Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-02-06
THE FARMERS
SHORT COURSE
Is Drawing Larger Crowds
Each Succeeding Session
MRS. HARBERT OPENS
COURSE WITH FINE ADDRESS
Agricultural College Professors Give
Instruction Upon Important Farm
and Dairy rlatters


ly number OF farmers, farm
women and others interested in
agricultural matters gathered at
the headquarters of the Otero
County Agricultural association
for the opening of the Farmers
Short Course.
To Mrs. Belle Harbert of Man.
zanola, president of the Interna-
tional Farm Congress of Women,
was given the distinction of maxi
ing the principal address at the
opening session. Her subject
was EARN Women" and it was
handled in a most able manner,
interesting and instructing her
hearers of both sexes.
At yesterday afternoons session
Prof. G. 81. Hinman of the Colo
RADIO Agricultural college made a
most entertaining talk upon "Silo
and Balanced Ration in which
he gave the following ten reasons
why farmers should have silo:
/. BY means of the silo more of the
food value of forage can be saved than
any other method of preservation now in
use.
2, In large part of the Plains District
Of Colorado and all of the Plains irrigat-
ed area it is possible to grow large ton
mage per acre of corn to the stage in
which it should be placed in the silo. j. e..
in that stage of maturity known as the
dough state;" while the season is too
short. the nights too cold. and the mois-
ture insufficient to develop a large grain
corp OF corn. This forage can be saved
by the silo.
5. The silo affords the means Of keep
ing. in small compass, large quantity of
forage safe from the weather and in con-
venient form to feed.
4. Forage placed in the silo keeps at a
uniform quality; whereas field cured for
age constantly deteriorated.
S. Considering the food value saved.
the so affords the cheapest means for
forage preservation.
6. Because of the palatability and sue
culence, silage possesses higher feeding
value than does the same forage dry
cured. Conservative feeders estimate
that the sio doubles the value of the for
age crop.
z. Not only corn. but kair corn. milo
maize and sorghum are adapted for use
in the silo. All these crops have been
successfully sliced.
8. Silage can be used in summer and
fall as substitute for and to supplement
pasture.
9. it has been conclusively proven that
the silo effects considerable saving in
the cost of production of beef. mutton and
milk.
10. The silo enables the farmer to
keep more livestock, which promotes the
rotation of crops and the preservation of
the soil fertility.
At the evening session the col
lege professors gave their hearers
much good advice upon different
farm problems, amongst which
WAS the following:
.'In talking with farmers concerning
the methods and practice of irrigations it
is surprising to find that little thought
and previous planning is given to the
work. Give some study to the lay out Of
your field laterals SO that you may be
able to serve the maximum area with the
shortest ditch. Would your field of su-
gar beets irrigate to better advantage
il the rows ran in another direction?
Have you made a sufficient investigation
of the methods of irrigation that are now
practiced elsewhere to justify trial on
your farm? Are you satisfied with your
present method Of irrigationP Give some
study and thought to the irrigation of
your farm. A good many farmers keep
no log of their irrigation-that is, the day
of the month, number of hours each
field was irrigated. kind of crop and
number of acres. approximate amount of
water used, night or day irrigation. Was
the period of irrigation preceded by pre-
clpitation. if so. how muchp Was the
wheat in a thrifty condition when irri-
gatedp What was the apparent condi-
ton of the soil before you irrigated. that
is, what was the per cent of soil moisture?