River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-07
ITS DOINGS IN DETAIL.
Apt Discussions by Experienced
Men Distinguished the
Meetings.
A large Assembly Comes Together.

| cfoppeu Tor generations, from WHICH
| all the crops raised were carried of
the farm and sold-nene being return
ed to the land as manures. In sucl
cases the tillers were under the
absolute necessity of maintaining the
fertility of the soil by the purchase O
expensive commercial fertilizers.
Rented farms were allowed to run
down by the general practice O
raising grain and other crops to sell a
process by which the quickest returns
could be realiZed-and the absence OF
stock on the farms. Few farmers
kept stock enough to keep up the
fertility of the land.
The best farming, looking to the
i permanency of profitable tillage was
to keep sufficient number of stock
to utilize the product of the land and
return TO the soil in the shape Of
manure the fertility that had been
exhausted by the ripened produce.
How to utilize these manures was q
question of importance. The best
results seemed TO be obtained by
getting the manure on the land as
soon as possible. Better to spread the
green manure on the land than tC
wait for it to rot in yards where the
rains and the atmosphere deprived il
of large percentage of its virtue.
Rotten straw is proved to be of little
value. the nitrogen, its most impor-
tant element, having been dissipated,
but straw used with cattle as bedding
absorbs necessary elements for plant
food. Manure hauled onto the land
in winter becomes available by the
freezing and thawing process, mixed
with the soil, the whole is saved to the
the production of subsequent crops
Manure that is hauled outin summer
and Immediately plowed under is
often detriment to the crop to be
raised, especially if the weather
continues dry. A better plan is Il
spread the manure on pasture land in
the winter as it is made in the stable
the land used for a pasture one season
and then plowed for corn or potatoes.
Manure left in the yard for one season
loses half its fertilizing qualities. The
most profitable fertilizing is to top
dress the land lightly and as much
area as can be covered by the amount
of manure made.
1t is a disputed question as IL
whether we add any fertility to the
soil by blowing under a green crop
raised on the land, as clover, buck
wheat or rye. Perhaps the crop has
taken from the soil to produce it as
much of fertility as it returned to ii
by blowing il under to rot and return
its elements to the soil. Yet in the
raising of clover much Of the nitrogen
is obtained from the air. The humuS
obtained by the rotting may prepare
the soil in better condition for future
crops. The heavy clay soils need
most of this loosening process as the
result of blowing under crops. This
process often Injuries the crOppTcduc'
ing capability of light soils. Such soils
need a compacting rather than a
loosening process. The sentiment
obtained by discussion seemed to be
that it was no advantage generally TO
pillow under green clover, more
! beneficial result was secured by plow
ing the roots and stubble after the
hay was cut.
Summary: Feed the grain and hay
TO the stock on the farm; save the
fertilizing results to the land and you
can thus keep up the fertility of the
soil and at the same time make q
profit from the crop so utilized.
ROTATION OF CROPS
was presented by Mr.. McKerrow in &
succinct and interesting ma, ner. He
introduced the subject by calling
attention to a curious process o.
nature noticed in the rotation of wilC
vegetation. If a piece of timber is de
stroyed on the land by any process 1
new crop grows in its place, but the
trees are always of different variet.
from those destroyed.
| y Il VI lhN
/ elements but in different proportion:
in different varieties of plants. So q
rotation of crops, while using muCl
the same elements out Of the soil us'
different proportions, resting some
while Others are used more largely
Rotation keeps down weeds, and kill!
of insect pests, chintz bugs, diseases
rust, smut and scale. Rotation divide
up farm work and keeps the volume
more even and well-bala lced. Rota
tlon gives better variety OF foods fol
stock. 1t keeps up to better degree
the fertility Of the soil. 1t is economy
secures the best results in tie aggre
gate. The most rapid growing PLAN
is the most susceptible to disease.
afternoon Session.
SHEEP HUsBANDRY.
Superintendent McKerrow was a.
home with this subject as he ha
made a specialty Of raising sheep.
The changed condition Of the WOO
market, resulting in little or M
) profit for the Wisconsin farmer 4
raise sheep principally for the fleece
compelled to the consideration o
rearing sheep for mutton instead O
for wool exclusively. Once it was tht
little Merino whose carcass weighed
seventy or eighty pounds but sheareC
twenty pounds of wool. Now it is FOL
a breed of sheep that will make TIVE
hundred pounds of mutton to tn,
/ individual. In selecting the flock O.
sheep under existing conditions her,
the first consideration i mutton, WOO
being of secondary Consequence.
Consult first how to produce muttor
) most quickly and cheaply. Here tn,