Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-03-05
VALUE OF FORAGE PLANTS
Reader Tells Experience of Two SuC-
cessfuI Dairymen in Polk
County.

RICKREALL, Or, Feb. ,25-(To the
Editor)-After reading in your col
umns Of the success of dairymen in
different sections of the country, /
wish to tell the readers of the Observer
OF the experience Of J. w. Allen and
his son, w. B. Allen, of Oak Grove,
with the milch COW.
Messrs. Allen began three years
ago with only five cows, which we're
termed dual purpose COWS, with which
all farmers are more or less familiar,
and which netted them SIS each a
month. These cows were fed on mill
feed and mesquite grass pasturage.
A DeLaval separator was bought for
800, which was paid for in butter-fat
in four months. At the end Of that
year, three COWS were sold for beef.
Four good grade Jerseys were then
bought from dairyman at Brooks,
Marion county, and heifer raised on
the farm was added to the herd.
The second year, clover hay and
corn ensilage with chopped barley
and oats were introduced as foodstuff,
with the increased result Of $2 per
month per COW. To increase the hay
room by using all Of the main barn, a
shed II by So feet was built onto the
barn. An by "a foot silo and q by
10 foot cement-floor separator room,
with water connected to keep the room
in sanitary condition, were added as
improvements.
The third year they purchased four
more good dairy cows, few of which
we're registered stock, and also bought
of Mr.. Miller, Of Jefferson, a regis
tered bull, Vembras Prince Exile No.
69,772. This year corn ensilage and
vetch hay, with some alfalfa, were
used, which increased the average $9,
making it $40 month.
Last month they nilked eleven
COWS, five OF which had been milking
since July and the other six since
October, 1906, and produced $10l.3l
worth of butter-fat, besides the cream
and butter used by family Of five.
At present the junior herd consists
of six fine heifer calves, some OF which
are registered. All of this herd, as
we'll as a number Of hogs, were raised
and fattened on the skinned milk
Next year they expect to double the
number of the junior herd and thereby
raise the grade Of the cattle on the
farm, as this herd will contain sew
eral registered calves.
have given this account OF Messrs
Aliens experience to demonstrate the
advantage of keeping few gooc
dairy COWS on the farm, and to show
that by the introduction Of forag'
crops and raising the grade OF thu
COWS, the number of pounds OF butter
fat can be materially increased.
These men seem to disagree witt
their neighbor who advocates the feed
ing of mesquite grass and hay as
cream. producing foodstuff. 1t ma.
be that mesquite grass is good, bu
there are many of the so-called forag
plants which exceed it by far in pro
ducing cream, a fact which has beeI
proven by experience. This grass i
continually taking the food-producini
elements from the soil, while the intro
duction Of forage crops not only in
creases the production of butter-fa
hat fertilizes the soil on which thes
crops. with corn, have been grown
Mr.. Allen aud his son have proves
this by growing wheat on which thes
crops had been raised the preceding
year, the yield being greater than be
fore the forage plants were grown
These men, while not dairymeI
altogether, are anxious to receiv
hints and instructions from anyon
who has had or is having success
They have made dairying a study 10
several years through the columns Q
the leading dairy papers OF tn
country and feel that the farmers wh
are interested in dairying can, b
studying and discussing the subleC
in the local papers, make the WI
lamette Valley the dairy center OF th
Pacific Northwest.