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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, JUNE 15, 1882.
3
^qrii[uUar L Hl gj^rtmeijL
The Pea an a Renovator.
In order to restore our wasted soils to
their original productiveness and bring up
our best lands to a high condition, we ure
satisfied that the Southern farmer should
rely chiefly on growing the manure on the
luud itself. In other words he must resort
to green manuring, and use it as the substan
tial basis of ull improvement. It is well
understood hy scientific agriculturists that
neuriy all originally productive soils contain
the inorganic elements of fertility in quan-
titles more than sufficient to produce the
twenty or thirty crops that usually result
in apparent exhaustion. But these elements
are not in an immediately soluhlu mid avail
able form, and a large prn|wirtion of the
whole lies so deep in the suli-soil that it is
practically useless to ordinary crojis. The
quantity of soluble phosphoric acid and pot
ash in a given soil at any one time would
not suflice to produce more than a very few
crops—perhaps not more tlinu four or five—
of grain; and were it not for the chemical
action of the soil contents and the vitul ac
tion of the roots of growing plants them
selves in reducing the insoluble elements
to a form available os plant-food, the crop
would utterly fail after producing u short
series of crops decreasing in rapid geomet
ric ratio. Moreover, the organic elements
of the soil—especially nitrogen—are very
quickly exhausted under the system of
hoed summer crops, as practiced in the
South, and cannot be thereafter supplied
directly from the crop itself, but must be
stored up—chiefly by the agency of plants
—from the atmosphere above. In the econ
omy of nature certain plants have, iuspecial
degree, the power to draw supplies of nitro
gen front the atmosphere; and by the decay
of these plants, the nitrogen is imparted to
the soil.
In the same way these plunts draw
curbon from the air and convey it to the
soil where it is found in the form of humus
—decayed vegetable matter—which per
forms un important office in dissolving the
' inorganic elements first mentioned. Such
plants also send their roots deep down into
the sub-soil and bring up the phosphoric
acid, potash, lime, etc., that were beyond
the reach of surface-rooted crops like corn,
wheat and other grains, and many other
crops, and leave these elements in the sur
face soil where they can be reached by the
roots of any crop that may be planted.
These renovating plants belong generally
to the class known os leguminous or pod-
bearing plants. Among these the clovers,
and especially, red clover, have been exten
sively used in England and in the northern
States of this country for enriching lands,
and to some extent in the South. But the
cow pea deservedly meets with more favor
in the South because it is better suited to
our soils and climate. The cow pea will
grow almost any where, on the poorest sandy
land, and with the greatest certainty. Two
crops may be easily grown in one season if
the short growing sort are planted. Tho
following extract from the “Report of the
North Carolina Experiment Station for 1881”
shows what may be done in the way of in
creasing the yield of wheat by the interven
tion of repeated crops of peas:
“The wisest method of growing wheat is
(hat which brings nature’s own agencies in
the soil into actiou, to increase the stock of
nitrogen. We must fit tho soil to absorb
combined nitrogen from the air by increas
ing the amount of vegetable mutter in it,
shading and keeping it moist. This is ac
complished by growing green crops upon
the land during the hot summer months
and turning them under. No plant is so
well adapted to this end in our section as
the [tea. This plant, with all the legumes,
has the power of gathering a far greater
amount of nitrogen from the atmosphere
than any other plant, all of which becomes
available to the wheat when the pea vines
decompose in the soil.
Mr. W. K. Gibbs, of Davie, reports some
experiments with peas and wheat extending
over several years, which illustrates this.
The soil was a dark gravelly one, with a
yellow clay sub-soil, and was much worn.
In 1870, 1871 and 1872 the land had been
cultivated in tobacco, corn and oats success
ively. In October 1873, Mr. Gibbs sowed
the land in wheat In June, 1874, he har
vested OH bushels of wheat to the acre. As
soon as the wheat was cut he sowed whip
poorwill peas and plowed them under;
having picked enough peas to pay for the
seed peas, seed wheat and plowing. In 1875
Mr. Gibbs harvested 14 bushels of wheat
The season was better than the average,
however. The same pea was sowed and
plowed under again. The vines were so
large this time that a harrow had to be run
ahead of the plow in the same direction.
Twenty bushels of peas per acre were gath
ered this year which were sold for one dol
lar per bushel the next summer. In June,
1878, 17H bushels of wheat per acre were
hurvcBted, the season being an average one.
Peas sown and turned under us usual. In
1877, twenty-three bushels of wheat per
acre were harvested. The season an average
one. In the spring of 1877 clover seed were
sown on the wheat uml harrowed in with a
light harrow. In 1878 the land was pustured
until late summer. In the fall, the stand
of clover not being sufficient to leave over,
it was turned under and the land put in
wheat. No manure was used all this time,
except once u little stuhlc manure on u small
plat that was much poorer than the rest.
The increase seemed to be in the weight and
length of tho heads and not in the straw.
Mr. Gibbs prefers tho whipiioorwill pea, be
cause it is earlier and matures more |ieas
and vines before the time for plowing, and
because the vinesgrow in a way to lie more
easily turned under. If sowed in rows and
cultivated the peas are just so much bet
ter.”
Now, to one accustomed only to mnuuriug
the soil by lidding stable manure, commer
cial fertilizers and other extraneous mutter
to the laud, the above experiment seem ex-
truvugant in its results. It looks like mak
ing something out of nothing to produce
annually increasing crops of peas and
wheat from the same soil while adding
nothing except wlmt grew on the soil. We
have nlready explained how it is done. Not
only ure the phosphoric acid, potash aud
other elements contained in the pea and
wlieut removed |iermanently from tho soil,
but the quantity thus removed increases
unnuully with the increasing crop. This
proceeds just what nature lias been carry
ing on in the forests and plains for thou
sands of years. It remains for man to fa
cilitate and accelerate the natural process,
by the substitution of quick-growing plants
for the slow vegetation of tho forest, and by
all the urtsof cultivation.
It will be an easy matter for a farmer to
test the practical benefits of the system of
green manuring by devoting even a small
field or plat of—say ten acres—to such an
experiment, and we urge upon every farmer
who reads the World to commence the
tiial this summer. R.
Oats after Oats.
A Subscriber: I have a field of sixteen
acres near the house and lot with a good
spring of water running nearly all the way
down on one side, which makes it a good
pasture for stock. I sowed this field in oats
lust November and they are fine. I want to
sow this field again in oats this fall. Some
farmers tell me that it went do, others say
it will do, and some even say that the land
will improve if the land is sown down in
oats twenty years in succession. Now, will
you please give me your experience and
advice, and insist on your many able and
experienced farmers and writers giving
their views. This land is rather thin
sandy land, somewhat hilly with a few sand
or shell rocks.
Answer: We have had but a limited ex
perience is sowing oats on the same land
for several years in succession. If the field
be pastured for only a week or two, or no
longer than necessary for stock to glean the
grain that may be left, we see no reason why
it may not be sown In oats for three or four
years at least, without injury. The abund
ant growth of weeds and grass that will fol
low the oats and cover the land during the
summer, will serve to keep up its fertility
in a degree that would not be possible in the
case of corn, cotton or other cultivated sum
mer crops. Instances have been reported
where a field has produced several crops
of oats in succession without even plowing,
the oats coming up volunteer,.but we incline
to the opinion that such results are exception
al and may not be reasonably expected, be
cause of the uncertainty of securing a stand.
Oats are* usually considered an exhausting
crop, and this is certainly true when spring
sown and the land is pastured, but the pas
turing is uot a necessary incident and its
injurious effect should not be charged to the
oat crop.
Odr correspondent requests our own views
on the subject and that we insist on our
able and experienced farmers giving their
experience. The columns of the World
are open for all such and we cordially invite
them to avail themselves of the opportunity*.
The oat question is one of the most impor-.
taut and interesting subjects now before us,
and we would leave no stone unturned that
might furnish additional arguments in favor
of making this grain the leading stock
food-crop of tho country. Let us therefore
liuve the experience of such as have practi
cally investigated the subject. It.
Bermuda vs. Nnt-Uraas.
Grenada, Miss.
En. Southern World—I see in the April
number (15tli) of your puper, an inquiry
from Mr. J. N. Cochran, of South Carolina:
“Will Bermuda Uruss root out Nut-Grass?”
For his benefit os well os that of your many
readers, I answer, yes, beyoud question. I
haven garden attached to my dwelling, about
one-third of an acre, in which the coco gross
had taken such a hold that 1 was forced to
abandon it for garden puri>oses. 1 planted
it in fruit trees some four or five years ago,
and left them and the coco to fight the bat
tle. The Bermuda grass gradually spread
into the garden from tho sidewalks along
the street, until it overrun tho garden, and
now not a spear of coco is to be found ex
cept in a few places rooted up by the hogs,
and as yet not covered with Bermuda. My
ex|>ericuce with this pest, demonstrates but
two remedies ; one is to dig up the nuts (an
almost endless job, and burn them,) the
other is Bermuda grass. I also note what
your correspondent A. G. G., of Clarksville,
Tennessee, has to say about Bermuda grass
in April 1st of your paper. He evidently
knows nothing about the grass. It will
grow'well on white sand, or on the poorest
red cluy land, with not a particle of original
soil, and 1 know from exfierience, whereof I
speak, instead of a “curse,” it is agreat boon
to the Southern farmer, particularly those
who have washed and worn out lands. It
will enrich them foster than clover or pens,
and yield .more forage to the acre for stock,
than any grass that grows. It is only
allowed to spread in cultivated fields by
careless, slovenly farmers, and turning it
over shallow late in the fall, and thorough
cultivation will destroy it in one year. It is
the coming grass for the South, for both pas
turage and hay, as well os the cheapest and
best fertilizer. T. C. Buffington.
More Bermuda—Lean Cotton.
Editor Southern World.—Your corres
pondent, J. N. C., and others, seem anxious
to hear from me again on Bermuda grass,
and if this article is too long you must
blame those who have asked me to write
again. *
Why do I appreciate Bermuda grass so
highly? I will try to answer this question
by giving my experience with it.
Having an idea that Bermuda grass .was
invaluable as a pasture grass for our section,
I determined to try and set a patch in it;
how to do it, with me was the question. I
made inquiries of several, every one said:
"Pick up a sprig, throw it down, and if it
falls on a rock, in five years it will be all
over your place.” This was in 1860, it was
not convenient for me to follow my own in-
clinationsos to the way to set my patch, but
it was quite convenient to follow the advice
or suggestions of others, and I did it, only
I dropped the sprig on the ground instead
of a rock. I did this in March, 1860, built
a little pen around it to protect it from
stock. Two years ago I moved the pen on
my two horse wagon, and the Bermuda grass
in a cotton basket—so much for penning
the gross in order to get a full supply to set
out in a patch or lot.
After watching my pen of gross for two
years and not being impressed that it
would avail me much I succeeded in
getting a large lot of sprigs, and going to a
lot of gullies in a patch where I wanted to
start a patch I set out on the sides of the
gullies the grass, taking special pains to
cover well the roots at the joints. Some of
those gullies were six and eight feet deep.
This was in 1862; to-day those gullies are
filled up and the Bermuda is luxurious and
the sight lovely; in the patch of five or six
acres I set here and there sprigs of tho
grass two or three feet apart, in three years
it was well set, and for seventeen years that
patch has been a “green spot in my mem
ory” and a most desirable resort for my hogs,
cattle and mules, mares and colts, eight
months out of the twelve, and often when
the winters have been mild, it has furnished
fine grazing nine months out of the twelve.
Five years ago being satisfied it was the
grass for me, I concluded to set eight or ten
acres more of good land in it. I followed
this plan; I planted the ground in cotton
and just before laying it by I threw sprigs
of grass all about in the cotton rows. The
worms came and ate off the cotton leaves,
so there was but little shade to prevent the
growth of tho grass. The fall was late and
damp and ray Bermuda did finely. The fol
lowing year I planted the land in corn, by
this means every time I ploughed the corn
I spread the grass. The following year I
planted in cotton, this is the patch I alluded
to iu my other article. My old patch I shall
plant this fall in oats or wheat. It has be
come very rich. I have this year on part
of my new patch wheat, it is good.
When my neighbors plow-stock are stand
ing in dry lots on Sunday and wet days,
mine are luxuriating in Bermuda grass;
while theirs are shut up in the stable in the
pleasant spring and summer uights during
plow season, mine are enjoying fresh air
uml green grass.
Mr.Editor, I could say much more for Ber
muda grass, but I fear I am already too long
and in closing will say the above is my ex
perience, and with viy experience l am pre
pared to sny, 1 know of no grass equal to it
for our section. One man says it is all I
claim for it, hut it cannot be gotten rid of,
(this is a grand inistake)suppose you cannot
get rid of it, this to my mind would be one
of the greatest arguments iu favor of it,
Would the Blue gross region of Kentucky
get rid of Blue grass? No sir, ’tis the glory,—
the life of their sect ion. My motto is, more
Bermuda for our section and less cotton.
Gold Hill, Ala., J. H. Harris.
Preparing for Turnips, Ble., Kir.
The practice so common all over the
country, ol sowing turnips on land from
which another crop bus just been cleared,
leaving the soil full of roots and stems of
grass and weeds, and very soft and open, is
annually demonstrated to be wrong by re
sults on some properly prepared patch, and
yet few profit by the lesson. No crop, ex
cept perhaps wheat, so delights iu soil which
has been subjected to clean culture, as does
the turnip family. Tho old-fashioned cow-
pen, in which the cattle of the farm are kept
during summer nights, if repeutedly plowed
during spring and early summer, makes an
udinirable turnip patch, but tho cow-pens
are not always available. In the absence of
these, therefore, the next best thing to be
done is to select a plat of ground from which
beans or potatoes have been gathered for
early market and which was heavily manured
for these crops. Plow and manure and ma
nure and plow every week until time to sow
the turnip seed; then distribute 206-pounds
of good super-phosphate per acre, in small
furrows opened for the purpose; bed on this
and harrow or rake over the beds. If the
land is free from stumps, roots and rocks, the
small seed-sower which opens the furrow,
sows the seed and covers them at a single
operation, will give a more uniform stand
than can be secured by hand-sowing, besides
economising seed. The drill is pushed by
band like a lawn-mower. It saves the labor
of two hands and ahorse in sowing the seed.
All who plant as much as half an acre in
turnips, should have one.
Rutabagas and flat Dutch should be sown
early in July; we have seen excellent crops
made by sowing in June. The white Globe,
the handsomest turnip grown, should be
sown early in August, and the Aberdeen by
the middlo, in this latitude. These dates
will varyas latitude Increases or diminishes.
Further north, they will be sown earlier and
later south. What is known as the soven
top variety, is the most reliable for winter
and springsalad, but make very small roots.
They grow, however, deep in the ground
and stand the winter well.
The turnip crop is a profitable one in the
vicinity of large cities, where a daily market
is afforded, and on the farm it serves a good
purpose for feeding stock; not on account of
their nutritive value, which is very small in
comiiarison with other roots, but on account
of their appetizing effect; they supplement
the dry food on which stock usually subsist
in winter and contribute to their health.
Turnips have a lower food value than Bweet
potatoes and are not so well adapted to our
climate, but are more cheaply produced and
should have a place not only in every south
ern garden, but en every farm or plantation.
Most growers make the mistake of leaving
the plants too thick in the drill, and even* it
they are reduced to a proper stand, this is
often deferred until the plants becoraespind-
ling from being crowded, and as a result,
never make so good plants as those which
had ample room during their early growth.
They should stand from six to ten inches
apart in the drill. J. 8. N.
Every farmer would promote his own in
terest by appropriating from one to two
acres at least to be sown in German millet to
each horse or mule on the plantation.