Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-17
Farm Notes

stations in different parts Of the coun-
try indicates that, provided certain
other conditions exist. latitude has.
very little to do with its successful
culture.
V. NJ. Cook of the Ohio station has
given, in circular No. I13 Of that sta
ton, some information tina. IS worthy
of extensive circulation among farm
eTs Of this state. In this field study
3S3 farmers were visited and follow
ing are few of the conclusions
drawn:
Ohio farmers nave demonstrated
that alfalfa requires an abundance of
lime; that natural drainage OF land
Is one Of the most important require
ments for this crop: that the nature
of the plant is to send its roots deep
into the soil to find the moisture need
ed for its growth and for this reason.
the water level in soils should be COM
paratively stationary; that wheat. oats
rye and barley grown as nurse crops
result in injury to and loss Of alfalfa
in the greater part of the State where
il has been grown, and that an annual
tcp-dressing of phosphate is highly
beneficial to permanent growth.
The practice of cultivating alfalfa
after the first season fer the purpose
of eradicating grass and weeds is
, rapidly increasing in favor. Nuner-
Gus styles OF harrows were tested at
the station with this object in view,
! and il is the opinion of the station
rs well as a number of growers, that
! the proper implement Is some style
Ct spring or spike took harrow When
/ cultivation was delayed a few days
after the crop was cut. unfavorable re
suits followed the use of disk harrows.
due apparently to the disks injUring
the Young. tender shoots after they
mad attained considerab BILE growth.
On The other hand the spring tooth
harrow does not seem to iniure the
young sprouts above the surface Of
the soil. and for the thorough eradi-
cation of weeds il is preferable to
any other implement.
In one test a special implemer,
made by repointing the teeth Of a
spring tooth harrow. was repeatedly
run over an alfalfa field in different
directions: this virtually destroyed all
plants other han alfalfa. COntinu-
Gus cultivation with this implement
conserved the moisture. areated tbs
sell and increased the vie d of hay.
The average cost of seeding an acT,
of alfalfa is given as S5.46 The cost
I IN 1
acres was 1914 an acre. field CT
~ acres seeded in 1908 was rented
on shares in 1910. During that crop
season the owners share was sCld for
$500. a little over $21 per acre, a good
rental value.
These experiences of Ohio farmers
are encouraging to those who would
grow this crop. We all recognize in
alfalfa one Of the best forage crops
for all classes CT live stock. 1t is eX-
eel ent for feeding in connection with
silage or s.archy grains. and is a fine
weed destroyer. Alfalfa gets its nitro
+ gen supply from the air and its min
eral food from far below where or.
rdinary crops feed. 1t harbOrs bac.
terra which work "a hours day. board
themselves and pay the farmer hand
. sCmely for the privilege.
There should be few sheep on
every farm il Illinois. 1t is always
admitted that . few horses. or q few
cattle. a few pigs and some poultry
must be kept on every farm because
they are necessary and economical
why not sheep? If dogs bother the
sheep. shoot the dogs. Perhaps the
, chief reason for not raising more
| sheep is that most people do not under
stand them, bu- they are easily un.
de~stoc5 when one begins 10 deal with
| them.
| A farmer in southern Illinois told
| the writer this week that mis- flock
| paid 85.7 per cent On the investmGp.
| He said that the lambs each year sell
| for IS much as the mothers cost and
| that the wool pays the cost Of keep
Each year the flock produces Rs many
lambs as there are ewes A 10O.pound
lamb sells for 81, as much as he moth
| er cost. The mother will shear &
9-pcund fleece that will sell for $3.50
and this will pay for the keep Of The
eve and lamb. The average eve vii
weigh 100 pounds, and al cents vii
bring $500, q profit Of s5.7 per cen
on the investment.
Sheep deligh: to clean up negleete,
places in the potato patch, the pit
lets, the stubbleheld, fence rows ant
everywhere. In Minnesota It wal
found that out Of $50 kinds OF weeds
there were only 90 kinds that gheol
would not eat.
| The best time to sell sheep i
when It is g lamb. II It weighs 8
! pounds, is fat and has the quality,
vii. sell as prime lamb a. any sea
son Of the year. This is the Donrla
weight for a market lamb. bu' 81 mus
be fat, Il It not fat Il will be discrim
mated again. Alfalfa hay and q it'll
gain or corn silage IS coed ratio
fer use IN finishing lambs To- markc'
The quality Of lamb IS indicated B.
short legs, fine feet and compac- form
Male lambs should receive Et.cnt.o
when from &c IS days old. rHi nc9
lect II cans that The lambs vii BIZ