The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-11-11
Farmers Institutes in Waldo County
TiIlage. Live Stock and Poultry Subjects Discussed.

IHiase' LIte StOck ana fOultry subjects Discussed
The Maine Board of Agriculture held
three Farmers Institutes in Waldo County
last week: At Freedom, Wednesday; at
Unity, Thursday; and at Monroe, Friday.
The forenoon meetings were fairly we'll at
tended and the halls were we'll filled in the
afternoons and evenings. An additional
meeting, addressed by Prof. G. M. Gowell.
was held at Thorndike Wednesday evening.
VIM. H. Moody of Liberty, member of the
Board of Agriculture, presided at the meet
ings.
AS the programs of the three meetings
the subjects at the different meetings were
similar. report of one will suffice.
1t was announced that the Thursdays
meetings were to be in the Grange Hall in
Unity village, but owing to the large at
tendance the meetings We're held in the
lower hall in the Odd Fellows building.
TILLAGE OF FARM CROPS.
The speaker for the forenoon was Hon. B.
Walker McKeen, Secretary of the State
Board of Agriculture, and his subject was:
"Tillage of Farm Crops" His address was
concise and covered in comprehensive way
many points in the cultivation OF crops. The
soil contains three principal ingredients,
nitrogen, phosporic acid and potash The
growth of crops exhausts the soil of these
elements, and to restore them in their
proper proportions must be an important
part of the farmers duty. Many farmers
neglect to return vegetable matter to the
soil, but depend too much upon commercial
fertilizers. AS much may be returned as is
taken off, but not of the right ingredients,
and hence the lands decrease in their crop
growing capacity. Mr.. McKeen cited two
farms within his knowledge. They were
adjoining lands and similar in soil, drainage,
etc. On one the vegetable matter was turn
ed in; on the other everything was sold off
and commercial fertilizers used. the Que
raised good crops year after year. The
other grew gradually poorer.
1t was formerly thought that the soil was
an inert mass, but experiments now show
that there is bacteria growth in the soil;
that the bacteria, aided by farm manures
of the right kind, and in combination with
proper rotation of crops, will always add to
the fertility of the soil. The producing ca
pacity of the soil can be kept up by intelli-
gent rotation. When -.trogen exists in de-
caying vegetable matter it is in the best con-
dition for use. A rapid rotation is always
best for the soil Where farmers have de-
pended upon one, crop failure has resulted.
A great deal depends upon a careful study
of the habits of growth in plants Differ
ent methods must be applied to plants hav-
ing different habits of extracting nourish-
ment from the soil Surface feeders must
be dealt with differently from those which
draw their nourishment from deeper soil. The
farmer is also supplemented in his studies
bg the scientific man. The time has gone
by when can afford to grow crops in an
expensive way. The principal point to be
cons idered is the cheap production of crops.
Commercial fertilizers should only be used
as last resort to supplement the farm ma
nures. We all depend too much on CONNER
cia fertilizers and too little on home ma
nures and tllage. The man who practices
the shortest rotation succeeds best. We
should extend our fertilizers as far as possi
BILE. There is a waste in applying farm ma
nure in using it in Jumps instead of sowing
broadcast. AS a remedy We should work
smaller portions of the farm. Put the rest
in pastures until it can be protitably used,
and practice 5-year Tor less) rotation. Mr.
McKeen would recommend sweet corn for a
money crop, which also leaves the fodder to
be returned to the farm. Others use pota-
toes for cash crop. We should avoid hand
labor as much as possible. Hoeing former
y meant killing weeds. Now it means pre-
venting the growth of weeds. Mixed grain
can be fed as hay to better advantage than
as grain and straw the matter of expense
being considerably less. Early cut hay is to
be preferred to late cut. Grasses are per-
fectly balanced food. The more the grass
| ripens the farther it departs from balanced
ration.
| The value of the corn crop is not under
| stood as it should be. The corn plant differs
materially from all others. The grain and
| the stalk are of nearly the same composition.
| Plants are only valuable as food as they
possess digestible dry matter There is a
| little more food value in the stalk of corn
than in the ears on a given acreage. The
stalks should be cared for as carefully as
any crop, and it is just as crimnally careless
to waste this as any other crop. One-sixth
| of the plant value of the corn plant exists in
| the stalk below the ears. The slo is the
most economical method of preserving corn
fodder if sufficient quantity be raised. If
not, the corn cutter may be used to advant-
age. Whenever we prepare crops so
| that they will be eaten with a relish we are
| producing good results
| We shonld contine our crops to those we
| know are adapted to our soil and climate.
| Alfalfa and crimson clover are all right in
| the sections to which they are adapted, but
are not profitable crops for Maine. The
| successful farmer confines himself to the
| crops he knows and let's the other fellows
do the experimenting.
| In answer to queries Mr.. McKeen said
| that good results have been obtained from
Hungarian grass in Maine. He also ex-
| planned, to some extent the new law relat-
| ing to inspection of seeds. 1t was also ex-
| planned that seed should not be planted too
deeply. Anything which enables plant to
come up quickly is direct help.