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HOW TO GROW ALFALFA.
Lime, Drainage, Inoculation, Rich
Land and a Fine Seed Bed Are
Five Essentials—Begin Now to
Get Land Ready for Alfalfa
This Fall.
By B. L. MOSS.
On average Southern soils, al
falfa is not easily grown crop; in
fact, it is probable that the fail
ures with it outnumber or at least
equal the successes. But at the
same time it is such a magnificent
hay and grazing crop that special
efforts and rather heavy expense
are often justified in attempting
to grow it. Yields of three and
four tons of hay per acre each
year are not uncommon, and with
alfalfa hay worth S4O to SSO a ton,
it will be seen that the per acre
value of the crop is often very
high.
Success with alfalfa is depen
dent on at least five factors, neg
lect of any one of which may re
sult in failure with the crop. We
place these essentials in the order
of their impontance as follows:
(1) lime; (2) drainage; (3) inocu
lation; (4) rich land; (5) a fine
seed bed. Let us now consider in
detail these essentials to alfalfa
success.
Alfalfa Loves Lime.
Alfalfa is a lime-loving crop,
and unless the soil is naturally
well supplied with lime applica
tions are necessary if alfalfa is to
succeed. The areas in the South
where the soil is well supplied
with lime are limited to regions
where the soil is largely the,result
of the decomposition of lime rocks
or residues deposited by steam
waters coming from limestone
sections. In the Cotton Belt, the
most pronounced lime soil areas
are the Black Belt of central Ala.,
and northeast Miss., a probable
continuation of which is found in
middle Tennessee; the flood plains
of the Yazoo and Mississippi
rivers in Mississippi, the Mississip
pi and lied rivers in Louisiana,
and the Mississippi river in Ark
ansas; and the black land sections
of Texas and Oklahoma. Within
these areas a goodly percentage
of the soils usually have enough
lime and are sufficiently fertile to
grow alfalfa profitably, provfued
drainage is good and the soil ino
culated.
Elsewhere in the Cotton licit,
liming is generally essential if al
falfa is to succeed. The amount to
use pei acre will depend upon the
form in which it is used. General
ly, however, not less than one to
two tons per acre of burnt lime or
two to four tons of ground lime
rock should be applied. While
burnt lime carries nearly twice as
much calcium as tTTe ground lime
rock, the latter is usually less than
half as expensive and hence ordi
narily will b etlie most economical.
The lime should be applied
broadcast, with a lime spreader if
possible, after the land is broken
but before planting, and disked in.
Disking the lime in, rather than
plowing it under, will secure bet
ter results because of a more even
mixing with the soil. Land well
limed at the rate of two to four
tons per acre will not generally
need another application for four
or five years.
Good Drainage Essential.
Next to lack of lime, poor drain
age is probably most responsible
for the frequent failures with al
falfa. This is a crop that simply'
will not tolerate “wet feet,’ and
failure is fairly certain when it is
planted on a soil that is liable ever
to become “water-logged” for
more than a few hours at a time.
Lands naturally well drained,
on which the water level or table
is always at least several feet be
low the surface, should always be
chosen for alfalfa. If they are not
well drained naturally and if for
any reason they cannot be drained
by* ditching or tiling, then they
should be devoted to some other
crop. On many, probably most, of
the natural lime lands from east
Texas eastward drainage, espec
ially in wet seasons, is rather bad,
and before such soils are plauted
to alfalfa it will generally be a
splendid investment to tile-drain
them.
Don’t Fail to Inoculate.
Next in impontance to lime and
perfect drainage we place the
need for inoculation. In one sense,
it is just as important as the two
essentials already discussed, for it
is absolutely certain that alfalfa
will fail unless there is in the soil
the particular bacteria wat live on
the roots of alfalfa and enatile the
crop to utilize the nitrogen of the
air.
Melilotus, both the white and
yellow, bur clover and the little
black medic all have the same nit
ragen-gathering bacteria as alfal
fa, and where any one of these
crops has in recent years been suc
cessfully grown no inoculation for
alfalfa will be necessary. These
plants are generally pretty widely
scattered over our lime soil areas,
and hence inoculation for alfalfa
is unnecessary. But where they
have not been grown, failure to in
oculate is pretty certain to result
in failure.
Our favorite method of inocula
tion is to use broadcast from 1,000
to 2.000 pounds per acre of soil
taken from a field where alfalfa or
some crop utilizing the same bac
teria has been successfully grown.
This soil may be scattered over
the fields and harrowed in at the
same time the seed are sowed. In
the absence of a supply of soil,
artificial cultures that are fairly
dependable may be had from firms
that specialize on such prepara
tions, or from the United States
Department of Agriculture in
small quantities.
Choose a Fertile Soil.
Alfalfa likes rich land, and if it
is not rich it should be made so be
fore planting. In the lime sections
previously referred to, the soils
are often fertile enough to grow
alfalfa without additional plant
foods; but on ordinary sandy and
loam cotton lands, eight to ten or
twelve tons per acre of good man
ure, supplemented with 300 to 400
pounds of acid phosphate, will be
a great help. It has been found
profitable to precede the .fall-sow
ed alfalfa with a crop of peas, well
worked to keep any grass from
making seed to choke the young
alfalfa the following snring.
Asa general rule, we regard fall
seeding of alfalfa much preferable
to spring seeding. The date for
fall seeding will depend upon lo
cation, ranging from August 15 in
the extreme Upper South to as
late as October 15 in the Lower
South. Alfalfa seed are small and
demand a fine heed bed for good
germination. We would prefer to
break the land six to eight weeks
before planting, then harrowing
and re-Earrowing to thoroughly
tine the top soil, kill all weeds and
grass, and save moisture. In plant
ing, the seed should be lightly har
rowed in at the rate of about 25
pounds per acre, and the land
then rolled with a corrugated roll
er if it can be had.
All this may look like a lot of
trouble and expense to grow alfal
fa. and it is; but the crop, when it
succeeds, is worth it all and more.
By following the rules here laid
down, we believe success is fairly
certain; but if any one of the five
essentials named be neglected,
failure is even more certain. —The
Progressive Farmer.
“EVERYTHING
ELECTRICAL”
From the smallest bulb to the
largest motor, at lowest possi
ble prices. “Quality” House
Wiring.
W •*!
Page C. Gregory
Electrical Contractor.
Phone 364 or 40
Worth While Quotation.
‘‘lt is not the work, hut tlie worry,
that makes the world grow old.”
THE TOMATO
1 suppose it has never been defi
nitely decided as to whether the
tomato is a vegetable or a fruit.
It is often classed as a vegetable,
but is more often used as a fruit.
Like the potato and egg plant it
is said to belong to the night
shade family. In fact it matters
little to most of us whether it is a
fruit or a vegetable. It might be
long to the melon family as to all
that.
For years the tomato lias been a
valuable food; but it has been
made more popular in recent
years by the canning clubs.
Years and years ago the tomato
was supposed to contain a poison
almost as deadly as the “deadly
nightshade.” k was never used
except for decorative purposes,
and because of its beautiful red
color Avas called the “love apple.”
Occasionally one Avas given to a
child to play Avith on the condition
that he Afoald not bite into the
tempting rosy globe.
Gradually people began to get
over the poison idea, but neither
its good looks nor its pretty name
were able to raise the tomato
above suspicion for the greater
pait of a century. Latsr the can
cer evil Avas laid at its door. It
avus said that even if cancer did
not develop, the partakers of the
unpopular tomato were doomed to
early death anyway, as it was sup
posed, in some mysterious way, to
cut years from the term of life. In
short it was believed to be a pro
duct to be shunned most carefully
by those looking for safe and
healthful articles of diet. Like
macaroni and many other Avhole-
some foods, the tomato was intro
duced as a food by the Italians.
Along came an Italian painter
named t ’orne, who believed in the
tomato and its career, as an edible
product, was wholly changed. It
is said Dome was the first person
in Newport to eat the tomato.
“There,” he would say to those
who expressed their surprise at
his eating the suspicious tomato,
“is that potato! lie grew in <le
dark, or in de damp cellar, with
his pale lank roots. He has no
flavor; him live underground. But
the tomato he grow in de sunshine
he has de fine rosy color and ex
quisite flavor; he is wii**<rsome ana
when he is put in de soup, you can
relish him and leave nothing in de
plate.”
As subsequent events proved,
the tomato, (at least in Dome’s
case,) was eminently wholesome
and strongly conducive to long
life. It is said that among the an
nals of Newport is treasured the
following reminiscence of the man
who introduced the tomato to
local tables:
“While in his seventy-third
year, Corne was persuaded to buy
an annuity. It is said the Mass
achusetts Hospital Life Insurance
Company on his payment of $1,570
agreed to pay him $lOO every six
months during his life. But the
company had based tlieir calcula
tions on the average duration of
life, not knowing and therefore
not taking into acount the fact
that Corne was in league with cer
tain food forces, notably the
‘wholesome tomato’ hy the aid of
which he was apparently enabled
to set the ordinary laws of longe
vity at defiance. hTe old man lived
fifteen years to enjoy his annuity.
He received in all $3,000 much to
the surprise and loss of the com
pany, as the cashier wah called
upon year after year to make pay
ments to this persistent annuitant,
it seemed as if the company had
caught a Methuseleh. With a
laugh that almost choked him, the
old Italian used to say, as he re
ceived his semi-annuai e>iec^:
“De prezzedent be says he very
glad 1 so well, blit 1 know he lie
all de time. He no know how much
macaroni, how mucdi oil, how
much tomato ! eat. My frand-fath
er he die when he 100, my father
when he 102 and I—l live for
ever.”
The desirably cooling and re
freshing quality of tomatoes in hot
weather is said to be due to the
malic acid which they contain.
Persons recovering from certain
kinds of fever are sometimes al
loAved to eat tomatoes before they
arc given other foods. Last fall
Avhen the writer was slowly recov
ering after a two-weeks’ severe at
tack of influenza, a kind neighbor
sent me some nice tomatoes, fresh
from the vines that had not been
hurt by the usual light frost of
early fall.
I was in bed when they were
brought in to the house and 1
thought they were apples. 1 had
eaten a baked apple a few days
previous and it had almost killed
me. When 1 learned they were to
matoes 1 took the ripest ones and
made soup for dinner and saved
the less ripe ones for next day. 1
made the soup myself for every*
body else seemed to be as sick as
myself. For days buttermilk and
everything, had tasted rotten, but
believe me we relished the tomato
es and left nothing in the plate.
Our taste and requirements are
not alike, however, and others
may not agree with me in regard
to tomatoes for, “flu” patients.
1 cannot remember n. my mother
liked tomatoes. Father docs not
eat them because he says: “1 do
not eat anything a hog does not
eat.” However 1 think some hogs
Avill eat them, evidently some hogs
are like some folks, they do not
like tomatoes because they nave
never tasted them.
Mrs. Fred .1. Fuller.
APPEAL TO SERVICE
The Insane and Blind Are Calling You,
Won’t You Help?
Institutions of our State are appeal
ing to the law makers for more money.
Schools are asking, various depart
ments are begging, hog cholera, cat
tle, tick and all the animal ills are
being heard. The Asylum for the
Insane is crowded and needs more
funds. The Academy for the Blind
has urgent demand for more cash to
continue its work. They s' uid have
it. God knows the Insane and the
Blind should and must have the best
of care and medical attention. They
need all they can get, and need it
badly. But, did you ever stop to
think why we have the insane, why
they had to be sent to the asylum and
the Academy for the Blind?
You have heard of the man who
worked diligently trying to stop the
leak in the spigot while the contents
of the barrel poured out the bunghole.
That is about like the way the matter
stands. We are doing our best for
our afflicted, but bless your life, we
have done precious little to prevent
the condition.
Listen! 1,047 are in out insane
asylum because of brain syphilis, and
brain structure is only one of the vital
organs this little germ attacks. No,
bless you, he does not stop with the
brain but the liver, kidney, heart and
blood vessels is his fertile field. T'jis
1,047 at Milledgeville is costing tht
tax payor# of Georgia over two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars per
year for maintenance.
We have 37' unfortunate children at
the Academy for the Blind througn
no fault of their own. The light of
God’s sunshine forever cut out The
beauties of nature and art forever de
nied them by Gonorrhea. How In
finitely better to prevent this than to
teach them. The ravages of these
diseases makes one sick To the dec
tor who can read the signs, the Vener
eal diseases are as plain as the nose
on your face, and yet what has been
done tor prevention?
The present legislature is being ask
ed to make a special appropriation to
help fight this battle In conjunction
with the federal government. Are
you in favor of It? The federal gov
ernment will put up dollar for dollar
for this fight, a fight for the innocent
girls, for your daughters, and
your nieghbors, for your gen
eration, for the innocent baby
to be born. Are you on this side?
This ravage of the innocents must
cease The hundreds of babies that
are prematurely born cry out to you
for protection against Syphilis, will
you fellow citizens enlist under this
banner? Will you help to fight this
fight? Will you?
A few dollars from Georgia will
help. Every dollar we put up grows
Immediately into two. Can you heat
It’ There is no time to be lost.. The
law making body will soon adjourn
We have over 300,000 in our State
who has one or both of these diseases.
Won’t you come and enlist? If you
are in favor of this cause, say so, don t
keep quiet. Don’t be passive, be ac
tive.
A Mystery.
Ar j eastern woman is suing for di
vorce because she found another wom
nn’s picture in her husband’s watch
case. One of the mysteries of Iff 1 *- is
why men who lend double lives don’t
carry open-faced watches.
BETHABARA
Sunday School ta tit is place is
progressing nicely. Let mis not
get careless as the summer conies
on and stay away, (kir Sunday
School picnic Avas enjoyed by all
present. The program was espec
ially enjoyed. Let everybody come
out at 10 o’clock, eastern time. We
promise you some good singing as
well as a good Sunday School.
Beginning next Monday at 2
o’clock our B. Y. P. I’. will start a
B. Y. P. U. Institute. We are anxi
ous for a full attendance as by
that time all the form work will
be completed. It is hoped that,
every member will be there to
INSURANCE
Your neighbor’s home burned only a few days or months ago, and a
cyclone is likely to strike this section at any time, so INSURE with US
anl lie down at night with a clear conscience and a peaceful mind. Don’t
DELAY. It may mean the loss of your home. Any man can build a home
once. A WISE man insures his property in a reliable insurance company
so that when calamity comes he can build again. He owes the protection
that it gives, to ills peace of mind and the care of his loved ones.
Kilgore, Radford & Smith
BUY A BUSH CAR.
Four Cylinder,37V2 horse poAver motor for $1175.
Six Cylinder, 40-horse power, 5-passenger, $1375.
For designs and description call on Fred .1. Fuller, or Avrite the
Bush Company, Bush Temple, North Clark stret, and Chicago Ave.,
Chicago, 111.
Just say 1 am in the market for an automobile and Avish designs
and prices.
My territory is unlimited. A9O days guarantee against defects
and workmanship.
Terms SIOO down, balance, sight draft Avith bill of lading.
FRED J. FULLER, Agent.
Bethlehem, Georgia.
Delicate Mechanism
Despite its scope Swift &
Company is a business of in
finite details, requiring infinite
attention.
Experienced men must know
livestock buying with a knowl
edge of weight, price, the amount
and quality of meat the live
animals will yield.
Each manufacturing operation must
be done with expert skill and scientific
precision. A highly perishable product
must be handled with speed and care
to avoid loss.
Chemists, engineers, accountants,
and other specialists are required to
take care of our intricate problems.
Alert wisdom and judgment must
be used in getting stocks erf goods into
the open channels of demand through
our four hundred branch houses.
Branch house organizations must
show activity and energy to sell at the
market in the face of acute competi
tion from other large packers, and
hundreds of small ones.
All these requirements of intelligence,
loyalty, devotion to the task are met
in the personnel of Swift & Company.
Yet the profit is only a fraction of a cent
per pound with costs at minimum.
How can the workings of this deli
cate human mechanism be improved
upon?
Do you believe that Government
direction would add to our efficiency
or improve the service rendered the
producer and consumer ?
Let us send you a Swift “Dollar*'.
It will interest you.
Address Swift St Company,
Union Stock Yards, Chicago, HI.
Swift & Company, U. S. A.
/xtfT-f
Syg'X** BECOMES OF X
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T loafs'* ~7 c l K ANDBYPRODUCTS
S OC9T V /f \\ •!> CENTS IS PAID FOR THE j 3
k \ e***"n J vs/* 0 m a live animal ly
Tv SprA £|/mt # \\ 12. §6 CENTS FOP LABOR //
\\ J/ 7 # EUPFNSfS ANfi FRLtGHT j!
Wi4f / M \ 2.04 CENTS REMAINS JJ
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xSsJ S o O SWIFT & COMPANY / /
stoidy the manual riot only the
members but others wh owill.
Miss Lula Miller of Forsyth, is
visiting her cousin; Miss Annelle
Skinner.
Mr. and Mrs. (\ C. Freeman
spent Sunday with the former’s
father, Mr. C. L. Freeman, near
Braselton.
We are glad to se Mrs. A. L.
Watson, our Sunday School Secre
tary, out again after being sick.
Several from this community is
attending the revival at Nazareth
this Aveek.
Mrs. W. J. WeTft), of Jefferson,
visited her daughter, Mrs. J. M.
Sims, recently.