The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-06


diana by the experiment station dem.
onstrates conclusively that alfalfa
can be grown successfully in Indiana.
Experiments have been conducted on
all types of soils and under all condi-
lions. L. has been found possible to
grow alfalfa under all OF these. In
considering the growth of this crop
the farmer should consider several
questions. First, lis there IA place on
the farm for this crop Farmers
not take place in the regular rota-
ton. This Is SO for the reason that 1t
is diflcult TO secure a stand and when
one secured farmers hesitate to plow
II up until II has stood five or six
years. Glover must then be the le-
gumc In the rotation and alfalfa must
occupy some other place. II there is
n piece OF land that can be set aside
from the regular rotated field we have
the farmer should decide is, as to
whether he can feed the, alfalfa on the
farm. Alfalfa carries large quanti-
ties OF plant food and IL sold from the
farm viii deplete the soil as fast. IL
not faster than any other farm crop.
] do not believe that Indiana farmers
can afford to grow alfalfa and sell it
directly from the farm. 1t should be
fed TO live stock on the farm and the
manure returned to the soil. II we
have place for alfalfa and a need
for II, alfalfa can be grown.
Well Drained Soil.
A well drained soil should be pro-
vidcd. Alfalfa roots go deep into the
soil and for this reason the water
level must be kept low. For the fur
thcr reason that alfalfa must have
bacteria on the roots. the soil must
be kept full OF air and allow the en-
trance Of free air, the water must be
removed. Before sowing alfalfa a
good coat OF barnyard manure should
be applied and well incorporated in
the soil. This will supply some read.
lily available plant food and conditions
for the development OF bacteria. This
application Of manure can be made to
advantage on all kinds of soil. wheth.
err rich or poor. II has also been
found through experiment that an ap-
plication OF lime is advisable for a
great many soils In the state. Lime,
not only corrccts acidity that may be
present but II sets free plant food and
creates conditions that are favorable
to the development Of necessary bac.
terra.
He recommended that Is to 20
pounds Of seed should be sown to the
acre. This large quantity is neces.
sary for the reason that much Of the
seed IL low In vitality and many seeds
do not terminate until long time af-
ter seeding. due to hard coat which
surrounds the seed.
On Sheep Husbandry.
Tho second lecture OF the afternoon
was on the subject OF sheep Illus.
bandry." This lecture was given by
Prof. ID. q. Thompson on Extension
Man In Animal Husbandry." He said
during the last half decade the farms
OF the United States have increased
four fold in number while the sheep
have but doubled In number. In 1856
the number of sheep per farm was Is
head while In 1900 the number was
but seven. Careful estimates for the
state OF Indiana show that these fig
ures are substantially true for this
state. II Is safe TO say that not more
than 0ne-third of the farms having
sheep have not more than an aver
age OF twenty-five head or an average
OF eight sheep for every two hundred
acres Of area In the state.
Some of the most potent reasons
why there should be at least twenty
hve TO nifty sheep on every 200 acre.
farm In the state are that the sheer
consume the weeds. waste. etc, cos,
very little to maintain, require but
little labor. increase the fertility O
the. soil. and return triple income In
lambs. wool and manure.
Mr.. Thompson divided the sheer
Into two great groups or classes, the
mutton breeds and the Merino breeds
The mutton breeds yield meat. de
best In comparatively small focks OF
limited rich pasture. Being open In
fleece they require more shelter thar
the Merino breeds. and following tho
manner In which they were brought
up In England, the home OF their orr
gin. they require rich. abundant feed
md arc adapted TO the fertile arabic
lands. The Merino breeds which yielt
wool. pasture In large nocks ovel
vast areas OF plain or hill lands. Their
close fleece affords them protection
against exposure. They are of Span
ish origin and adapted to the hill oil
range lands. The mutton breeds ar,
probably the best adapted TO the mos,
Of the state OF Indiana. and TO then
IL given the most of the consideration
during this lecture. These breeds re
Quirc shelter and some of the thing
to be considered In providing thi.