Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

Unusually cold weather kept down the
attendance on the first day of the state
Farmers Institute, although over 200
braved the elements 10 be rewarded
with a most profitable afternoon.
President Allen introduced Conductor
Jason Woodman of Van Buren county
who had chosen the subject, Building
M an Exhausted Farm Mr.. Mood.
mans experience had convinced him
that the active fertility Of land, with
reasonable care, will last. in rich soil,
about 40 years, after which radical
means are needed 70 bring ont the re.
serve fertility. Glover. The Backbone
of Michigan Agriculture, is the best
agent for this work but similar results
NAV be obtained by stock feeding If the
manure is used intelligently ma.
nure shed, 10 prevent the manure from
washing away, is most profitable IN
vestment. Straw or cornstalks spread
over field are worth 81 90 per ton in
the resulting crop The mammoth clover
is the best variety and orchard grass Is
far preferable 10 alfalfa for pastnrage'
as the latter grows 10 pigweed By no
means leave a field uncovered Shaded
land grows rich and measures should be
taken TO cover soil during all parts OF
the season. Beans, stubble and green
manure are usefui for this purpose.
One Of the questions asked the speaker
elected a warm commendation for the
utility Of rape, the statement being
made that 80 hogs could be kept all
summer on one acre of this vegetable,
it being more profitable than clover for
that purpose.
Silas Moody was present but grip pre-
vented his giving his paper on "Stock
Feeding" Prof Clinton D. Smith OF
the Agricultural college was on hand
although not announced on the pro-
gram, and gave one Of the most inter.
esting talks of the entire institute on the
culture Of sugar beet One OF the most
pleasing features of the effort was ITS
entire informality. Questions were
freely asked and always met satisfac'
tory replies ANY soil IN Gratiot
county except wet muck land and very
stiff clav," said the Professor. will
raise good sugar beets." The difficulty
with the muck is that the beets grow
too large and too high, while the hard
clav is too difficult 10 cultivate. a me-
dunn sized beet is the best for sugar
production.
Great care mnst he exercised III the
selection OF seed. The seed of the sugar
beet is raised BY special process and
comes almost entirely from Germany.
A test Of beets from home grown seed
registers lower than per cent. sugar,
| but American ingenuity is bound TO
revolutionize methods Of beet culture
and mach may be expected in the near
future"
Investigation shows that 7l2 days
are required for the thinning ont of one
acre Of beets by one person. To do this
for each acre 81 miles must be traversed
on hands and knees and il is here that
the need of cheap labor is felt. The
importance of such supply can not fail
| to be felt and has proven serious ohsta'
Gle in some localities where foreigners
can not be obtained Harvesting should
be done directly after a dry spell as
warmth and moisture have perniclous
effect after the beet's maturity. Freez.
| ing does no harm if the beets are not
allowed 10 thaw again. in which case
they are ruined. The beet is no more
exha ustive 10 the soil than the ordinary
crop and the personal experience of the
Bay county farmers is that beet culture
has increased the value Of their farms
$50. 90 per acre.
| The cost Of drawing to the. factory is
entirely conditional on the roads. With
ordinary highways Pa TO 8 miles is the
greatest profitable distance beets can be-
hauled to either railroad or factory. IL
transportation by rail is employed rate
Of s25. 90 for anything less than 20 miles
should be secured.
Plant the same time as corn and mix
a little turnip seed with that Of the beet
the result will be that the rows will he
marked by the turnip plants and weeds
can be eradicate tefors the teets are
up."
At the close Of Professor Smiths talk
many questions were asked. one of
them eliciting the information that a
factory conld pay good price for beets.
selling their product at four cents a
pound without any bounty