Milford chronicle., 1915-05-28
TEMPORARY HAY
AND FORAGE CROPS


There has been an unusual lack o
rainfall all over the New England
and Middle Atlantic States. TIL. for
mer are the great hay producing sec
tiOns. This means that hay viii rot
only be scarce but also high in price
It means a great deal also 20 the
dairyman who gets his profits from
producing milk on grass pastures
1t means that the shortage must be
made up in other sections not so we'll
adapted TO hay, or by the general use
of supplementary hay and pasture
crops. Where farmers have the
stock and have erected stilos for SUM
mer and winter use then a drOuth
has no terrOrs any more
In Kent County our own scarlet
clover crop is going TO be dOubly
small. In the first place the acreage
is not over half normal, and what has
been left to cut is thin, short and
weedy. Timothy has been damaged
badly by this drouth and will only
make a respectable yield where it has
been top dressed with available fer
tilizers. Some of the farmers have
used this top dressing after tie ad-
vice given by the County Agent, and
it will pay any farmer to investigate
this work. Also observe the tod
dressed wheat at the same time and
note its color, thrift and heathful
growth
The farmers of the county are ask
! ing what TO raise to make up the de-
I iciency ? They should plan, of
/ course, to grow some legume crop to
take its place, and enc which will
make good feed. Soy beans and COW
peas stand out with prominence as
crops to use, either for hay or for
seed. Theformer are better seed pro-
ducers, and have a higher feeding val
ue as hay A mixture of the two
makes an excellent hay, and in the
case of vining COW peas they are sup
ported by the erect growing SOY bean.
There is great demand at the pres
ent time for soy beans and some one
could make money growing the beans |
as seed, if they secure standard va |
rieties. When growing these crops
for hay they will make more forage |
of better quality when drilled solid |
at the rate of y bushels per acre. /
For variety and increased yield at
less cost for seed sorghum or millet |
may be added. Drill in about ten lbs
of either millet or sorghum along
with IL bu. of the other mixture per
acre This will make a larger yield
OF hay but will be a little heavier
drain on the soil.
Where it is only possible to put a
crop in very late then one of the mill
lets should be used, preferbly the
common or Hungarian millet. These
grasses Will mature very quickly and
on good soil produce a heavy crop.
Where a quick pasture for pigs or
is needed, there try rape
broadcasted at the rate of 4 to 8 ibs. ]
per acre You cannot afford to raise
pigs without the use of forage crops
and rape IS one of the very best an {
nual and quick growing crops we {
have. OF course if clover or alfalfa |
pastures are available then by all Z
means use them. 1t pays to make use 6
1f every bit of forage that can be z
grown, for that is one of the greatest
problems on all our farms in this q
county; to get a liberal quantity of i
orage OF high quality. We are more S
md more impressed that alfalfa is 2
'ur salvation as a hay crop. The v
lrouth has effected it but little, as it v
s a deep feeder. Why not try an acre
his summer along with a number of o
ther farmers who are going to grow Il
his crop in cooperation with the b
'ounty Agent. 1t will pay you big to v
nd out about all the peculiarities of a
ms crop before trying to grow it. a
OW is the time to lay aside q plot for a
MS purpose and keep it cultivated d
urlng the remainder of the summer tC
Why not take a part of the land that
as IN cannery peas, disc it and keep c'
cultivated preparatory to seeding II
Italia in August. The same treat m
lent will apply to scarlet clover, Cx It
ePt that it should be ploweG. Early in
OtatOes is an excellent crop to follow /
ith alfalfa. Let us begin now to be
our hay crop for another tn
ear. If you want specific information ia
Iout alfalfa or any other crop get in in
uch with your County Agent.