Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-02-29

"'e uuflhB tne season between two
and three tons of hay.
We believe that we have in this
system solved the problem OF the
small farm. 1t has been argued in
the past that for successful dairy
practice, large acreage was neces-
sary. We believe that we have dem
onstrated with this experiment that
this is not essential.
There can be no possible objection
10 using the same land over and oyel
again during the same season if care
be taken to replenish the elements
which are taken out by the crops.
These cows are kept in close con
finement. the manure is carefully
conserved and returned to the soil.
We do not claim for this system
that 1t is new practice Repeated
experiments have been made in 9th.
er states. notably Wisconsin, on this
subject, and with excellent results
We wish also to refer you to the
Channel Islands, Guernsey and Jer.
sey. The Island of Jersey is 81 miles
long and four to seven miles wide
1t has a population of $4,000 and has
forty to fifty thousand visitors an.
nually The average size of the farm
is eight acres, and there are now TO-
600 acres farmed. On this amount
of farming land they are keeping ap.
proximately 1880 head of Jerseys,
and $500 head OF horses. This makes
approximately $1,000 head of live
stock supported from 10000 acres of
land, or Y head 10 eevry acre of farm.
All the cattle are soiled the year
round, except the COWS for milk
which are tethered. These Jersey
farmers are the most scientific farm
ers in the world: they make enor-
nous profits from their land and !
believe this is due largely to the soil
ing system.
In speaking in somewhat specific
terms regarding these soiling crops,
| desire TO make a plea particularly
for a few of them: Rye is less SEN
sitive to cold than wheat and its
vegetation is more rapid. 1t makes
vigorous growth early in the spring
and by May - on an average farm
in the West. cutting can be under
way. would recommend that the
seeding be rather heavy, at least l Y
to ia bushels per acre. Alfalfa OF
course, is the king OF all forage
crops. There is no question as to its
adaptability to our western soils
II is almost a perfectly balanced
food in itself. and is an ideal crop in
the soiling system. | have found
however, that when it comes to &
question of the very best soiling ra
tons for producing the creates
amount of milk. there is no forage
crop that excels peas and oats
sown together. Sow as early in the
spring as the ground will permit, ant
begin cutting just as soon as the oatl
begin to head out and the peas have
we'll grown pods. l have had success
full experience in seeding these a
the rate of Ia bushels to the acre
each, drilling the oats one way anC
cross drilling with the peas. The pea:
should be put in deeper than the oats
There are some farmers in Salt Lake
county who feel that peas and oat!
are more profitable as forage croI
than alfalfa. and since experimenting
with this crop have decided that the
alfalfa weevil has no terrors TO
them.
Il will be observed that when seed
ing peas and oats the second seeding
is made ten days after the first, sim
ply so that we may have the crop il
right condition for feeding. If allow
ed to stand too long the crop is no
palatable. Corn, of course, SHOULD
be sowed thick. The most convent
emit way OF planting is with the grail
drill so arranged as to drop kerna
every four to six inches and in row
about Is inches apart Barley l
planted with peas in later seeding
not because barley is any better thai
oats. but simply because it thrives S
much better in the dry, hot part o
the season than does oats.
There are a great many other crop
that are used for soiling purposes /
other sections of the country. such a
winter vetch, COW peas. sofa beans
etc. but these crops do not seem I
thrive well under the climatic cond
tons prevailing here.
do not mean to infer that dair
cattle are the only animals that ca
be successfully put under the soilin
system 1t is just as feasible to so
horses or sheep as it is cattle. | b.
lieve. too, that this system works q
we'll on cheap land as on high price
lands. The system is an eXcelleI
application of the idea of "a sma
we'll titled, etc" 1t is my firm Co
viction that nowhere in the world WI
soiling system work to better a
vantage than right here in the irrlga
ed valleys OF the West.