The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-16
TOPICS OF TIMELY INTEREST
Presented in "BuIIetin No. SCI of the
Experiment station.


Guthrie, O. t, Jan. 15.-"Bulletin No
&C., of the Saltwater experiment station
deals with Oklahoma farmers, and Okla
homans in general, as follows:
Alfalfa-Erperience with this valuable
hay crop has shown that it will thrive IN
many sections of Oklahoma and the acre
age of it should be increased. A careful
survey of the reported failures leads to
the conclusion that too close pasturing
has been the usual cause. Many fields Of
alfalfa have been ruined by this method,
while fields close a hand that have been
cut for hay and pastured but little are in
excellent condition. Alfalfa has a long
tap root and willn OF do we'll on soils with
hard-pan close to the surface. 1t thrives
best on soils that have been plowed deep
and VIII cultivated Early plowing for
spring sowing is an advantage as it gives
teh soil time to settle and become filled
with moisture before sowing. The seed
should be sown as soon as the soil is in
good condition in the spring. When the
plants are about six inches high they
should be cut with mower set high,
and this operation repeated at intervals of
two to three weeks until the weeds are
method proved successful at the Okla
homa experiment station last season.
There are some objections to it and SOW
ing late in August has sometimes proven
better. If wheat ground is plowed early
in July an dthe weeds kept down by fire.
quent narrowing, and the seed sown after
the soil is filled with moisture, a good
stand Of alfalfa free from weeds may be
secured Trials of the Turkestan alfalfa
imported by the L. S. department of agri-
culture are being continued by the station.
Alfalfa should be cut for hay in early
full bloom and not allowed to ripen. Cut
at this stage, the next cutting is larger
and the plants are better than when cut
at later period. Three cuttings of one
ton per acre each have been secured on
the station farm at Saltwater, and the
alfalfa plats at the present time are in
good condition.
Black-leg-This Is one of the most i'm
portant diseases among cattle in Okla
homa and is commonly known as black
leg or black-quarter. The disease may
assume a number of forms but usually
is noticed as local swelling in either
the front or hind limb. This swelling con-
tains gas which causes a cracking sound
when the hand is passed over the swell |
ing. The swelling is at first hot and pain
full. but after the gas begins to form it IS
not sensitivea nd the skin becomes dry 1
and paTchment-like. The disease IS one !
common TO young cattle and Is rapidly /
fatal, death generally occurring from /
twelve to thirty-six hours after the first |
symptoms are noticed. There is no sue /
cessfuI medical treatment for the disease. /
Vaccination now recognized as the /
most successful way to prevent it. The |
necessary apparatus. which consists Of !
hypodermic syringe. a small porcelain /
mortar. glass rod and filter funnel, costs I
four dollars With this apDarrus any /
careful individual can do the work sue !
cessfuily The experiment station at
Saltwater IS prepared TO furnish a small /
amount OF vaccine. with fun instructions
for using 10 parties VINO need it for their !
own use and who will supply themselves
with the necessary instruments for doing
the work.
Shade trees-Those who failed to set
out shade trees curing the fall should pre-
pare now TO do 50 IN the spring. At the
Oklahoma experiment station. in ore ex-
pertinent on hard soil, the following
method resulted successfully: -FEoles three
feet in diameter and three feet deep were
dug in the early winter and allowed 70
remain open 50 that the soil could
Weather and become porous. In F'earuary,
three torkfuis OF well rotted manure were
put ia the bottom u the holes and OF tog
,s this. two shoveIfuis % leacile6 ashes.
This was then covered with surface sol
and the holes filed in 10 within about a
foot u the to- This was then allowed
to settle and become firm before the trees
we're set The trces vre So out II March
and the soil within thres feet u the trees
vas hoed after every rain during the SUR
ner Naples and i0c4s,s weeT planted
and they made a vigorous and rapid
growth u ale this method IS perhaps
too expensive % be used for extensive
paintings. II Is recommended FOR Use Il
towns and about the hogse ard lawns
Whatever method Of planting IS foiioEsl,
ittle success viii follow ua1ess tsa son
5 thoroughly cultivated and the sarzaee
zegt free rom grass and weeds
Farmers Iusfi5Ute-A Earmers snssi-
ute Is al organization q farmers vaieA
lolds meetings Tor shs pzrposs o. ex-
opin8uns OF matters Felagez -
,ar-siug. Institutes are not successful H.
snpTo gresssse communities azd il IS nute-
1o-thv thaG laoze localities wse.s iaStl-
49, - -AiH 49,. azsaIfss sros-e-cnK