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6 TELE ATLANTA. SFTVTT-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1913. i • - i ^ a. ALL •: L.iv^VE-.-^c,TL^ . 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.