Crawford avalanche., 1890-11-27

WAat Dr.. Ktdzie's Experimental H'oyk
Hoy Done Ear Them.


IFhat Dr.. Ktdzie's Experimental H'ork
Has Done For Them.
Agricultural College, Nov. Arb, 90.--
Considerable interest has been mani
tested IN the efforts OF the experiment
tal station to Investigate the posslbilI-
ties OF the Jack Pine Lands of the
North, and so the nature and the re-
suits OF the experiments undertaken
may be interesting just now, 1T the
close of the season. The following is
condensed from the manuscripts Of
the annual report of DIR. Kedzie:
1.-The jack Pine farm Mt Grayllng
consists of very light land, over which
annual fires have burned, and cannot
be made fertile in a year or two. There
is SO much of this kind of land
In Michigan and neighborlng
states that it is good thing to find
out whether 1t is possible to make 1t
productive. The soil at Grayling, lex
perimeDtal farm may be called a low
medium of jack pine land, such a
grade being chosen purposely. Eigh-
ty acres was fenced in and 90 acres at
each end was cleared, grubbed, plow-
ed, narrowed aud rolled, and fitted for
seeding May 81, 'SS. The soil in spite
of its treatment, was not vet a firm
seed bed, and was deficient In organic
matter. The lateness of prepai alton
and the drv summer following made
the results for that season unsatisfac-
tory. The manures used were mari,
gypsum and common salt. The plan
is to practice green manuring with the
aid of those other fertilizers that any
one may be able to purchase, and 20
draw upon the reserve materials of the
soil and the atmospheric supplies. =
Mari produced marked benefit, gyp-
sum was good, salt useless. Next year
commercial fertilizers will be used on
few plats.
"As to the plants grown and results:
Alfalfa winter kills in that region
buckwheat grows well even in new
ground. but it leaves the ground in
bad condition for the succeeding crop
and will not be used as great manur-
ing crop. Spurry holds high rank.
1t yields abundant forage Tor stock
and produces a wonderful amount Of
seed, and when once sown gets good
hold on the soil. This plant is per-
manent benefit to the jack pine belt.
Vetch is valuable because it accumu-
lates nitrogen. Red clovers promise
we'll, as also do the white clover, field
peas and the grasses. Peas are espe-
cially full of promise. They stand the
frost, their roots go deep into the soil,
and take much of their food from the
air. Experiments have been carried
on with sugar beets. 1t has been prov
ed that the soil and climate of Craw-
ford county will produce beets rich in
sugar. The past season crop of peas
was raised, specimens of which pulled
- -~-~1<e--. sis<ss- oiaa.os.s -.ra,r+l,
The specimens of the clover and timo.
thy grown this year are also fine ones,
although they are in punches, as the
tendency of light soils is to produce
such growth rather than an even
sward.
A comparison of soil taken before II
was cropped and that taken after three
seasons growth gives perhaps the most
encouragement. The latter is much
darker, showing the presence of hu-
mus. The soil has also been impacted
by cultivation alone into finn seed
bed. All this has been done In way
inexpensive and yet rapid. If DIR.
Kedzie can have a few more years to
carry on his labors, it is considered
quite certain that he will gain one of
the greatest triuinphs known in the line
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