Southern Planter a MONTHLY JOURNAL
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Established 1840. THE Seventieth Year. Southern Planter A MONTHLY JOURNAL DEVOTED TO Practical and Progressive Agriculture, Horticulture, Trucking, Live Stock and the Fireside. OFFICE: 28 NORTH NINTH STREET, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. THE SOUTHERN PLANTER PUBLISHING COMPANY. Proprietors. J. F. JACKSON, Editor. Vol. 70. MAY, 1909. No. 5. CONTENTS. FARM MANAGEMENT: An Act to Protect the Live Stock of South Carolina 484 Editorial—Work for the Month 465 Removal of Foot and Mouth Disease Quar- Notes on the April Issue 468 antine 484 Is Muriate of Potash Injurious to Tobacco A Great Jersey Sale 485 and Potatoes? 470 Stoppage at the Point of Teat 486 The Corn Crop 470 Cotton Seed Meal and the Eyes of Horses.. 486 Alfalfa Growing 472 Cooper's Annual Jersey Sale 486 An Old Farmer's Experiences 473 What Is Plant Food? 473 THE POULTRY YARD: The Plow Question 474 Cash Value of Manure 475 Poultry Notes 487 Experiments With Cocke's Prolific Corn.... 475 Crop Yields 475 The Ornamental Fowl 488 Production. Prices, Prospects. Pointers 489 Common Diseases of Chickens With Simple TRUCKING. GARDEN AND ORCHARD: Remedies—Roup 490 Hens vs. Incubators 491 Editorial—Work for the Month '. 476 Why Not Own Land in Virginia? 491 Fungus Diseases of the Irish or Round Pota- to and the Tomato 477 THE HORSE: The Condition of the Truck. Crops in Tide- water Virginia 479 To Virginia Farmers 479 Notes 492 Damage Done to Fruit and Truck Crops by the Frosts 479 MISCELLANEOUS: Mixed Peas 482 A New Clover Crop 482 Editorial—King Corn 494 Steam Plowing at Wilton-on-the-James 494 LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY: Improved Highways for the State 495 Virginia Berkshire Breeders Meet 497 Editorial—Dairying in Virginia 483 Farm Operations at Monticello 1796 498 Losses of Figs and Calves 483 Enquirers' Column (Detail Index, p. 568)... 540 Progressive Move in Breeding 484 Advertisements 499 SUBSCRIPTION, 50c. PER YEAR, IN ADVANCE The Southern Planter. DEVOTED TO PRACTICAL AND PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, TRUCKING, LIVE STOCK AND THE FIRESIDE. Agriculture Is the nursing mother of the Arts.—XEINOPHON. Tillage and pasturage are the two breasts of the State.—SULLY. 70th Year. RICHMOND, VA., MAY, 1909. No. 5. Farm Management. WORK FOR THE MONTH. of maturing from the 10th of June to the end of the month, and we have known Golden Dent to mature in The month of April to this writing (April 20th) has been the middle section of the State planted as late as the end a fine, genial spring month, and following a similar con- of the first week in July. The condition of the grass and dition of weather in March has enabled a great deal of pasture land is fine. Crimson clover and alfalfa have work to be done in the preparation of the land for the made wonderful growth during April and crops of these crops and done with the land in the best of condition for are now ready for cutting in many sections. The prom- receiving benefit. The result of this is that probably more ise for the meadow hay crops is fine on all land in a good land is now broken and being fitted for planting than ever state of fertility. Pastures already are capable of provid- before in the South. Indeed, the reports we receive indi- ing fair grazing for stock in the middle and Eastern sec- cate that the greatest area ever planted in the South will tions. be put in crop this year if weather conditions continue normal during May. Whilst there is not an excess of moisture in the land, yet the early breaking of the land The report of the Department of Agriculture on the con- has so conserved that which is present that crops dition of the winter wheat crop on the first of April is will find an abundance to start growth and, with the an unsatisfactory one. The condition this year for the usual May weather, we may expect good stands and a whole country is placed at 82.2 per cent, as against 91.3 fair start for a bountiful crop year. We would urge that per cent, a year ago, and as against a ten-year average oare be taken to conserve the moisture by keeping the of 86.6 per cent. This, coupled with the reduction in area surface finely broken and free from crusting until the planted—even if this should not be still further reduced crops are planted and that cultivation be prompt and by the plowing up of crops too much damaged to be worth frequent after planting. In the States South of Virginia harvesting, and of these there is said to be a considerable considerable corn is already planted and even in this State area in some States, though as yet we have not the offi- has in. some been put We would urge that not too great cial figures—indicate that the crop is going to be a much haste be made in this work. Whilst it is very tempting less one than the last. We doubt much whether the yield to plant corn in such weather as we are .now having, yet will be in excess of 400,000,OG'0 bushels, even should con- past experience has convinced us that it is not a safe ditions of weather be the best up to the time of harvest. proceeding to plant corn until May. The land, though The present condition is the lowest in any April since in nice order where advantage has been taken of the 1904, when it was 76 per cent., and the yield in that year weaiher we have had for the past two months, is not yet was 325.000.0<00 bushels. This report and the report of warm and corn never starts well in cold land and rarely existing stocks in the world showing 19,000,000 bushels makes a continuous, quick growth, and this continuous, less than a year ago had the effect of causing a rapid quick growth is very essential to the making of the best rise in price on the market and wheat was sold for as yield. The experience of years has been that we have al- high as $1.50 per bushel at one time. The price for cash most always a cold spell of weather in the beginning of wheat in New York is now $1.40'. Whilst no doubt market May, and corn planted before this is over is usually to speculation has had considerable effect in making these plant over again. We had last year a fine time in April high prices, yet the actual situation is such that demand and many of our subscribers got land into good condi has overtaken supply and the condition confronts us which tion and planted in that month. In almost every case we predicted more than a year ago. No doubt the effect they had to replant in May. From the 10th of May to of this will be to stimulate the seeding of as large a crop the 10th of is June the best time to plant white corn in of spring wheat as possiblein the Northwest, and this, this State. Yellow corn may be planted with a certainty work has already begun. Unless, however, a much larger 40C THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. [May, area than the average can be gotten in in the limited then moistened with water and made into small balls time available, the probabilities are that at the close of and dropped over the field will also effect the same end. the harvest this country will find that it has little if any Where land has been plowed early enough and frequently more wheat than will be needed to feed the people and and thoroughly worked before planting, these troublesome, provide seed for another year. It would seem probable, worms will, however, usually have been mostly killed. therefore, that we may have a permanently higher price After the crop has been planted, let the work of cultiva- for wheat than we have seen for many years. In the tion at once commence. Never allow a crust to form on face of this discouraging report as to condition of the the surface, for this will not only prevent the proper wheat crop throughout the country, it is gratifying to know growth of the plants, but will result in loss of moisture that in Virginia our wheat crop is decidedly promising. from the land. Use a harrow or weeder for the first two The condition here is 97 per cent, as against 90 per cent. cultivations of the crop and thus do the work quickly and a year ago and as against a ten-year average of 85 per thoroughly and at the least cost. After the first two cul- cent. In Maryland the condition is 96 per cent, as against tivations use a tooth cultivator, taking both sides of the 83 per cent, a year ago and a ten-year average of 87 per rows at once and run this shallow all the time so as cent. In North Carolina the condition is 93 per cent, as only to disturb the top two or three inches of soil. When against 91 per cent, a year ago and a ten-year average of the crop has gotten too tall for cultivating both sides 87 per cent. of the rows at once, then use a tooth cultivator between Winter oats are still looking well and promise to make the rows and still keep the soil level.