Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Jan. 3, 1935, edition 1 / Page 6
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PAGE SIX | Soil Improvement With Lespedeza | By GUY A. CARDWELL Agricultural and Industrial Agent .ttiantic Coast Line Railroad Co. The fact that lespedezas will im prove the soil on which they are grown, so that subsequent crops of small grain, com and cotton will be larger than before lespedeza was planted, is well established. The de gree of this improvement as measur ed by increased yields will depend upon the way the lespedeza is handled and on soil and climatic conditions. When the lespedeza is cut for hay, in creases of from 50 to 100 per cent in the yields of corn and cotton have frequently been recorded in North Carolina. The best practice appears to be to grow lespedeza for 2 or 3 years, utilizing it for hay or pas ture, and to follow with 1 or 2 years of seed cropg. When land has become so worn as not to be worth cultivating it is often “turned out.” Lespedeza comes in, but it takes several years to cover such poor ground through natural spread. A better plan is to disk and level after the last crop of corn or cotton and seed down to lespedeza. Superphosphate or basic slag, 300 to 400 pounds per acre, will help the lespedeza materially, and the lespe deza can be used for hay or pastur age, or, if the farmer has no use for ft, left on the ground to reseed and enrich the soil for a year or two. Three species of lespedeza—two an nual and one perennial—are of inter est to the fqrmer. The annuals are (1) the common (Lespedeza striata), with two improved varieties, Tennes see No. 76 and Kobe, and (2) the Korean (L. stipulacca), with one ex tra early variety. The perennial is L. scricea. The annual lespedezas are grown extensively in the South, for hay, pasturage, soil improvement and seed production. Culture The culture of lespedeza is simple. The seed is best sown on winter grain about the middle of March in the latitude of North Carolina, and somewhat earlier farther south and later farther north. If seeding is done too late for the freezing and thawing of the ground to work the seed under the surface, the field should be lightly harrowed after seed ing. If 25 to 30 pounds of seed pei acre is used a hay crop may be ex pected that. fall, provided soil and moisture conditions are suitable, oi good grazing may be had beginning soon after grain harvest and lasting until frost. The secret of success vvith lespedeza is to get a full stand early. With a full stand, adverse conditions are less harmful than with a thin stand. Soil And Fertilizers Lespedeza will grow on poor, jvoh soils and on soils too sour to grow clover without the use of lime. On very sour land lime is beneficial, but except on such soils lime has not proved necessary. Phosphates have caused increased yields and should be used unless the soil is good, in which case they are not necessary. Mois ture i 3 usually the controlling factor in growth. While lespedeza, especi ally Korean, have shown remarkable ability to live on heavy soils during periods of severe drought, not much growth is made. For a growth tali enough to cut for hay, moisture is essential. On dry sandy soils lespe deza may survive, but the growth is insignificant. Lespedeza For Hay The best crops of hay are securet. on moist bottom lands. On such soils the difference in growth and yield between common lespedeza and the improved varieties is less than on upland. On bottom land from 2to i tons of hay to the acre may be ex pected. On good upland the improved sorts will putyielu common lespedeza. SALT We have just received a carload of j MYLES MEAT SALT For Better Meat Use Myles Salt! 25,50,100 lb. bags See Us For Prices Edenton Feed & Fuel ’ , Phone 204 It is generally believed that with a good stand 4 inches of lespedeza above the cutter bar wilt yield 1 ton of hay per acre. The Kentucky Ag ricultural Experiment Station says of Korean that when a good stand is 8 to 9 inches high a ton of hay may be expected; when 12 to 14 inches, 2 tons, and when more than 24 inches, 4 tons of hay may be expected. At any rate, the yields of hay are sur prisingly heavy. When cut early, that is, before bloom when tall enough to make a ton of hay per acre, and if not cut toe short, say 3 to 4 inches from the ground, lespedeza may be expected to make new growth and to make a good seeed crop in addition to the hay. The best hay is made when the les pedeza is not more than 15 inches high. When taller, it is more stem my, -with a smaller proportion of leaves. To make the best hay lespedeza should be cut when in full bloom or shortly after. When it is left until a considerable part of the seed is ripe the resulting hay is of poorer grade. Lespedeza contains less mois ture than alfalfa or red clover, is consequently more quickly cured, and the field-cured hay contains some what more dry matter than similar ly cured alfalfa or clover hay. When the lespedeza is from 6 to 10 inches high cutting may be done in the morning; the hay should be win drowed soon after being cut, and in good weather it may be hauled to the barn the next day. When the lespe deza is more than 15 inches high it should lie in the windrow 2 or 3 days. Most lespedeza hay is consumed at home or in the neighborhood where it is produced. No grades for lespe deza hay have been established, and there is no general market. Good lespedeza hay falls but little short of alfalfa in protein and is even su perior in carbohydrate content. Ko rean lespedeza hay has been used in Missouri to prepare fat cattle for 3tock shows and has given good re sults. Lespedeza For Pasturage Lespedeza is more widely used for pasturage than for hay. Throughout the southeast lespedeza of one vari ety or another is or should be an in gredient of every pasture mixture. Lespedeza is a hot weather plant and should not be expected to provide early grazing. In North Carolina June 1 to 15 is a fair date to expect early grazing from lespedeza. Ko rean grows more rapidly in the spring than other lespedeza, but dies earlier, j so that it is not so good for late grazing. When cattle are grazed mostly or. grass pasture it is advisable to have a reserve field of lespedeza upon which the cattle may be turned from July until frost. This will maintain gains or keep up and even increase the milk flow while resting the grass. A good pasture of pure lespedeza may be expected to reproduce year after year as long as it is wanted. This is also generally true of grass lespedeba pasture. The carrying ca pacity of a good stand of lespedeza may be roughly estimated at from 1 to 2 mature cows per acre from June 1 or July 1 to October 15 or frost, depending on the variety and loca tion. * Timely Questions On Farm Answered * -* Question: How can lice on dairy animals be controlled? Answer: A two percent solution of creclin applied with a spray pump or brush is a fairly effective measure for control. A second application shouid be given in about ten to four teen day? to kill any lice that hatch after first application. There are sev- HERALD. EDENTON, N. C„ THURjjBIY, JANUARY 8, 1935. oral standard dip solutions on the market that are also satisfactory but, when using them the directions given should be closely followed. Question: What green feeds are available for use in the poultry ration during the winter months ? Answer: Where there are no grow ing crops, cured alfalfa hay, lespedeza or clover hay make good greens for winter use. When fed in racks the birds will eat only the leaves and the stems can be thrown in the litter. Alfalfa leaf meal, provided it is green in color, also makes a satisfactory green feed but should not constitute more than ten per cent of the mash. This meal is much preferred to the regular alfalfa meal but neither- is as satisfactory as the alfalfa hay fed in racks. Question: What is the best temper ature for hot beds in growing early vegetables ? Answer: For the cool season or early crops such as cabbage, lettuce, and onions the day temperature should be from 60 to 65 degrees. Warm season crops such as tomatoes, eggplant and peppers grow best with . I Meet 1935 Bills With a Smiled IT will be like finding money next Christmas if you join our Christmas Saving Club now and put away a small sum each week. r" A few dollars each week will make a total \ 1 l which will enable you to laugh at J 4 Christmas Bills Next Year * iOJJk Be Sure To Join The 193 J Christmas Saving Club Today MEMBER FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 1 I w DEPOSITS INSURED @ | A I Tbs Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation I . ll I < WASHINGTON, D. C. | 1 I SSOOO FOR'each ’SePOSITOR SSOOO | J M ==l — ~ 1 '. 1 ..i——— . 11 . ",f| The Bank of Edenttifl SAFETY FOR SAVINGS SINCE 18 9 Albemarle Hospital Gets State Publicity i Much publicity is given the Albe marle Hospital in Elizabeth City in the December issue of the Bulletin | of the North Carolina Hospital Asso- ' ciation. A beautiful picture of the hospital appears on the front page of j the Bulletin entitled "... furtherest i east ...” Editorially a brief history of the 1 hospital is given, which has recently become a member of the association. ' The Bulletin is widely distributed '' over the State, which should ac- * quaint many with the only hospital in a block of 13 northeastern coun ties, and is serving a great need. Seventeen head of pure bred Guern sey cattle were sold for $1,325 at the recent auction held at Wilson. Eight animals were purchased by Wilson County farmers. a day temperature of 70 to 75 de grees. The night temperature shouid not drop below 55 to 60 degrees. Care in ventilation will give air for the growing plants and will also regu late the temperature. Radio Atlas Given Free By Quinn Furniture Co. Radio fans in this section have a treat in store. The Quinn Furniture Company have received a quantity of the Philco Radio Atlas which will be given free to anyone calling at the store for it. This atlas sells regular ly for 50 cent 3 but will be given away as long as the supply lasts. This atlas is a very attractive book, containing all stations on both long and short wave and the time each I LOST MY BEST CUSTOMERS THflj RATS, WRITES J. ADAMS OF 427 Mi STREET, TRENTON, NEW JERSI Used to have the busiest Restaurant in town until that the kitchen was infested with rats. Lest a lot of tomers until I tried BEST-YET. Haven’t a pest in the Restaurants should use BEST-YET. It’s the new Red that if put around in dark places will cause rats to .in two sizes, 2 oz. size 25c, 5 oz. size 50c. Sold and gunjH Brown Bros, and Edenton Feed & Fuel Co. I station broadcasts correH local time. Dial numbeS stations are also listed. I made more interesting I and locations of foreign fl stations, maps and a not] eign radio stars, as well! formation. Anyone desii these books should caly possible, as the supply isl EDUCATION BOAH The regular meetinjH of Education will morning, January 7tM|||
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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Jan. 3, 1935, edition 1
6
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