Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-01-19
FARMERS INSTI=
TUTE A SUCCESS
[Continued from first page |

on Fertility. In part he said:
"You must keep your land in good
condition by properly manuring, plow
ing and narrowing. Fall blowing is
the best. In spreading fresh manure
it should be done as evenly as possible
to produce uniform crops. Flowing
in of green crops is another way OF
fertilizing your land" With the aid
of a chart Mr.. Coe showed the pro-
portions of available plant food, such
as oxygen, potash, nitrogen and the
proper mechanical conditions necessary
for producing fertility of the soil.
Clover.
About "Clover" Mr.. Martlny said
| hat they have beneficial effects on
soil because, ~ Has the property of
fixing nitrogen in soil. ~ Brings
fertility from lower soils and deposits
it near the surface. ~ Makes soil
more porous. a. Aeriates the soil
creases it's water holding capacity.
The different varieties Of clover are,
alsaick, medium and mammoth. A
good mixture for seeding per acre are
two quarts of medium and one quart
of alsaick. The best crop to seed with
in order named are, rye, wheat. barley
and oats. Glover is of great import
ance for making good sod. The prop
er way Of making hay is by the sweat
ing out process rather than by sun
drying. Clovers are also the most
valuable feed for young growing stock
and mich cows.
Crop Rotation.
Mr.. Convey on "Crop Rotation"
said ga rotation of crops keeps
humus in the soil by growing grass
and applying manure. Cultivate to
kill weeds and improve mechanical
condition. Follow a short rotation
by raising grain crop followed by a
grass crop, this to be plowed after one
seasons growth and used for Guilt
waited crop. Seeding down again or
where you want to pasture in rota-
ton use for hay first year after seed
ing, second year for pasture. Then
follow for a cultivated crop. This
makes a good four-year rotation.
Pasture in rotation gives better re-
suits than perm anent pasture, be-
cause less weeds get established and
the ground does not become too COM
pact. The advantages of rotation
are, less expense, less labor, compare
tive freedom from weeds, a dryer soil
in wet time and a moist soil in a
dry time. Such farm is less subject
to fungus diseases, and less subject to
insect pests. 1t gives larger crops and
yet leaves the land in just as good
condition as before cropping, and in
many cases better, especially where
manure is used with Judgment"
Farmers Gardens.
The attendance in the afternoon
was about sixty-fve.
Mr.. Coe talked on Farmers Gar.
dens." "Some farmers think that
gardens are only meant for people
living ia towns who have few lots-or
the small farmer with a little tract of
land. But not SO. Good gardens are
of great importance and should be
worth the while to give our attention.
Now, in the first place. have a long
garden not justa square patch. Don't
be stingy with your land and plant
long rows with plenty of space be-.
tween rows for easy cultivating. To
do the garden work easily and quickly,
besides saving many a backache, we
should employ horsepower to till our
gardens. Use fresh manure and place
it in surface earth in the fall
every farmer should grow aspara-
gus. Don't plant it in a bed but long
row. Fruits and vegetables should be
planted separate.
Mr.. Convey next spoke on Barns
and showed plans Of an ideal building
which he erected ON his farm. He
emphasized that all barns should be
open in the center so that you can
drive in and turn around if necessary.
His barn is 44x60 and very strong,
according to plans shown. 1t can be
built with two-thirdS less material and
in one-third less time to build than
other barns of like dimensions.
The Horse.
Mr.. Martiny gave very interesting
talk about the ''Horse." Farmers
can raise horses cheaper than they
can buy them. Horses yield a profit
without much inconvenience, time or
trouble. There are two types of
horses, the coach or carriage and the
draft horse. The draft type is the
best for the average farmer, because
1T requires less training, is easier to
train and more satisfactory for farm
work. 1t is important to secure good
Sires. If farmers form their own
stock companies, they will get better
horses and save greatly in first cost.
The kind of mares to use are sound
and large heavy -boned You cannot
be too careful in the care of mares.
They should receive proper feeding
and get splenty of exercise. In foal-
ing time, begin training of colt at
once. Encourage colts to eat. Feed