The Adair County news., 1905-11-01

and the State Department OF Ag-
riculture sent out some seed for
experimental purposes with the
result that a number of good
stands were secured. The sub
ject of alfalfa culture was dis
cussed at all the farmers insti-
tutes held under the auspices of
this bureau. The farmers gener-
ally became enthused and the last
report of this bureau shows that
thert are now 300 acres of al
falfa in this State as against less
than two hundred acres two years
ago. This encouraged the de-
lpartment to such an extent that
after consulting with Mr.. Wing,
who is recognized as one of the
best alfalfa experts in the United
States, and Prof. Harper, who
has experimental with the plant
for a number Of years, it was de-
cided to run a special train over
the State giving lectures and dis
seminating literature especially
prepared for the project: This
met with the hearty approval of
the Advisory Board of the State
Department of Agriculture as
well as the various farmers
clubs. The Bureau of Agricult-
ure was fortunate in securing the
services of Mr.. Wing as the prin-
cipal lecturer on alfalfa.
It might be interesting to the
farmers of the State to know that
there is now a field of one humid
red acres within less than mile
of Frankfort. A sample from
this field measuring five and one
half feet in length is now in the
office of the Commissioner of Ag-
riculture, There is another field
of thirty acres a few miles from
Frankfort.
! In a letter from Mr.. w. I.
Kane, Fallsburg, Lawrence coun.
ty, KY, the writer reports that
his alfalfa is in a good, thrifty
condition, and says that his third
cutting yielded him 4,240 pounds
per acre. ''The 'yaller' dirt in
which it grew" he continues, sis
over 100 feet above the sea lev.
eel and is exactly where the U. S.
Geological Survey made a station,
Kane Knob, from which, with
the aid of glass, hill tops can be
seen fifty miles distant"
! There are also small plots in
Clay and Knox counties and the
alfalfa is reported in good con.
dition. In Warren, Henry, Chris.
tan, Pendleton, Nelson, Fayette
and a large number of other
counties alfalfa is being grown
with success. Mr.. j. j. Botto
of Boston, Nelson county, has
grown alfalfa for ten years with
a marked degree of success.
while Prof. Harper secured three
tons per acre from the first cut.
ting from the Experiment Sta.
ton plot this spring.
!; We would particularly urge the
farmers to be careful in the Sc
, lection of their seed, But with
good seed, true to termination
good, deep soil with plenty Of
| humus and with the proper at
tention the first year, the farmers
: should be able to at least raise
, alfalfa in sufficient quantity fol
: home consumption.
II In addition to the lectures OF
the culture of alfalfa, the ser
Z vices of Prof. P. G. Holden, Of
Ames, Iowa, were secured fol
the special. Prof. Holden ha'
made a speciality of seed corr
, selection and the cultivation O.
the cereal with the result tina
: last year he increased the corr
crop Of Iowa 100000 bushels
r He made known his methods b.
: means of a special train which
he ran over his State maxim,
: stops of thirty minutes.
! : With plenty of corn and goo'
4 crops of alfalfa, we are of tn
r