Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-01-26
POINTS FOR FARMERS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE


until about rs years old, but they may
often be sold to pulp companies at
much earlier period than that, and at
a firstclass profit.
In a private interview at the hotel,
Mr.. Halves stated that he did not
deprecate the cutting of trees for
Christmas decorations as much as
some, and thought that raising trees
for this specific purpose entirely
legitimate, but maintained that the,
farmers should make a combine and
demand at least ten cents each for all
cut, and should forbid the topping
practice to SO large an extent in
many section in this annual "slaugh-
ter"
Next on the program came an ad-
dress by Col. Lowell Rouderbush of
New Richmond, Ohio, on .'Crimes
against the Soil Col. Rouderbush
was sui generis, and by his quaint
phrases, his Illuminating illustrations
. his mastery array of facts and his
!; complete grip of his subject
secured and held a most excel
ent grip on his audience. De-
scribing the origin of soil, and it's con-
stituent parts. he at once proceeded to
discuss the crimes committed against
it. 1t might turn to man and say, in the
words Of the Master. Il was naked,
and We clothed me not" Vermonters
can have no idea of the havoc wrought
in other sections by the erosion of
soil caused bv denuding it of trees, or
else leaving it without other form of
vegetable clothing. Enough good soil
is annually carried down the Mississip-
pi valley to cover all New England a
foot deep. The way to prevent erosion
IL to constantly keep the soil filled with
living roots, and thus it's surface is
clothed with living vegetation.
AS the soil of Vermont was less
easily injured in this way than that of
other sections he mentioned the second
, crime. that of lack of under drainage.
Alfalfa, and many other valuable
| crops, Will not grow where it must
| have "wet feet" Evapora tion is
: natures method of Kidding the sur
face of surplus water, but man must
; aid nature in Kidding her of hydrostatic
water. Undetermined soil is from 7
: to 27 degrees warmer than that not
given that treatment, hence it is
especially needed in comparatively
f cold climates, as the seasons are thus
made longer.
] Besides this, when water goes out
of the soil air goes into it, and the
: aerating of the soil is fully as import
| ant as its fertilization. The chemical
action of the air lets loose plant food,
! and thus makes possible larger crops.
7 Aerating the soil helps to make it
deep, and thus aids nature in bringing
larger returns to the labor of man.
t Film water, or that which clings to
] growing stalks, is an important factor
I in plant growth, and here capillary
= action comes into play. Sandy soil
holds but II per cent of it's weight of
D such water, while soil which is large
l ly humus can carry it's own weight in
2 safety. To make one bushel of corn
f or oats from 300 to 500 lbs. of
2 water are necessary.
t Col. Rouderbush then stated that
the plant could again voice the words
uttered by the Master, and retort to
man. 81 was an hungered, and We fed
e me- not" AS in the case of man the
s soil needs constant feeding, and each
. crop should be followed by one unlike
t it. In giving the food the ingredi-
= ents must be properly combined. The
2 moon had nothing to do with the pro-
! portions of I've and grease used in our
childhood to make soap; no more does
d any chance in feeding the soil of our
s farms today. His rotations were as
3 follows: corn. wheat or rye, clover,
: potatoes. wheat or rye, clover. He
: also had other rotations which includ-
ed tobacco, but they were all on a
three wear basis and included clover.
: He leaves no soil naked in winter.
!: 1t takes Il lbs. of nitrogen to produce
, bushel of corn, and II lbs, for a
{; bushel of wheat.
: All rotations should include a
3; legume Glover. alfalfa, peas, beans
, or lentils) at least as often as once in
, i've years, three years is better, as
the lagume takes the nitrogen from
[ the soil and leaves it in the ground
. Over every acre the air contains 38, .
, 44O tons of nitrogen worth $40, 900, 900,
0 If we could but corrall it. Legumes help
d to seize and hold this for the farmer.
i: Another thing, timothy and corn get
J no nOurishment farther down the soil
I than IL inches, most of the roots be-
-, ing very much shorter. while dover
t and alfalfa go much deeper, and thus
e. better take advantage of the provi-
\ sions of nature, and also better stand
drought.
The barnyard and stable manure of
New Eangland is worth $1,000, 600
annually, and should be busbanded
with greatest care, and also should he
so used as to get maximum of prof
it. Manure should never be plowed
under on sandy SOIL. as it will leach
y down and so be lost to the roots.
I But this might be done, as the speak
{ er did on his farm at New Richmond,
; Ohio, spread the manure on the sward
q after cutting it in June, July or
{ August, and let it lay thus until the
> ground is dry the next spring, and
! then plow under. In this way it
Il serves as covering and mulch during
:, the hot summer months, and the &C
y ton of the rains mixes it with the
= soil, as is possible in no other way.
> He maintained that this gave 80 per
!; cent more value to the manure than
= could be obtained in any other way.
1t enables the bacteria to get in their
|, valuable work, as they thus had a
chance to multiply and get in readiness
!. for active operations when the seed
is placed in the ground the following
!, | Nov IL AVIAN 70; ol fSa@ 49,