The Monte Vista journal., 1900-02-03
Note. Prom Field sns Farm

Dnirymen who have neither grain nor
alfalfa should put In crops this spring
that will supply green feed when the
summer drouth comes on the range,
Plhn today. Green wheat. green
oats and green mIllct ARE good but last
only II short time. Begin cutting thexe
crops as soon M the first heads appear
and continue until the stalks begin 10
harden. Sweet corn comes early. and
u good milk-prOducing feed. but the
yield IL too small. Field corn, kaffir
corn aud sorghum are the most profit.
able Rrsen crops for the dairyman who
docs not have alfalfa.
In order TO grow an early cnntaIoup.
crop, whch n very important consid-
trntion from commercial standpoint,
II In hest to make several planting-, one
very early. Seeds can IN planted In
two-inch pots and placed In "a hoilp,,i
TIL the plants reach the proper size.
AMI when danger from frost liz over nut
them out In the fields. Plants started
IN this way produce ripe melons much
earlier than setsis planted la the fields,
l'nrN Of old Tin cans can be used In.
Sefad OF pots. The cans may ic thrown
into u fire and the soldering which
holds the ends and seams In. melted,
and afterwards the cans liz rolled ort
no as to form n smooth cylinder. They
DO hest II one IL placed inside tho other
with the otssinI sides opposite. After
the plants arc set OUT. ons Of these tin
cans may nlso ls. used II necessary for
= plant protector against worms and
cold winds until the plant starts To run.
The can is simply slIpissi up above the
plant. with an Inch Of II remaining In
the ~Oll Ia hold H.
4 few vaurs uon tk.. 6s.,i.,...l..
mcnt station people ni Fort Collins
made some trials with the Australian
n,ii bush as II remedy for alknli soils
and made such tixxlc with the expert.
ments that they reported adversely on
the plant for this country. Subsequent
trials. however. by farmers. among
whom was Mr.. Nnndcmark Of Fort Col.
lina, proved that III. bush made u sHt-
isfaciory growth and hnd some effect
In absorbing surfRcr nlknll from vniu.
able land Such reports as come 10 us
would seem to warrant further expert.
metitailon by competent people. The
land to In sown should tpc piowcd, and
reasonably well puivefixcd by harrow
or other tool. Al least n disc harrow
should bc used to loosen the soil, and
give the seeds not only nn opportunity
TO ncrminntc. but the young plnnis
conditions favorable to become speedily
established. lbne pound of seed ls sum.
Client for Nh here. II evenly ~,nticr.si
over the surface. The s..4i should ls.
mixed with icn times Its weight Of
Msnd or ashcs to facilitate It's distrlbu.
tion. Row the .Ard In the early spring
before rain if possible. on well pui.
verixssi soil. nnd cover It lightly. about
0ne-cighth of nh Inch. with n light
Goat M brush.
Ar. Watson. the heavy alfalfa grow.
- ~ kearney. Nebraska, says: "In
the spring ~ isaH broke iif,y mere.
" what Inns always been tcrn.si the
sssni-arid hills Of Nebraska those hills
which border III. Platte valley for
nsorr than au0 miles. II WINS my In.
tentt0n to lnrk.sct this land that fall
aAd sut~oll u. hut wnu prevented from
doing ~ by the early frrxing Of the
gfound. This WAS done In the sprtnw
- 1897. aud. ns II proved. At . very
enfoetunatc titnc. M ti,rrr Wss no rain
foe nsuee thnn six weeks. which made
~ prusp<rt Of wspNi alfalfa catch In
TIE hilla quite gloomy. A. last, how.
svef. early In June. the rains rau,~.
snd In = few days there was such =
color ues0aa tlso~" hills NJ had never
hsrn n.n fher before. nfd the next
season. IN spite N mn unusually dry
summer. cut one tim t0 the ncrc.
ana then lind four months NJ good pas.
turing. Bcing curious 10 ascertain
70 bow gfcnt death the rOats of
these plants Ind penetrated. I took \
spade nni found them more than tivc
Ieet deep oh Il average. now fudge
that tl.s~c hills In place of ,s.lmg worth.
Iess nfr worth eW mn acre to xruw
crof'~ upon with nlfsisn NJ 4 piou~rr
rruii. Another advantage In having
these hills IN alfalfa In that since they
were s~etird thcre has .ssn mn wsahjux
of the hillsites NO inMttcr how violent
the storm. oil NJ tho moisture Antlln9
~ w.y Into ibc ground aud bsing eeo.