Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-07
COUNTY IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE DATA
By DIRECTOR MURRAY D. LINCOLN

In regard to other supplies, the agent has been corresponding with va rious houses in regards to the pur- chase of grass seeds, and the like, spraying materials, spraying ma chinery, barrels, and so forth all of which can be obtained at very favor able prices if they are bought in large quantities. Before sending in orders for any of the above you had better consult the County Improve men League officials. Alfalfa Hay Versus Timothy For
 Dairy Cows.
 Bulletin No 146 of the Illinois Ex- pertinent station tells of an interest ing experiment with alfalfa hay and timothy hay in connection with dairy COW feeding.
 There were 16 COWS used. One half being fed alfalfa q. while and the oth- CT timothy, the lots were changed to the lot that had been getting timothy now for alfalfa and vice versa. Dur ing the test it was found that when the cows were shifted from timothy to alfalfa they made 8, gain of three pounds q day while those that were shirted to timothy dropped off over 4 pounds day. At the conclusion it was found that cows getting ten pounds of alfalfa in their average daily ration produced IT. per cent. more milk than those getting ten pounds of, timothy. This experiment indicates that with butterfat at 30 cents pound, alfalfa hay is worth $9 more per ton than timothy. The man who sells market milk can probably afford to pay S25 for alfalfa rather than $14 for timothy
 At the present time alfalfa. hay can De bought nearly as cheap as timothy on the market. Farmers having tim othy to sel! and a ready market =Till do well to sell it and buy alfalfa and those who have not enough feed to last them throughout the season can better afford to purchase alfalfa hay than to buy other.
 Dairy Ratiens.
 Calls are continually coming to the agent for balanced and economical rations. Taking the prices quoted on Tuesday to the agent by the Norwich grain dealers, the following. ration is suggested
 300 lbs. Corn or corn and cob meal 200 los. Cottonseed
 300 lbs Bran.
 800 lbs. MiddlinEs
 50 lbs. Linseed oil meal.
 Indications are that the price Of grain IS going to advance for some time yet and it would. be advisable for any farmer to lay in a stock ahead. Bran, feed, middlings, and oats have noticeably advanced. Cotton seed is one of the cheapest feeds at grams which can be bought for about $30 in ton lots is also a satismactory and economical feed.
 Feeding the Farm.
 Here Is a. very apt article taken from the recent issue of the Ameri- can Cultivator.
 ''Of the various Wavs adopted to feed the farm and maintain soil fertil- ity, perhaps that of feeding out the hay and corn in large measure on the farm and restoring the waste or un- dtgested parts is the best. We know that narnyard manure contains many of the elements which go to create and sustain life in grass and other plants To make this a perfect form of soil fertility, some few ingredients need to be added to it, to take the place of what has been withdrawn in the animal We have had the worth of these digested clements in the form of milk and in the case of horses aud sheep and hogs by the way of service and flesh.
 Just one point Is now in my mind to speak of and that is the great losses the farm suStains through improper care of the barnyard manure. It takes us a long time to understand how serious these losses are We can not believe that where manure is left out exposed to tn weather for sever al months 1t does not lose a, large part of its first goodness. This loss has been placed at various amounts servatively placed at 50 per cent.
 Take the losses from waste of the liquid manure from our herds Tn