The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-09-23

The Chaves County Farmers Insti
tute met Saturday afternoon at the
court house, and although the attend
ance was not as large as it should
have been, the session was full of
interest from start to finish. The Pres
idelt, Charles de Bremond, was in
the chair and the secretary, Robert
Beers, was at the desk. The planting
and care of alfalfa was the general
topic of the day, and was ably treat
ed in a paper by r. C. Nisbet, follow
ing the reading of which the other
members discussed the subject pro
and con.
In his address Mr.. Nisbet referred
to the history of farming in a general
way, stating that it dated back to the
earliest history of man, and paid a
glowing tribute to the tiller of the
soil. He showed that great things are
to be learned from farming and that
it is not a life of drudgery, as some
suppose. He said that the main points
to be considered in farming were the
proper preparation of the seed bed,
OOlli 1S ~ sGiulC anu ploCC, IItC oCAOS-
ton of the proper seeds, considering
both the soil and the climate in which
they were to be grown, and the care
of the plants. He said that by neg
lecting these points farming had not
been advanced like stock breeding,
especially because stock-breeders Sc
lect their seed more carefully than
do farmers. incidentally, he favored
the passage of a pure seed law.
The speaker dealt extensively with
rotation of crops, saying it was the
best way to preserve the life of a
grown not more than six or eight
years on one field, not because it
would not grow longer, but because
1t would ruin the ground. He said
some alfalfa around Roswell twelve
years old showed the truth of his
statement. He recommended the plant
ing of a crop of corn, wheat or oats
every six or eight years. These, ne
said, would yield. corn so to Is bush
els to the acre, oats go to 20 bushels
to the acre, wheat forty to fifty BUSH
els to the acre, and be quite profita.
BILE and put the field in better shape
than when a raw prairie. He said
that alfalfa should not be pastnred
TO heavy stock for the reason that
they would trample down the crowns
aid shorten the next years crop.
These and many other points were
brought out by the speaker. and his
paper was followed with interest by
every farmer present.
In the discussion of the paper it was
found that there was quite a differ
ence of opinion as to the amount of
seed that should be used. It was pre-
cured one of the best stands in the
valley with less than i've pounds to
the acre, after preparing his land ac-
cording to the recommendation of
the Colorado Agricultural College. and
sowing the seed broadcast.
L e. Thompson said that the best
way to work the land was to till it
into perfect condition and then work
It some more. He said that labor on
the seed bed paid a bigger per cent
age in alfalfa than any other crop
and that the good effect would be eyi.
dent for many years. In mis- opinion
alfalfa growers are inclined to use
too much seed and not enough labor
on the land. The speaker of the day
admitted that the seed bed was the
most important feature of the plant
ing. but still maintained that plenty
of seed should be used.
y. III. Hamilton stated, In answer
to query. that he does not believe
in dilxing or cultivating alfalfa His
plan OF stimulating a field is TO plow
UNDER the alfalfa and plant corn for
year or two. Indian corn planted
on turned under alfalfa this year will
yield him rs buHnels to the acre. and
his belief is further supported by
wide observation. This gives the land
complete rest. and Indian corn VIII
give as profitable crop as alfalfa
with one irrigation
Secretary Beers told of hds exper-
ienca ~ith alfalfa He had masle o.
GOOD need I'D. had planted 25 pounds
Of seed 70 the acre. aad Is result.
had 1arvested heavy crops at every