Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-16
CROP REPORTS JUSTIFY PREpIc.
TON THAT IOWA CAN RAISE
WONDERFUL LEouME.
sLlsrER BEETLE CUTS
DOWN HAY YIELD IN STATE
Last Years Enormous erasshoppsr
Crop Gave This Years Beetles Many
Esss to Feed on-stats College 10.
sues Valuable Bulletin for Chicken
Raissrs-PIans for Poultry Houses.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Ames. July 16.-Iowa is lining up as
an alfalfa state. For some years the
agronomy department Of Iowa state
college has been preaching alfalfa and
now results are coming Reports re-
ceived from all sections Of Iowa indi-
cate that the number Of alfalfa grow
ers this year is probably four times
greater than year ago. The acreage
mas not increased 30 much, because the
college advises farmers to start with
small field. but even at that Prof.
II. D. Hughes estimates that 80 per
cent or the alfalfa acreage In the state
this year Is two years addition to
the total acreage.
From all sections come enthusiastic
reports OF success with alfalfa. Some
failures arc reported, but they are usu-
ally due to conditions that may be
remedied by culture of the right sort
On the whole the reports justify the
prediction made years ago that Iowa
can grow this wonderful legume sue
cessfully.
This year some localities report a
good deal Of trouble with the blister
beetle. which cuts down the hay yield
somewhat. The blister beetle feeds
quite largely on grasshopper eggs. Last
years enormous grasshopper crop in
some sections gave this years beetles
many eggs to feed on and they are
making the most of the chance. Next
year there will be fewer grasshoppers,
e::::1s ..a::S: year ,:cc, 70. there &c sons
prospect that the beetle will be on
hand again. However. there is this
consolation for the alfalfa grower
there. will be but few grasshopper eggs
for next years beetles.
Attention to Chicken Industry.
With its 100000 chickens, Iowa
leads the union in the poultry business
and the agricultural division Of Iowa
State college Is giving the industry
the attention it ought to have. Its ex-
pertinent station has Just put out a
finely illustrated free bulletin telling
how to build good poultry houses and
its extension department is conduct
ing class Of more than 1000 boys
and girls in poultry raising. The bull
letin describes three houses, one Of
them. the Iowa colony house. designed
at the college. It furnished complete
plans and specifications for every fea-
ture and gives complete bills OF ma
terials. Their total cost runs from
339.79 to $3.50. An edition OF $4,000
copies was printed to meet the en-
ormous demand for poultry literature
that comes to the college. The 1000
and more boys and girls studying
poultry are enrolled in the correspond
ence courses Of the extension depart
ment. Director E. A. Bishop furnished
every ono Of them with q booklet on
poultry and every one Of them was en-
listed in a poultry-growing contest
that will be decided at the short curse
this winter. Mr.. Bishop has been
flooded with letters telling about good
and bad luck with setting hens. asking
what to do with the biddy that de-
serts her nest. how to take care OF or
phaned chicks and 80 on.