The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-06-13
TO PJI
N0THE.RGR0PS

A III l.66g
EXPERIMENT STATION oEFleiAI
DISCUSSES pEsTRU cTloN or
HAY CROP AND IT'S EFFECTS.
LOSS WOULD SETTLE VIRGINIA
DEBT.
Stating that at least half Of the
hay cropsof the State had been de.
stroyed by the drouth during the
month Of May, Director Stewart, of
the Experiment station makes some
recommendations for the planting Of
emergency crops. In discussing the
matter. Director Stewart said:
"The drought has been general
throughout West Virginia, in fact
quoting from the weeklybllletin Of the
United States for May SIst, the sea
sonal precipitation from March 1st
continues below the normal in the
greater part OF the country, the def
cheney being greatest over the Attain
tic coast States and from the Missouri
Valley westward to the Pacific: This
goes to show that the drought effected
the whole country.
1.-THE average rainfall for the last
II years at Morgantown. for the
month Of May, as shown BY. the n
pertinent station. is 3.67 Inches. For
1910 It was. 3,69 inches, but for May
1911 thereSwas only 1:7S inches rain
fall at Morgantown. The average tenn
perature during the month Of May.
1911, Is 70 degrees or an average Of
about ten degrees higher throughout
the month than in the same month dur,
ing the past 81 years. There were 10
days of the month with an average
temperature Of 80 degrees or over. and
five days with 80 degrees or over.
1.-THE result of this drought has been
especially injurious to pastures, mead
ows, oats, wheat and rye. From all
the information obtainable conser.
yatlYe estimate indicates that the hay
crop Of the State will not be over so
9er cent. OF normal, oats so per cent,
with heavy damage to wheat. l'ne
United States statistical bureau Of ag.
riculture shows that for West Virginia
there were 675,OO0 acres in meadow
yielding $4,000 tons, which was val.
uel at $1l,225,0O0 in the year 1903. The
otal acreage for the year 1911 will
be as great and the normal crop
should be as heavy. A so per cent,
injury from this drought therefore
shows loss to the State Of the hay
,rop alone of $5,612.50O. The average
price of hay in 1909 was S18.71. The,
New York prices on fancy hay at New.
! York June list, 1911, was SS2 per tom
No!i1ihay5 $3O'per TOM, No. t2J$26 and
So: 3t$2l.aI !nt",egF l.IQ eiIstd 81 istI
1.-THE director mentioned thissas he
,aid,l tinit ORDER thatRthe attention OF
'armers might be directed to the. gfeaL
'osslWhlch tie State Hhas suffered In
'his way and that they might become
Interested inIplantipg and sowing 9th.
ar forage crops and grainlsuch as mills
let, COW peas, soy beans, and corn for
forage and late corn and buckwhe heat
or grain. Many OF lthetaelds Of oats
which have beengruined he said could
,e cheapiy raplapted with some one etI
hese crops, lwhiel ltherei Is vet time to
ttit1 atditi0nHt. acreage to any, on all Of
these cropsIthroughout the State. III
he general interest and effect on thea
partI ofgthe farmers nwege apifested
avery large partaof this loss could be-
saved.
al the present high price Of hay
prevails" said Director Stewart, iE
will result in an increased use OF corn
md other concentrated grain foods tori
he live stock, which will result in an
increased price for grains and this
ill bear hard upon the consumers OF
he State and will probably require
1any OF the farmers to dispose of al
art Of their cattle or to purchase for.
tge aud grains at excessive and un.
Profitable prices in order to carry
hem through next winter, There areI
lore than hundred thousand farmb
the State and II a few acres upon
ach OF them we're devoted to some
ne Of the forage crops already men.
TONED, and OF which may be sown as
ate as the 10th Of July, theaggregate
increased value OF, the farm crops In
his way would become for our State
vast sum of money
"If every one Of the hundred thou.
and farmers Of the State would SOW
enough Of soy beans, COW peas, or
nillet to make an average Of five acres
ser farm they should harvest some
thing like an average Of two tons Of
cured hay to the acre, assuming that
the season is to be good one from
This on. Halt OF thee rop would re.
1ay the farmer we'll for fertilizers, Ia.
bor and seed. The other half, or APP
proxlmately one ton to the acre, would
remain to the farmers as met income
% Offset the losses already Incurred
rom the drought. A ton;ot the forage
:hus grown will have great food vail
te atIeast as the average ton OF the
best hay grown in the State. That
would mean 100000 net tons Of forage,
which at an average Of $40 a tsn,
which Ia a low estimate, would make