The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-25
LECTURES
At The Agricultural Train On
Wednesday
We're Full OF Interest TO
Those Present
Much Valuable Information
Was Brought Out
As Result Of Experience At
The Experiment Station
From Which Those In At.
tendance Will Profit

The lectures at the agricultural
train at the B. & o. railroad yards this
city Wednesday were full of interest
to those in attendance, and many val
liable points were brought out.
The first speaker called the atten-
ton of his audience TO two large pho
tographs showing the yields of wheat
on two plots at the Ohio experiment
station. On one plot the average yield
for the last sixteen years was only
11.3 bushels per acre and on the other
the average yield, during the same
period was 275 bushels per acre.
These plots are located side by side,
of the same kind of soil, the differ
ence in yield being due to the differ
ent treatment they had received,
stated the speaker. An outline of
the manner in which these expert
mental plots had been handled form
ed the basis of his lecture on soil fer
tility. The main points in his talk
were as follows:
The factors concerned In crop pro.
duction and soil Improvement are
drainage, rotation of crops, good til
lage. use of lime, manure and organic
matter, and commercial fertilizers
There are comparatively few farms in
Ohio that could not be improved by
At Appf Inn nc
surplus water, allowing plants to ROO
deeper, thus they are better able &c
withstand drouths; makes soil warm
er; and actually increases the amount
of water available to the plant.
Every farm should have crop rota
| ton suited to its needs, especially
one in which clover forms a part
Deep plowing and thorough cultiva
ton help to make soils more produc
tive. A farm which will not grow
clover can not be increased in fertil
ity at a profit. The persistent failure
of clover is due to the lack of lime IL
the soil, One ton of caustic lime o.
two tons of ground limestone to tn,
acre should be used. And keep tn,
soil well filed with organic matter
Use all the barnyard manure, plov
under crop residues and do not burr
straw, stalks or stubble,
The last point made by this speake
was that Ohio soils are lacking in tn
element phosphorus and that many o
them need nitrogen and potassium
To get the best results with whea
1t will be necessary to use some form
of fertilizer, especially one containin
phosphorus
The next instructor took up tn
subject of wheat culture. He pointe
out that many farmers neglect tn
proper cultural methods and fail +
select varieties of wheat that ar
adapted to their soil and climatic cor
dltions, with the result that they d
not get full returns from their soil.
Preparation OF seedbed was give
first consideration The speake
showed by means of large photo
what Is meant by the ideal seedbet
where the land Is plowed early we
pulyerized and compacted below wit
a fine, loose layer at the surface, |
contrast to this he showed the effeC
OF late plowlng and how the turnin
under of heavy coat of manure O
other organic matter would soil capi
larity. He emphasized the fact tina
the roller aud harrow should follo'
the plow, and that disking of stubbl
land before plowlng is frequently goo
practice
The best time to SOW wheat In tn
northern part of the state is betwee
September and 10, and one da
later for each Ave miles south Wher
the Hessian liy Is to be avoided lat
seeding is advisable
As to the depth of seeding. the II
structor stated that the seed, unde
favorable conditions, should be CO
cred to a depth of VI TO 2 inches. bl
! In dry seasons inches IL not to
deep. II moist soil Is not found witt
in 3 inches of the surface, seedin
should be delayed until after raj
: Eight pecks to the acre has give
the best results at the Ohio exper
ment station The drill should be car
o fully tested out on the barn floor b
/. fore seeding time.