Newspaper Page Text
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TELE ATLANTA. SFTVTT-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1913.
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AGMO/LTt/RAL
Education
Successful Farming l
£ ND r EW ^ £ 0ULt
This department will cheerfully endeavor to furnish any information.
Letters should he addressed to Dr. Andrew M. Soule, president State
Agricultural College, Athens, Oa.
Limiting Factors in Crop Productions
IMPORTANCE OF THE SOIL
SHOULD NEVER BE OVERLOOKED
T HERE is a natural desire on the
part of the farmer to produce
bumper crops. In order that he
"may accomplish this economically and
with some degree of certainty he must
have a full appreciation of the factors
„.which limit crop growth. It is not un-
, common for a correspondent to state
that he desires to raise 50 or 100 bush
els of corn or possibly a bale or more
of cotton per acre. How to do this
"is the subject of his query. Naturally
he must prepare his land well, select
his seed with care, cultivate correctly,
and fertilize intelligently. To raise ,50
bushels of corn per acre, including the
grain and stalk, it will be necessary
for the soil to contain in a readily avail
able form at least 74 pounds of nitro
gen, 27 pounds of phosphoric acid and
42 pounds of potash. To produce a bale
of cotton, including the lint, seed and
stalk, the crop must have at its com
mand at least 84 pounds of nitrogen, 34
pounds of phosphoric acid, and 4 9
pounds of potash. Careful investiga
tions would indicate that under condi
tions such as prevail in Georgia the
total store of plant food in a soil as
shown by chemical analysis which may
become useful to a growing crop will
approximate rather closely 2 per cent ot
the nitrogen, 1 per cent of the phos
phoric acid and 25 per cent of the
potash. While plants feed to a consid
erable depth in the soil, and therefore
draw some of the plant food needed
from the subsoil, the most of the food
utilized by the growing crop is found
’in the surface area to a depth of from
seven to ten inches.
Suppose the farmer has his soil ana
lyzed and he finds, for instance, that
the surface soil contains 1,100 pounds
of "nitrogen, 600 pounds of phosphoric
acid and 4,000 pounds of potash. On the
basis of the figures quoted above, 2 per
cent of the nitrogen or 22 pounds will
be available for the growth of a crop
during a given season, and also 6
pounds of phosphoric acid and 10 pounds
of potash. In this connection it is
well to remember that these quantities
of the plant food will only become
available where the land has been well
cultivated, that is, properly plowed, sub-
soiled when necessary, supplied with
vegetable matter and constantly tilled
so that the oxygen of the air, the sun,
heat and the rainfall may all perform
their proper service. At the same time
the bacterial life of the soil must be
.properly stimulated so they will per
form their functions in a satisfactory
manner. If a soil is very acid this con
dition must be corrected through the
use of lime. It is thus easy to see
that under bad methods of ‘ farm prac
tice the quantities of plant food men
tioned above may not become available,
and where this condition pertains, the
growth which thq land will naturally
'produce is lessened just in proportion
to the amount of plant food which is
rendered available through good man
agement.
Presuming that th« best manage
ment is accorded the soil and that the
maximum amount of plant food which
can be rendered available is utilized by
the growing crop, it appears that there
would be about sufficient nitrogen to
'•produce 14 to 15 bushels of corn,
j=nough phosphoMc acid to produce from
9 to 11 bushels of corn, and this is
just about the yield a soil of the com-
ffosition mentioned may be expected to
return to the farmer. Of cotton the
nitrogen in question would be suffi
cient to produce about a quarter of a
bale, the phosphoric acid and potash
about one-sixth and one-fifth of a bale
respectively. These are low yields and
would prove very disappointing to the
farmer, and certainly agriculture would
not be a very lucrative or desirable vo
cation if the farmer could not hope to
grow larger crops.
Fortunately for mankind, the dis
tressing situation indicated need only
*be of a temporary character, for
though the soil in question is not nat
urally a rich soil as to the store of
plant food, its productive capacity can
be easily and readily increased through
the intelligent use of commercial plant
food, the introduction of proper sys-
INDIGESTION, GAS OA
SICK, SOUR STOMACH
Time “Pape’s Diapepsin!” in
five minutes all stomach
misery is gone
“Really does” put bad stomachs in
order—“really does” overcome indiges
tion, dyspepsia. gas, heartburn and
sourness in five minutes—that—just
that—makes Pape’s Diapepsin the lar
gest selling Stomach regulator in the
world. If what you eat ferments into
stubborn lumps, you belch gas and
eructate sour, undigested food and acid:
head is dizzy and aches; breath foul;
tongue qoated; your insides filled with
bile and indigestible waste, remember
the moment “Pape’s Diapepsin” comes
in contact with the stomach all such
distress vanishes.* It’s truly astonish
ing—almost marvelous, and the joy is
its harmlessness.
A large fifty-cent case of Pape’s Dia
pepsin will give you a hundred dollars’
worth of satisfaction or your druggist
hands you your money back.
It’s worth its weight in gold to men
and women who can’t get their stom
achs regulated. It belongs in your
home—should always be kept handy in
case of a sick, sour, upset stomach dur
ing the day or at night. It’s the 4 quick
est, surest and most harmless stomach
doctor in the world.
terns of crop rotation, and the more
thorough cultivation of the land. A
soil of this character is low in nitro
gen. This defect 'may be overcome
by turning under green crops or graz
ing tfyem off, or through the use of
yard manure, compost or litter from
the woods and waste places on the
farm. Of course, all the nitrogen
nc-edeo will probably not be secured in
this direction, and any additional sup
plies must be obtained from commer
cial sources. To this end a great va
riety of materials may be used which
need not be enumerated or discussed
at this particular time.
The phosphoric acid can only be
supplied through the use of commer
cial materials which provide this ele
ment in adequate quantity and in a de
sirable form. For instance, if one de
sires to grow 50 bushels of corn on
soil which naturally only furnishes
enough of this element to produce 10
bushels, it will be necessary to use at
least 200 pounds of highgrade acid
phosphate per acre. If the soil will
only yield up enough potash to make
11 or 12 bushels of corn, then it will
be necessary to add say 50 to 100
pounds of kainit. Potash like phos
phoric acid can only be secured in a
commercial form for use on soils in
which it is markedly deficient, and as
this element becomes somewhat slow
ly available in the soil, according to
chemical researches which have been
made and the facts cited in this arti
cle, it should be applied in sufficient
amounts to meet the needs of the size
and character of the crop which the
farmer desires to produce.
These facts would make it evident
that an analysis of a soil becomes an
important factor to the farmer as pro
viding him with a basis on which to
determine more correctly the natural
deficiencies in his soil and the amount
end kind of commercial plant food
which it may be necessary to purchase
and apply in order to raise the yield
of his land to an acceptable degree.
Of course, the mere use of commercial
fertilizers is only one factor in crop
production and an equal degree of in
telligence and skill must be applied to
preparation, cultivation and seed se
lection. In order that the bacterial
life of the soil which exert a most
important influence on crop yields may
be stimulated, it is necessary that
green crops or yard manure be util
ized from time to tinfe as a source of
plant food, but more particularly to
supply vegetable matter, and thus im
prove the physical and mechanical con
dition of the land. Where these sug
gestions are carried into effect one may
look for a larger return from the use
of commercial fertilizers, an increased
yield of crops, and a rapid enhance
ment in value of agricultural lands.
Moreover, these factors are basic to
the introduction and maintenance of a
permanent.and successful type of agri
culture in any community. The prin
ciples involved are not difficult of‘ap
preciation, and surely the suggestions
made are of a practical character and
may be utilized to advantage by any
farmer.
CROPS TO POIiXiOW COTTON.
A correspondent writes: In a two-crop
per year system in the south, it is easy to
arrange for a second crop to follow spring
grains and corn, but it is more difficult
in the case of cotton. Do you consider a
second crop advisable or practicable and
what do you recommend?
Intensive farming is always the most
desirable and profitable, and if the
farmers of the south would devote a
proper area of land to winter oats and
other cereals which they can grow with
such marked success, they would not
only supply any deficiency which might
exist in the supply of corn needed for the
proper maintenance of farm live stock,
but could grow on the same land in the
same year a superabundance of the fin
est hay. As it is by reason of a failure
to develop the cultivation of cereals
properly or to grow as much hay as we
should, we are sending out of the south
each year millions of dollars for the
purchase of western oats, corn and hay.
As a hay crop the cowpea, soy bean, and
along the gulf coast, the velvet bean
may be qsed to advantage. Millet and
cowpeas can often be combined advan
tageously, and sorghum and cowpeas
also make an excellent crop. It is true
it is difficult to get some of these crops
to mature at the same time, but where
they are managed properly no serious
trouble will be experienced in this direc
tion. There is no rdStson why winter
oats should not be planted in cotton
say after tWfe second or third picking.
The two or three rows of oats may be
put in by the open furrow method,
wherever practicable a legume should
be added, such as crimson clover oi
the hairy vetch for soil building pur
poses. Even where cowpeas and soy
beans are cut off for hay making in
the fall they will leave in the land from
20 to 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre in
the roots, stubble and fallen leaves.
This is a great advantage to succeeding
crops of corn and <cotton which may be
grown on the land. Where one goes
into the ‘business of making hay <*ind
growing two crops a year high fertiliza
tion is essential. Crop rotation should
be practiced, live stock, kept in the
largest numbers possible, and the ma
nure returned to the land.
FREE
WINTER FEEDING OF BEEF CAT
TLE.
J. W. S., Thomasville, Ga., writes: I
am thinking of feeding 200 head of steers
this winter on meal and hulls. What do
you think of planting rutabagas about Sep
tember 1 and cutting up for cattle once a
day. What kind of fertilizer wonld you
use on this crop? What do you think of
planting sorghum right away to be cut
and cured this fall and then cut up in a
machine and fed in the place of so much
hulls? We expect to feed the steers from
January 1 to about May 15. Any sugges
tions along this line will be appreciated.
THIS
tiio,
HAT
rills rich Imported ' _
“Velour” Hat with the'''
Austrian Maker’s name
stamped on the inside, made from the finest hare fur,
brushed to the soft glossiness of rich plush, extra heavy,
pure crosgrain silk band, fashionable three-quarter bow.
Russia leather sweat band, extra wide. Lined with heavy
pure siUc.of shimmering colors, absolutely the nswest and
latest creation and so swell that it will be noticed and
admired by everybody. Regularly sold in City Stores
for $7.00. We give it
Absolutely FREE to OUR AGENTS
AH that we require is that you show our samples end
take a few orders for our ppecial-made-to-measuro
clothes. Ws pay highest cash profits and give extra
presents besides. Your choice of 628 valuable pre
miums—such as Leather Suit Cases, Musical Instru
ments, Pipes, Watches, Sporting Goods, Guns, etc.
Write for elegant free outfit and full particulars
PRKNCKR MEAD GO., Dept.615 , CHICAGO
It is gratifying to see that you are
interested in feeding 200 head of steers
this winter on meal, hulls and ruta
bagas. Of course, the soils of the state
can tie built up most rapidly through
the promotion of animal industries, and
if you can “break even” on these cat
tle, the manure will be valuable to you
as a soil amendment. Naturally, it is
desirable for you to make money on the
transaction and we Relieve you can do
this if you handle the cattle properly.
Rutabagas may be fed as you have sug
gested to good advantage. They will of
necessity have to be sliced or pulped.
This may ba done by machinery. You
can mix pulped rutabagas with meal,
hulls, shredded corn stover, sorghum
run through a cutting box or any other
form of roughness available on your
farm. Your ration will be improved by
giving variety to the roughness and
not deending on hulls alone, as you
have suggested. We think from ten to
twenty pounds of rutabagas with from
four to six pounds of cotton seed meal,
Soil is the basis of all wealth. The
farmer who overlooks this is sure to
suffer sooner or later. The fertility of
the land is like a bank account, it must
be replenished, otherwise it is impossi
ble to continually draw upon it without
disastrous results. There has been a
tendency on th© part of some to ignore
thi<! important fact and in almost
every instance they Have seen the folly
of their action.
When a farmer has acustomed him
self to a certain kind of soil, when he
has learned its eccentricities, if such a
term may be permitted, it is a mistake
for him to go from this place to another
where conditions are radically different.
Certainly is this true, if he is a man
somewhat established in his habits and
advanced in years.
Illustrations of this kind are not un
common. A man may have built up a
magnificent farm in a country that has
been so fortunate as to enjoy a rapid
increase in farm values. He has found
the opportunity to sell at a handsome
advance. He has figured that by selling
here he can go to a newer country and
secure twice the holdings with out any
additional outlay. In fact it frequently
happens that he can get double the
amount of land and still hav e money left
over with which to equip his new farm.
He has taken aavantage of this offer
only to find that the new land present
ed difficulties of which he had never
dreamed. Perhaps the soil is sandy
and the systems that he has learned to
follow in crop cultivation and rotation
are not suited to this new section.
He becomes discouraged, he declares
that farming is not worth while, he is
dissatisfied with his newer place and
as a result it often goes upon the mar
ket at a loss.
The same thing is true with those
■who have gone to newer countries
wher e they have found soils that are
radically different from those on which
they have been accustomed to farm.
Not only this, but the social conditions
are different. Everything has a ten
dency , to discourage or dishearten
those on the farm and in the house.
It is often a wise thing to let well
enough alone. There aj*e thousands of
instances where farmers and farmers’
wives and children would be happier if
they would pay a little closer attention
to this old proverb. It is poor policy
to try to change one’s habits of farm
ing after a certain period has past.
The man who has made a success on
good rich, black soil for instance will
not profit as much as he hopes to if he
leaves this and goes to some other sec
tion where sandy land or where gum
bo or other types predominate. He will
find that a complete readjustment of
his plans and operations is necessary
and often times this is more difficult
than he at first realizes.
The gifted real estate man may use
all of his powers of persuasion and all
of his ability to glowingly describe the
new scenes but If the soil is radically
different, if it is inferior for crop
growing or if it a worn out farm the
chances are that discouragement and
dissatisfaction will result.
There are illustrations .where men
who are well advanced in years have
gone from one section of the country
to one that was radically different and
have had the highest degree of success
in their new location. An illustration
of this comes to mind.
A man left the corn belt and went to
the southland. There he has built up
one of the most remarkable farms to
be seen anywhere. He was an enthusi
astic dairyman and he has brought to
his new location the principles and the
theory that he worked out in his north
ern home. He has adapted them to
southern conditions, southern labor and
southern soil and he has enjoyed a.re
markable success, but this is one in a
thousand. The truth of the statement
which was made above remains, in
spite of this illustration.
ten to twelve pounds of sorghum or
corn stover, and such hulls as the an
imals will eat up in addition will make
you an excellent ration. We would ad
vise you to plant the sorghum, there
fore, as soon as /possible in drills and
cut with a corn harvester and set up in
shocks and cure thoroughly in the field
before hauling to the barn. Sorghum
should not be cut until the seed is ripe.
You will find that cowpeas or soy beans
can also be used to advantage as a
source of roughness. These may be
planted in drills to the best advantage.
The rutabagas should be planted in
July and the ground should be carefully
prepared so as to secure a good stand
and encourage a rapid and vigorous
growth. We would fertilize this crop
vigorously, using about a 9-4-6 at the
rate of 500 pounds per acre and up
wards. The fertilizer is best put under
the drill row before the seed is sown.
If you expect to go. into the cattle
feeding business it will pay you to*have
a silo. In fact, w e would prefer to de
vote the land in question to sorghum,
peas and soy beans, planting immediate
ly, and then filling the silo with these
crops and feed meal, hulls and silage
during the winter in place of the com
bination you have suggested. We think
you will find the silage a more econom
ical and desirable ration.
* * * / .
A CASH or DEPRAVED APPETITE.
E. J., Cairo, Ga., writes: I have a
fine mule that is eating filth of all kinds.
He is getting sluggish, dull and poor. His
appetite is good and he gets plenty of corn,
oats, fodder and peavine hay. I am satis
fied be has worms, and I would nke to
know what to do for him. ‘
If you are satisfied that your mule has
worms, the following treatment we
think will prove effective. Feed sparing
ly for a couple of days, as medicine
effective for the destruction of worms
should be given on a comparatively
empty stomach. A variety of materials
may be used, but for mules we believe
turpentine is easier to get and well
adapted for the purpose in view. Tt
should be given in one to two ounce
does depending on the size of the animal.
Dilute the turpentine in cotton seed oil
or milk to keep it from blistering the
mouth. The dosage mentioned should
be given once daily for two or three
days. Follow this treatment with a
good purgative. There is nothing better
to use than Epsom salts. The chances
are that your mule is also suffering
from indigestion due to the fact that
you are not giving enough variety of
feed. Cut down the ration of corn and
add oats and bran in equal parts; in
other words, feed one-third of the three
concentrates mentioned. Give 12 to 15
pounds per day. Green feed will be
helpful in keeping the appetite on edge.
If the fodder and peavine hay are moldy
cut them out altogether. You may not
be placing salt where your mule can
secure what he needs. We would sug
gest that you buy some rock salt and
place it in the mangers or at convenient
places in the pasture. We believe if
you will follow these suggestions your
mule will improve in health.
WANTS DATA ABOUT SODS AND
FERTILIZERS.
S M W., Pulaski, Ga., writes: I wish
Information on soil and guano subjects. I
think 90 per cent of the farmers are taken
in when they buy fertilizers. I wish to
know if I can take a ten days’ course or
longer in the College this fall?
There is no doubt that much can
be learned about soils and fertilizers
which will Ije of material advantage
to the farmer, and you are to be con
gratulated on your determination to
take a course of instruction somewhere
that you may acquaint yourself with
the more important practical facts con
cerning these two subjects. Undoubt
edly much fertilizer is used at a dis
advantage by those who buy it with
out discrimination and without a knowl
edge of the soil deficiencies or the crops
under which it is to be used. In or
der that the farmers of the state might
be as adequately served as possible
in this direction, the board of trustees
of the State College of Agriculture
have arranged for special shodt courses
commencing early in January and con
tinuing for two or more years. A one-
A BIG
WILL PAY
BIG PROFITS
Money deposited in your
bank to your credit that you
will receive profits of not less
than
10 Per Cent
IS Per Cent
First Year
Second Year
With every proof of rapidly increas
ing dividend* for years to come.
It is a developed mine, with proven
ore declared sufficient to run the mill
for yeaix and years, and worth $10,000,.
000 to $20,000,000.
Tbf section has produced some $300,-
000.009 of GOLD, and this is declared
the RICHEST MINE in it.
Write at once for particulars, as I
have only a few thousand shares to sell.
Easy terms granted. Highest endorse
ments given.
E. L. MARTIN, Eox 124, care Jour
nal, Atlanta, Ga.
year course has also been provided.
This enables young men who desire to
form to specialize in agriculture and
secure the elmentary training they need
in order to fit themselves for their
life work to the best advantage. It
will cost you very little to take one
of the short courses and the testl
mony of hundreds .who have done so is
to the effect that it has been money
well spent. You should, therefore, make
your arrangements p well in advance to
take a cqurse of this character, for it
will be one of the most desirable per
manent investments you can make.
* * •
PROPORTIONATE P^RTS OF THE
CORN PLANT.
J. W\ C., Macon, Ga., writes: Kindly
advise me the proportionate weights of
stover and corn in the ear after the stover
has been cut and cured in the fields. Also
what is the standard weight of corn in the
shuck ?
About 63 per cent of the total di
gestible nutrients of corn will be found
in the ears, and about 37 per cent in
the stover. The relative weight of the
stover and corn from a given area of
land will vary so materially that it Is
difficult to make any definite sugges
tions along this line. Frequently where
corn yields over |0 bushels of grain
per acre a ton and a half of cured stover
will be harvested. Sometimes, however,
on stalks of greater size as much as
60 bushels of grain rpay be gathered.
On the other hand, the growth of the
stalk may be much more vigorous with
one variety than another and so where
60 bushels of corn are harvested one
will get as much as two or two and a
half tons of stovei;. Climate, soil, fer
tilizers and variety all play such an
important part in this matter that no
very definite suggestions can be made.
The standard weight of corn in the
shuck in this state is 74 pounds to
the bushel.
F.ErAlIZING PECAN AND PEACH
TREES.
R. D. S., Tiftou, Ga., writes: What
fertilizer is best for pecan and peach trees
planted in this county, and when should it
he applieef? I wish to put about 200 of
each out in November on land that has
been In cultivation for twenty years and is
a little run down. The land is a light
sandy loam.
Liberal fertilization is generally nec
essary for both peach and pecan trees
especi^ly if they are planted on light
loamy'soil impoverished in vegetable
matter. The initial use of fertilizer
suould be confined to 3 to 5 pounds per
tree and this may be put in the hole at
the time of planting. It is best to
- lx it with the soil and not let the
roots of the young trees come directly
in contact with it. Various formulas
may be used for this purpose. We
think the same application would an
swer very well for pecans and peaches
when newly planted. A good formula
to use would in our judgment he 400
pounds of # cotton seed meal, 400
pounds of, bone meal, 100 pounds of
acid phosphate, 150 pounds of pottas-
sium chloride and 950 pounds of kainit.
A part of the fertilizer may be with
held and put on top of the ground in a
circle around the tree in the early
spring rather than to place it all in
the .hole at the time of planting. In
fact, it would be good practice to put
most of the nitrogen on top of the
ground in the spring rather than to
bury it in tne ground where fall plant
ing is followed.
TO CUT PRICE OF BEEF
MORE THAN ONE-HALF
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.—A mes
sage of hope for a reduction of th«
price of beef to less than one-half of
what it costs today, which would be
a big help in solving the cost of liv
ing problem, has ben brought to the
American people by Augusto B. Leguia,
former president of Peru, who is now
in this city. He made the declaration
that with the opening of the Panama
canal and a reductioh of four thousand
miles in commercial distance between
the United Stales and Peru, beef coula
be delivered.in New York for ten cents
a pound from, hi3 country.
Figures made public by the depart
ment of commerce show that during
the first few months of the present fis
cal year there were increases of sev
eral million pounds of beef coming
principally from Argentina and Aus
tralia, which averaged in price from
seven to ten cents a pound.
$1,622,000 DEPOSITED
IN GEORGIA FOR CROPS
‘ WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.—Secretary
McAdoo deposited in national banks,
$24,159,000 of the governments $50.-
000,000 crop-moving fund. The south
has received nearly all its quota. De
posits now are being made in the cen
tral west. The deposits so far by states
are:
Alabama, $1,170,000; Arkansas, $600,-
000; District of Columbia, $407,000; Flor
ida, $495,000; Georgia, $1,622,000; Illi
nois, $3,500,000; Indiana, $275,000; Ken
tucky, $1,020,000; Louisiana, $3,075,000;
Maryland, $2,700,000; Minnesota. $400,-
000; Mississippi, $150,000; Missouri, $1,-
750,000; New Mexico, $50,000; North
Carolina, $1,250,000; Oregon. $600,000;
Pennsylvania $75,000; South Carolina,
$1,400,000; Tennessee, $2,045,000; Texas,
$600,000-; Utah, $125,000; Virginia,
$850,000.
WHEAT FOR PLANTING SHOULD
BE VERY CAREFULLY SELECTED
TIME NOW TO SELECT
COTTON SEED TO PLANT
State Board of Entomology
Gives Ten Sugges
tions
The time has come when the farmers
of Georgia must select their cotton seed
for next year’s planting; and in view
oi the many pests and diseases to
which the plant is now subject, this is
no simple or easy task.
The state board of entomology lays
down ten rules or suggestions relative
to cotton seed selection. ' The seed
should be selected from the strongest
and hardiest plants, such as are free
from diseases and have the greatest
percentage of fruit properly located.
More specifically, the selection should
be made, says State Entomologist E.
Lee Worsham, with reference to resist
ance to black root or wilt disease; re
sistance to root knot and anthracnose;
fruitfulness and earliness; percentage
of lint; type of plant and distribution
of fruit on the plant.
In selecting for resistance to black
root or wilt disease the plant should
be chosen from that section of the field
where the ordinary cotton suffered
greatest damage. Here, however, the
selection should be made of the hardi
est and most resistant plants.
WATCH OUT FOR ROOT KNOT.
Care should also be taken to select
those plants which ar e resistant to root
knot or nematode worms.
Another thing to be avoided in the
selection of the seed is anthracnose.
At present the best way to control this
disease is by rotation of crops and by
the use of resistant varieties through
careful seed selection.
Fruitfulness should be carefully con
sidered in seed selection.
GET EARLY VARIETIES.
Earliness is another important point
in selection, especially in southwest
Georgia, where it will be necessary
next year to meet the invasion of the
cotton boll weevil.
The department advises that no stalk
should be selected which yields less
than 33 1-3 per cent of lint. The only
satisfactory method of determining the
quality of lint yielded by a stalk is to
gin each stalk separately with a hand
gin. The state board of entomology
owns a small gin operated by electricity,
and will take great pleasure in ginning,
free of charge, small quantities of seed
that has been carefully selected. The
seed cotton can be sent by parcel post
and the seed will be properly labeled
and returned.
Care should be taken also as to the
type of plant chosen. The best stalks
to select are those having long fruiting
limbs close to the ground, and with
joints close together. Where a field
is to be used particularly for the se
lection of seed, the diseased and stunt
ed stalks should be cut out about July
1 or August 1, to prevent crossing with
the producing plants.
CARE IN GINNING.
The cotton selected for seed should
be ginned on a hand gin, if possible.
This does away with danger of adulter
ation or mixture with diseased seed. If
the cotton is ginned on a public gin, all
of the seed should be removed from the
breast of the gin and other parts before
the cotton is run through, and the seed
should be allowed to drop on the floor
or on a sheet; it should never be al
lowed to run through the seed carrying
auger.
The work on the wilt disease of cot
ton, development of resistant strains
and seed selection, has been in charge
of Mr. A. C. Lewis, assistant state en
tomologist, since 1905. Under his di
rection there have been developed a
number of resistant hybrids, and this
special seed has been furnished to
farmers in many sections of the state.
FACTORY DOORS LOCKED
WHEN BIG FIRE STARTED
(By Associated Press.)
NEW YORK, Sept. 26.—Max Blank,
one of the proprietors of the Triangle
Waist company, which was swept by fire
in March, 1911, with the loss of 140
lives, was today found guilty of hav
ing the doors of the factory fastened
on August 5 of this year. He was fined
$20.
In considering the possibilities of im
proving crop production in this country,
comparisons often have been made in re
cent years of the wheat yields of our
country as compared with those of Eu
ropean countries. For example, the aver
age production of wheat in the United
States is fourteen bushels to the acre;
that of Germany is twenty-nine bush
els. It is tq, be recognized, of course,
that a large share of this increased pro
duction must be assigned to the atten
tion given to the fertility of the soil.
It appears, however, particularly in
the last few years, that aside from the
care which has been given to the mat*-
ter of improved soil conditions, another
force of tremendous influence has been
operating to produce that effect, and
this is the close attention that is being
paid to the matter of seed improvement.
Great stress is laid upon the impor
tance of testing different strains and
varieties of the various farm crops with
the object of finding those best adapted
to the many different localities. In ad
dition to this work much attention is
given to crop improvement through sys
tematic breeding. A report has quite
recently appeared in which the state
ment is made that there are in Germany
forty-six breeders of rye, eighty-four
breeders of wheat, sixty-five breeders
of barley, fifty-three breeders of oats,
and so on. This serves to show the im
portance attached to this line of en
deavor and to indicate one of the sources
of success in producing big crop yields
in Germany.
In this country very little attention
has been given to the systematic breed
ing of small grains. We have come in
recent years to attach considerable im
portance to the breeding of corn, so
that now many farmers not only care
fully consider the variety which he
will plant, but also critically examine
each individual ear which is to furnish
seed for the fields, where is the pro
gressive farmer these days who Would
think of going to the bin or to the
elevator and scooping up a lot of
shelled corn for planting his field? In
stead of this scoop-shovel method he
demands that his seed corn be deliv
ered to him in the ear, because he has
come to realize the importance of tak
ing into account the individuality of
the ear.
But this same farmer who insists on
handling his seed corn ear by ear is
willing to go to the bin and use his
scoop-shovel in selecting his seed
wheat. Now, as a matter of fact,
there is just the same reason why
wh^at and oats should be selected and
sold in the head as there is for seed
corn to be sold in th e ear. And there
is just as much importance in testing
the heads of wheat and oats separately
for their productivity as there is In
testing ears of corn in separate breed
ing rows. The same principles of
heredity operate in wheat and oats as
in corn, and characteristics of individ
uals are transmitted to their progeny
just as surely in one plant as in the
other.
Each wheat plant possesses its own
individuality and its characters are
U-ansmitted to its progeny in accord
ance with the definite laws of heredity.
Occasionally—perhaps one in many mil
lion plants—there occurs a very out
standing individual, the same as once
in a while there arises a Shakespeare
or an Edison in the human race. It is
the business of the plant breeder to
seek out these exceptional individuals
to test the transmission of their re
markable properties, and if found in
heritable, to propagate such strains.
If we wer e to trace the history of
many of our most valuable strains of
cereals, we would find that they ema
nate from some such, exceptional indi
vidual. plants. For example, in wheat,
the Dawson’s Golden Chaff variety is
said to have arisen from a single plant
discovered by Mr. Dawson in walking
through his fields and noticing the
thrifty vigorous growth of this original
plant as compared with its neighbors.
Seed from this remarkable plant was
saved and its progeny multiplied until
now the ^awson’s Golden Chaff has
become one of the best known and
most widely grown varieties of wheat
in America.
Since wheat and oats are by nature
self-fertilized plants, their breeding
is comparatively simple, for it is thus
possible to grow side by side many dif
ferent strains in comparison. The
method consists in going into the fields
at about harvest time and selecting a
large nupiber of the most promising
heads as one is abl e to judge them in
passing along. «
These heads may owe their superiori
ty either to inherent tendencies which
will appear in their progeny or to some
advantage in their environmental situa
tion, In which latter case their eexcel-
lence is not necessarily transmitted
to the next generation. The breeding
plot serves to sift out the valuable
strains. In this breeding plot each head
is planted in a row and its progeny com"
pared under the most* “jLiform condi
tions attainable. The most productive
strains are selected for further propa
gation, and after a sufficient number of
years of testing and mulitplying, 'those
strains which exhibit inherent worth
may be put out as new and improved
varieties.
A bulletin of the Nebraska station has
just appeared reporting the work of im
provement of wheat along this line.
Three new strains of Turkey Red were
distributed among several farmers, and
as an average result there was an im
provement amounting to four bushels
to the acre as compared with the yields
of these farmer’s own varities. Last
year, according to the report of the
Illinois state board of agriculture, the
average profit per acre of wheat in
Illinois amounted to $3.89.
Assuming this to be a fair average for
other states, if we were to apply the im
provement obtained by the Nebraska
station to every acre of wheat in the
United States, we would double the
present profit in our wheat production.
TARIFF BILL TO PASS
MINUS COTTON FEATURE
WASHINGTON, D. C„ Sept. 29.—The
inability of the tariff conferees to agree
with reference to the cotton futures tax
will be reflected in the senate and house
is believed tonight by persons supposed
to be familiar with the temper of con
gress. As a result, the tariff bill will
become alaw without any provision re
lating to cotton exchanges, and the
whole question will be made the subject
of legislation at the regular session of
congress. x
It is regarded as certain that the
Smith-Lever plan for regulating the cot
ton exchanges will be accepted by the
house. Leader Underwood incorporated
the pLn in a bill which he introduced
in tljie house as a basis of speedy ac
tion.
The only element of doubt in the sit
uation has to do with the attitude of
the senate. An effort will be made to
induce the senate to accept the Smith-
Lever plan, but Senator Simmons ex
pressed the belief tonight that this ef
fort will fail. He added that the house
would finally recede from the Smith-
Lever plan and that the bill would be
come a law without any provision bear
ing on cotton futures.
Senator Clarke, of Arkansas, author
of the original cotton futures tax, de
clined to indicate what his attitude
would be with reference to the Smith-
Lever plan, but he intimated very
strongly that he thought {he issue in
volved to be of importance enough to
justify and demand its consideration by
congress as ®Mlistinct mater. It is be
lieved that, while interested in the suc
cess of his original proposition, he is
willing that the question shall go over
rather than imperil the tariff bill or
further delay its final passage.
There was current a report, however,
that Senators Clarke and Pomerene, of
Ohio, might possibly form a combina
tion to force the senate to stand by the
original Clarke amendment and an
amendment of Senator Pomerene relat
ing to a tax on domestic wines. The
Ohio senator succeeded in amending
the bill in the senate so as to impose a
tax on domestic wines made in vine
yards. The conferees struck out this
tax, and Pomerene is reported to be
anxious to force its reinstatement.
Senator Vardaman, of Mississippi, is
threatening to revolt unless the Clarke
amendment is restored to the bill He
stated late £his afternoon that he would
not vote for any conference report un
less it contained the cotton futures tax
as originally passed in the senate. He
said that in his opinion the cotton ex
changes, next to whisky, have done
more injury to the south than anything
since the* government was established.
“I believe the Clarke amendment is
a step in the right direction and I
am not inclined to accept any confer
ence report that does not contain this
proposition,” he said.
FERTILIZER FACTS NO. 6
A CLARION CALL FOR OATS
Can you afford to use your farm half the time? A combination of
oats and peas makes possible a double-cropping
and a double-profit system
LOOK AT THE LEDGER
Oats Followed by Peas
Lot ton
Dr.
Cr.
Dr.
Cr.
Cost of producing
an acre of oats $10.00
Cost of producing
an acre of peas
and sorghum... 10.00
NET PROFIT... 40.00
50 bushels oats at
60 cents $30.00
1 1-2 tons of hay 30.00
Cost of producing
an acre of cot
ton $35.00
NET PROFIT... 26.00
1 bale of cotton..$60.00
$60.00
ALSO SOIL IMPROVED
$60.00
$60.00
$60.00
PROTECT THE LAND IN WINTER WITH COVER CEOP
More plant food is lost by leaching and erosion during the winter than Is removed by a maxi
mum crop in the growing season. Oats bind together and protect the land against winter rains.
Cowpeas improve the physical condition of the soil and add nitrogen during the summer.
OATS SHOULD FOLLOW CORN AND COTTON
After the crops are laid by, profitable employment of farm work stock can be had by pre
paring for fall seeding. Three rows of ,'ats should he planted between the cotton rows immedi
ately alter the first general picking (October 1st to 15th). The corn should he cut and shocked
in order to get the greatest possible feeding value from the crop. Go over this land twice with
a heavy cut-away harrow, and the land is in ideal condition for seeding the oats.
SEED.
Two bushels per acre of any good variety of reclaimed, rust-proof oats should be planted.
To prevent smut, the seed should be treated with formaldehyde or bluegtone solution before plant
ing.
FERTILIZER
Under average conditions, 400 to 500 pounds of about a 9-2-3 fertilizer should be used. If
the oats do not grow off well in the spring of the year, apply 100 pounds of nitrate of soda in
two applications.
The South is an ideal oat section, but we are annually purchasing many million dollars’
worth of western-grown oats for feed. YOU should stop your part of this expense by planting
oats abundantly this fall.
SOIL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE
Southern Fertilizer Association
ATLANTA, GA.
A new Bulletin, containing extracts from Experiment Station tests of fertilized
and unfertilized fields of corn, cotton, grains, fruits, etc., ready for distribution De
cember 1st. Write for one. Sent free on request.