Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-07-09
ICoMMuNrcArED /

COMMUNICATED.
Mr.. EdiSor:-I am In receipt of re-
ports from all our near by states TO
the the effect that the hay crop will be
from 30 70 90 per cent. OF what Il was
one year ago. Because of this partial
failure and the prospective high price
of hay many farmers are planning to
sell their young cattle. IL these are
sold before maturity the fall of 1915
will find the farmers much poorer
financially. For this reason and the
shameful amount of hay that is
brought into the county farmers are
urged TO hold their young stock and
to plant something to make roughage
TO carry them through the winter.
The recent plentiful rains have made
il possible TO plant such late crops a.
COW peas, sorgufn, millet and corn.
The crop to grow depends on the time
of killing frosts. The weather Bureau
Of the Department of Agriculture show
that the average killing frost in South
ern Maryland is the 18th TO 10Th of
October with from five To ten days
later near the salt water. Sorgum
tons and will likely furnish more
forage than any other plants. Sor-
gum can be sown in rows or broad
cast, drills are best If sown in close
drills, from three to six packages of
seed per acre. Early amber is the
best variets as il ripens in 80 days bat
can be- made into good hay from. two
to three weeks before the seed are
ripe.
Milet can be sown late in July il the
soil is in good condition. German
millet will make hay in 10 days, Hum
garian and common millet are ten
days earlier. Millet may oe cut for
hay any time between early heading
and late bloom but should never be
allowed TO seed. Sow ut the rate of
one bushel per acre. Remember that
both of these crops are hard on the
land because of their abundant yields.
but had better be grown than To sell
young stock or buy hay. Corn will
furnish an enormous amount of good
feed il sown thick in rows and culti-
waited. Corn fodder and sorgum had
better be fed early in winter as they
lose their palatibility the longer kept.
hn lat V.,l
20th, if We do not have an early frost.
Those farmers that have Silos will
be especially fortunate for thereby the
corn crop can he made twice as valu-
able as when fed of grain and fodder.
Let me urge every farmer who is not
sure that he has plenty of hay to
adopt some of the suggestions mem
toned, fit them To his own conditions
and do all in his power to furnish
roughage for the winter and aid in
throwing of the great burden upon
our people of buying such enormous
quantities of hay at the highest price.
The farmer that is paying $500 per
ton for hay to feed team to cultivate
poor rundown soil in corn has little
chance for profit. Hay can be grown
for at least one half this price.
Now, IL the farmer would increase
his net profit he must provide cheaper
food for his team while at the same time
providing better team, which increases
the efficiency of his labor, which is
the one great problem of to-day. The
growing OF hay, especially legumc hay
is the bases OF sound and economical
agriculture. Agriculture is the foun-
dation of any prosperity that is to
come to our county. Let me urge each
and every citizen. OF St. Mary's county
TO join in campaign for hay grow
ing; urge the planting OF all the sup
Elementary hay crops you can for next
winters feeding and begin To plan for
the seeding of a few acres at least of
well prepared and well fertilized land
the coming fall to mixed cloYers and
grasses for hay next summer. This
of dollars to our county aside from
the MANY thousands il would add to
our material wealth. I would be glad
To furnish any Information desired as
to the best methods to be employed to
increase the production of forage and
hay crops. G. +. WATHEN, JR.
Local Demonstration Agent.