an excellent source of nitrogen, however, and you need not hesitate to use it oil account of any fear of injury from the sulphur it contains. NOTES ON THE APPLICATION OF LIME. A. A. N., Atlanta, Ga., writes: I would like some information in regard to the use of ground raw lime rock for agricultural purposes. In your opinion is this product preferable to burnt slack lime for agricultur al purposes? BY PETER RADFORD, Texas Fanners’ Union. The recent action of the Wells Fargo & Company Express in tendering the good offices of that powerful organiza tion to the producer in the distribution and sale of farm products, is in my es timation the most important single event of its class in the industrial life of the country during the last quarter of a century. At least it will reach that dig nified zone when their precedent is fol lowed by other common carriers, which I have reason to believe will be done at a very early date. When the marketing plans as formu lated by the Farmers’ union are adopted by the transportation companies, it should move at least two billion dollars’ worth of perishable farm products that now •annually rot on the ground, or is dumped at destination, and it will in crease the efficiency in distribution of nonperishable products at least 30 per cent. It is the most weighty economic project now before the American people and the most giagntic co-operative plan that has ever been submitted in which the prosperity of the producer, carrier, dealer, consumer and all the people, is mutually and equitably involved. FIRST AID TO THE PRODUCER. While the detailed plans announced by the Wells Fargo people are considered only first aid to the producer and are subject to such modification as experi ence may dictate, they contain two car dinal principles of co-operative market ing which should be carefully studied by carrier, shipper, and buyer, to wit: In formation and assistance. To express the plans in the language of the farmer, they will, first, establish a market bu reau which will estimate production and consumption and keep a check on mar ket conditions for the. information of their patrons; second, they will assist in tic lime will prove profitable when used at the rate of one ton or more per acre and applied as a top dressing either in the fall or spring, though preferably in the fall. The lime should be put on some days before the fertilizer or seed is put in the ground.' On soils which have rotated and are in-a high state of cultivation, it is possible that the raw rock will give excellent results. There is comparatively little soil of this type •in Georgia at the present time, though the tendency to institute crop rotations will cause a change in this direction at an early date. Where raw rock is used, at least two tons should be applied as the raw rock has only half the sweeten ing power of the caustic lime. The ques tion devolves then largely on whether you can purchase and apply two tons of the raw rock at about the same cost as one ton of the caustic lime. There is some objection to usiny caustic limes on lands containing any considerable quan tity of humus or vegetable matter be cause there is a tendency for it to burn up the nitrogen, as it were. On this ac count, on soils well supplied with vege table matter, it is probably better to use the raw rock. The fact of the mat ter Is, investigations have made so little progress up to this time that no one can speak definitely or authoritatively on the subject. • * * INOCULATING LEGUMES IN GEOR GIA. in W * t A J- lauta ’ Ga > writes: 1 would like ail tiie information you can give me in regard to soil inoculation for different crops. boil may be inoculated in one of two ways, either through the use of artificial cultures or by securing soil from a field where the crop you desire to inoculate has been grown successful ly Inoculation may be practiced prof itably with such as some of the legumes. It has not been practicable with field crops such as cotton, corn, etc., up to the present time. Alfalfa is one of the leguminous crops with which inoculation has proven profitable. The use of artificial cultures on red clover, vetches, beans, peas and garden crops is sometimes advisable judging from our experience. Qf course, where the soil is quite devoid of the bacteria favoring the effort of these plants to assimilate nitrogen from the air inocu lation would be helpful, but as a rule, large seeded cropus do not require that the land be artificially inoculated to anything like the extent of the small seeded crops. It is possible to buy inoculated seed of various kinds, but we would prefer to secure the arti ficial cultures and prepare them ac cording to the directions, or better still, to secure when possible soil from a field where a crop such as alfalfa has been growh successfully for a series of years. There is one objection to the use of soil found in the fact that it may bring to your land weed, seeds or dis eases of one kind and another which are non-existent at this time. On the other hand, inoculation with soil has in our judgment proven more uniformly successful th’an the use of artificial cultures. You can secure artificial cul tures through any reliable seedsman, and they are easier and probably cheap er to handle than the soil, and their efficiency when used under the most favorable conditions is often as satis factory as that of the soil. We would suggest that where you use the soil from 200 to 500 pounds be scattered over the surface of the ground to be inoculated and worked in with a har row before or immediately after plant ing the crop. TREATMENT OF WJLT IN COTTON. .7. A. S. T., Burnt Corn, Ala., writes: Wehre land has been well fertilized for cot ton, would kninit be sufficient to furnish the required amount of moisture to pre vent wilt, or would it be best to use ni trate of soda, and how much should be used? ( securing the best market for farm prod ucts. To handle this new feature of their business, the Wells Fargo people have established an order, commission and food products department, and in a cir cular issued from their New York head quarters August 1, signed by f\ S. Hol brook, general traffic manager, and ap proved by B. D. Caldwell, president, they announced that they “will make a specialty of the distribution of food products through assistance to growers and producers in finding suitable loca- them in securing to best advantage, san itary packages or containers in which to ship their products, particularly per ishables. Corresponding efforts will be made to.serve the dealers and consumer in placing them in direct touch with the source of supply,” and the president of the company has instructed all em tion, soil and markets, and by aiding oloyes to co-operate with the new de- partmnet. The Wells Fargo will make itself a factor in distribution by lending as sistance without charge, and where it is possible to do so, will send cash buyers to the producer. They will in struct the shipper in the kind of pack ages desired by the markets, how to pack and crate their products and the size packages to use in order to secure lowest rates. The common carrier has, in many in stances, been satisfied to look upon the distress of the farmer with indif ference and has given small concern to a glutted market. He usually gets his before the stuff is dumped and sends a glib-talking agent to express sorrow to the producer and collect any balance due on the freight and then sets about to encotfrage an increase in farm tonnage next year, but now these mighty agencies of commerce are look ing toward the marketing side of the farmers’ problems and the common car rier never faced more golden opportu nities for usefulness than now confront him. A GOOD SERVANT. The common carriers are public serv ants and like all faithful laborers, should endeavor to render more than a mechanical service. The servant who does only what he is compelled to do will never gain favor’ with his employer. To be worthy of esteem and merit pro motion, our public servants must do something more than work out court sentences. Ability, efficiency and vis ion will always receive a prompt re ward. The common carrier can make no bet ter financial investment than to estab lish* a market bureau for the informa tion of the producer and could not do more to popularize his services than by bringing the buyer and the seller closer together. He possesses the ma chinery. the facilities and the ability for rendering a most useful service to associate industries. The farmer asks no favors, but is seeking only co-opera tion on a basis profitable to all parties engaged in the transaction. On no other foundation can business be permanently built. The nation’s business is suffering from individual selfishness. We need to study each other’s problems and understand our relationship and recog nize community responsibilities. We should get closer together. THE PLOW HANDLES MAKE US ALL KIN. The condition now confronting our transportation system^ is one that justi fies the deep concern of every producer and makes the highest call upon the in telligence of our citizenship. Our common carriers have made mistakes. They have endeavored to become masters and sit in the councils of the great and they, have paid the penalty fod getting out of their place. They are the teamsters of civili zation and belong in the servants’ quar ters. The politician has been making a saddle horse out of the common carrier anti riding into office; the courts have, in some instances, whipped him repeatedly and the commissions have cut down his rations, but he will never have peace of mind or ease of body until he returns to the barnyard and eats out of the hand of his master—the producer. He will then be properly protected, sheltered, clothed and fed and given such privileges and favors as belong to faithful and efficient servants. The heads of these great institutions, whose giant intellects illuminate the path ways of commerce, should come back to the soil and renew their acquaintance with Mother Earth. They should occa sionally swing a scythe, wield an axe and plow a round or two so as not to forget their raising. A touch of the plow han dles makes us all kin. The heads of street raildoads cannot look out of a pri vate car window and comprehend our problems; neither can they acquire under standing by sending a messenger with a standing collar and a long title to make typewritten reports. Two heads of these institutions must get back to the soil and take hold of the plow handle if they want to feel the heart-throb of agricul ture. GOVERNMENTAL AID IN MARKET ING. The federal agricultural department has received its initial appropriation for the study of distribution and with the com mon carrier now going to market, we have at work on the selling side of agri culture, the most powerful agencies in the land. These gigantic forces, with their keen vision and clear understanding, can work magic in the solution of our difficulties, but the problem is not going to be solved today or tomorrow. Many seeming impossibilities will appear and disappear and there will be failures and disappointments. First of all the farmer must co-operate. He can only help him self or be helped by others through or ganization and co-operation. He must be in a position to co-operate and receive co-operation of other agencies. Let all farmers join the union and get together in an organized effort to uplift agricul ture. Trade and Crop Re ports from the South —From Bradstreet’s. Charleston, S. C.—While trade in gen eral is till- quiet, some little improve ment is noted among jobbers, who are optimistic about present crop condi tions. Several bales of new cotton were sold this week. Collections continue slow. A Classy $25 Suit Made to Order Biggest tailoring offer ever made. Classy tailor made clothe3. Wads of I money. Brand n«woffer. BicKeet-iEostaUrt- linjf offer yon <*v»r heard about. Send no mon but write today for ful 1 particulars * Make $60 a Week If we give you a sample suit will you act aa our asrent? Your ----- 00 uweek la note ordinary. Bltr new uehcnui in a winner. Get in on the ground floor. Write for in on the ground floor. Write) particulars. NO EXPERIKLNCI _ - CAPITAL NEEDED. An boa a day will make it pay. We Pay All the Express ... eps- - _ -hlr.g. YOU TAKE IN THE MONEY. \V e b-.ck. you up from the minute you con sent to be oar agent. .Write Today ffiSK [!’! Got full particular* of thij big new tuiJ< ’ " ’“-**-* one best bet. Itemc lo suit. NO OBLIGA- IND. Get your r.amo mjY * Of samples El' and materials all free. Write today. Reliable Tailoring Co.. Dtp! 9132 RtfabhBldg., Much of the cultivated land in Geor gia is no doubt acid. The investigations made in our soil laboratory up to this time would indicate this to be due in an unusual degree of the lands In some sections o,f the state. Of course, our investigations were only instituted on the first of January, and comparatively little progress has been made in survey ing or acquiring anything like an accu rate knowledge with reference to a state containing approximately 60,000 square miles of territory. In the few experi ments we have made up to this time caustic lime has only been used and the results obtained from 1 it on acid soils and those in bad physical condition have been quite encouraging. The deficiency in lime in our soils has no doubt ac counted in some measure for the bene fits secured from the use of caustic lime on corn and other field crops. Of course, lime containing the element calcium may be a source of plant food to growing crops, particularly to legumes. On soils that are in very bad physical condition and containing but little vegetable mat ter, we are disposed to think that caus- Wilt in cotton is due to the infesta tion of the plants by a specific fungus which grows up through the water ducts and chokes the plant to death. This disease can not be controlled by fertil izers. but only through the use of seed resistant to this trouble. Of course, keeping the plants healthy and In a vig orous condition will help them to throw off the injury done by wilt. The rushing or shedding of cotton may be lessened to a considerable extent by the use of kainit at the rate of 100 to 200 pounds per acre if it is applied early in the season as a top dressing and worked into the soil. The rusting of cottdn is often due to a deficiency in potash. Nitrate of soda is also helpful in stimulating a vigorous growth and enabling the plants to resist disease and to tide over drought periods when shed ding is liRely to be unusually severe. Nitrate of soda as a top dressing should generally be used at the rate of 75 to 100 pounds per acre on cotton. Ordinarily it should be put on in the northern part of Alabama not later than July 1. In an unusually late sea son you may apply it possibly with safety as late as July 15. The time at which one should cease the use ot nitrate of soda as a top dressing de pends much on the seasonal conditions which prevail in the autumn, and no one can forecast what these will be. Ni trate of soda should not be mixed with the soil but applied strictly as a sur face application . Cunning Pfeifers Many a New Home will Have a Little Sunbeam to Brighten it. There is some dread in every woman’s mind as to the probable pain, distress and danger of child-birth. But, thanks to a re markable remedy known as Mother's Friend, the period is one of joyful antici pation. Mother’s Friend is a penetrating, exter nal application. 11 makes the muscles of the stomach and ab domen pliant so they expand easily and naturally without pain, and with none of | that peculiar nausea, nervousness and I other symptoms that tend to weaken the prospective mother. Thus Cupid and the ! stork are rated as cunning plotters to her ald the coming of a little sunbeam to glad den the hearts and homes. Thousands of women know from experi ence Mother’s Friend is one of our greatest contributions to happy motherhood. Sold by ail druggists at $1.00 per bottle. Espec ially recommended as a preventive of- cak ing breast. Write to Bradfield Regulator Co., 231 Lirtnar Bldg., Atlanta, Ga., for their val uable boob to expectant mothers. Chattanooga^—General rains this week have relieved weather conditions, and prospects for the corn crop are good. A few bales of cotton have been put on the market, and the growers are look ing forward to a good yield. Little change is noted in general trade condi tions, though a few fall oreders are beginning to come in and wholesale dealers are optimistic. A few fall sales are eing made in the retail trade, and prospects are good. Collections are still slow. Memphis.—Wholesale trade is fairly active, with prospects good for fall. Retail trade is quiet: Collections are slow. Dry, warm weather has been good for cotton, tne condition of which is excellent. Atlanta.—Wholesale dealers In all lines report good sales as the result of the outhern merchants’ convention just ended. Collections continue slow. It appears that all that is needed, to Improve conditions here is*the move ment of the crops, which are in good shape. Savannah.—-Trade in all lines con tinues quiet, with collections slow, but the cotton crop is practically made and there is optimism. However, there seems a tendency to await develop ments. i Birmingham.—Iron market is firm at $11 for No. 2 foundry, with demand fairly steady. Lumber continues un settled, with prices varying. Jobbers of groceries, produce and similar lines report a slight decrease in business from last week. Retail dealers in dry goods, clothing and notions -are stimu lating trade by special sales. Mobile.—Wholesale trade is seasonably normal, except that mill supply houses report a shortage of orders for August. Crop conditions remain favorable. Col lections are slow. MONTGOMERY.—Continued dry weath er with high temperature has caused cot ton to deteriorate badly. Rains are need ed as the critical stage of cotton has been reached. Trade in all lines is quiet and collections are poor. JACKSON.—Wholesale trade Is fair, hut retail is quiet. The corn crop outlook Is good. The cotton crop is in better shape than for two years. NEW ORLEANS.—Retail tr'ade is fair, due in a measure to trade excursions to the city. Jobbers are likewise booking good orders in almost every department. Collections are a little backward, but are saiistactory as a rule. Crop conditions in the territory tributary to this city are good. There has been sufficient rainfall to nourish the crops, and at the same time the precipitations do not interfere with field work. First bales of cotton are showing rather freely throughout the cotton region, and it is anticipated that a rather general movement will com mence somewhat earlier than last year. The yield will be good in this section, lit tle damage having been done by boll wee vil. Rice havesting is commencing, and there is a large crop, which seems to be of a good quality, but it is coming in on a market burdened with a large carry over from last year. Sugar cane Is doing well, and there is a promise of a large yield of corn of good quality. ' DALLAS.—Wholesale trade is, as a rule, good in all lines and especially so in dry goods, millinery and hats and caps. Col lections are fair. No rain of consequence has fallen in this distdict for three weeks, and cotton on the thin and upland fields is badly injured, but on the black land and bottom lands it is holding its own. FORT WORTH—This section has had no rain of consequence, except In a few spots. The temperature has been exceed ingly high, and reports suggest wide spread damage to cotton in this section. At some points it is stated that it will take from ten to twenty acres to pro duce one bale. At the same time all admit that if rains should come by Sep tember 1 a material change for the bet ter would take place. Cotton on the low lands seems to be doing pretty well under the circumstances, but on the high land it is suffering. These reports ex tend from Fort Worth, along the Denver and Rock Island railroad to Oklahoma, and through Texas to Clarendon, west on the Texas and Pacific to Sweet Water, and southwest along the ’Frisco to Brady and San Angelo, with all the districts between these boundaries. Late feed crops have been practically de stroyed, and stockmen are feeling very apprehensive about stock grass and water. Even with these conditions, mer chants agree that the territory Is in bet ter condition than at this time last year, as in most localities small grain has been produced and quite a quantity of feed stuff preserved. Locally retail trade is quieter, while jobbers report a fairly active business, and all collections are reported as good. Local building condi tions are quite active, making the de mand for lumber and building material good. Live stock receipts are above the average. SAN ANTONIO—Wholesale dealers in dry goods, groceries and drugs report trade keeping up fairly well. Fall trade is opening up a little slowly, owing to the lateness of the cotton crop. In Iso lated cases cotton is more or less of a failure, owing to drought and boll weevil. The opinion Is expressed that, taken as a whole, production in south western Texas will at least equal that of last year. Collections throughout this section continue slow, but they are improving. Retail merchants report trade dull In town. Collections are only fair. Future prospects seem fairly optimistic. THE CROPS. Crop reports are rather more Irreg ular; dry weather is still a subject of complaint In many sections, and rain falls are partial, and not the geenral precipitation whose absence this sum mer is at the base of the complaints of crop shortage. Rains fell in parts of the drought- stricken regions of the southwest this week, Missouri and parts of Nebraska getting the chief benefit; but in Kan sas, though the heat was less excessive, the drought stil continues, and north and west Texas and Oklahoma now re quire rain if good cotton crop yields are to be had. Rains helpd corn in Illi nois, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio and in the northwestern states, but Kansas gained nothing, and in Missouri and Nebraska the relief was only partial. Average yields are expected in northern Illi nois, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and Minnsota. In northern Iowa a record crop is looked for; in the southern half of the state much damage was done, and a three-fourths crop is the prediction. The Kansas crop is placed at one-fifth of last year, and estimates of damage in Missouri are heavy, while Ne braska south of the Platte is a heavy loser. Kentucky corn crop deterioration has been checked. The low estimate of yield of corn is 2,300,000,000 bushels, the high 2,7000.000 bushels, and the balance of opinion favors about 2,500,- 000,000 bushels, or about what was rais ed in 1911. MAKING THE MOST OF MANURE; USE IT TO BEST ADVANTAGE In common with everything that can be done to promote the growth ot plants, manure should be used to the best pos sible a(ivantage. It costs a good deal to save it and apply it to the land. This expense is incurred whether it is used so as to make a large increase in the yield of the crop or is applied in a man ner that causes it to be of but little benefit to the plants. It is plain that if the cost must be borne there should be an effort to secure adequate return. One of the efficient means of making the most of manure, and one that is applicable in all fields, is the thorough fining of this material in the soil. Of course, the manure should have been made very fine before the planting was done. In mtmy cases it was put into pretty good condition. In a larger num ber of instances it was not as fine as it should have been. But, with very few exceptions, whether it was fine or coarse when it was spread upon the land it can be more thoroughly pulverized. This can be accomplished by frequent culti vation. Aside from its effect upon the manure, this work would be liberally paid for by the increase of the crops which it would insure. Consequently, whatever gain came from the improve ment in the mechanical condition of the manure would be in addition to that which cultivation secures in soils that have not been manured. Before plants can make use of the manure to the best advantage it must be finely pulverized. As long as there are coarse lumps of manure, either upon or underneath the surface of the ground, the man who owns the crops is not getting as much financial benefit from it as he should obtain. He will not make the most of it until he gets it thoroughly pulverized. Another meansof hastening and increas ing the efficiency of manure is by main taining a proper degree of moisture In the soil. This is not always possible to do in its full extent, but something in this direction can usually be accomplished. Upon some fields a great deal may be done along this line. As plants cannot take their food in a dry state, the impor tance of having a sufficient supply of moisture in the ground is apparent. Therefore, in dry soils, and especially in seasons in which the rainfall is deficient, care should be taken to conserve moisture by keeping the surface of the ground al ways covered with fine dust. This can be accomplished by the processes used in fining the manure. Thorough cultivation will thus serve two important purposes at one and the same time. But, while a cer tain amount of moisture is absolutely es sential to the appropriation of food by the plants, an excess of water is extremely Injurious. This is due to various reasons, one of whl#h is the fact that the exces^ of moisture dilutes the food elements to such an extent that the plants cannot use a sufficient quantity, 'therefore, while food supplies may be ample the plants may be starving because of the excess of water In which they are dissolved, I Where such a condition prevails it is ev- | ident that the land needs thorough drain- 1 age. This, of course, cannot be attempted j while a hoed crop is on the ground. But sometimes furrows may be plowed in j such a way as to carry off a large part of the surplus water. In doing this work: many plants would be destroyed, but the' remainder would bo so greatly benefited that the total yield would be considerably: increased. This is a very crude substi tute for drainage, and should be adoptedl only as a temporary expedient to tide over in an emergency, but it is worth! while trying In fields In which the plants are suffering from an excess of water. It| will prevent the loss of r. ssod aeai of plant food and will make more effective! the manure which has been nut upon the 1 land. One other means for making the most 1 of manure should be noted. This is by, supplementing its deficiencies, where such exist. These deficiencies may bo either in the way of quantity or In that of quality. If the former, the remedy, is plain. More plant food should bo applied at once. Otherwise, what has been furnished will not be used profita bly. Small crops have often been taken from fields that would have produced 1 large ones if a little more plant food , had been supplier. There should be 1 * \ food enough to “carry out” the crop as well as to promote a vigorous growtla of stalk or vine. Then, too, a deficien cy in the quality of the manure will be' as serious an evil as will be a deficien cy in quantity. If there is a lack oft either nitrogen, phosphoric acid or pot ash, the manure cannot be as efficient! as it would be if these elements were present in the proper proportions, andi if the deficiency is very marked the ma nure may do but little good. It often occurs that fields which apparently were well manured fall to produce good crops. The reason for this failure Is found in the fact that one or more of the important food elements had been’ almost exhausted from the soil an dtho deficiency was not supplied in the ma J nure. In such cases the application of a moderate quantity of an immediately available fertilizer that is rich in tha elements in which the soil is deficient would not only supply plant food In it- sol" but would also enable the cropt to make full use of the manure. In many cases this will be both a cheat and an efficient way in which the farm er can make the most of the manure used on his fields. The Stee! 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