The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-04

i.
One man with a field OF thirty acres
had announced his intention OF sowing
twenty acres more next year.
Condition Of Hay.
The Jefferson township report was
made by James Griswold, who said the
ers in his township were mad because
they had sold their wheat for seventy
cents, mad because they didn't SOW
alfalfa ten years ago, mad because
they hadn't built more silos, and mad
because they had not sprayed their
fruit trees three times instead OF
once. He reported that one new resi-
dent had made a good deal of money
on grapes during the last year. Glow
en- had been failure and most Of the
farmers were anxious to try alfalfa
again. He engaged in a discussion
with several other men regarding the
practicability OF putting UP hay on
the day 1t is cut owing to the hay heat
Ing. This brought on discussion
about spontaneous Combustion and
several asked If such thing were
really known to be possible. Profes-
sor Dorchester told of way to pre-
vent green hay from heating to a dau-
gerous point when in the NOV. He
said that If the hay is spread out even
~ all over the NOW as it is being put
IN instead Of being benched, that the
air could not get down into it and
there would be no danger from over
heating. When the hay is benched,
he said, the air got down in between
and caused overheating.
The report from Montrose Township
showed that there were more silos
there than in any other in the county,
the total number being thirty-one.
Fourteen Of these were built in the
last year.
The report from Green Bay town
ship was made by Warren Beebe. He
told about the exhibit of his town
ship at the West Point fair and told
how arrangements to place 1t had been
made. He told about several new
tools that he had tried out with sue
cess during the past year. The ex-
periments made in his township on
spraying fruit trees he related, showed
the value OF this practice.
Fertility and Alfalfa.
Two lectures of unusual interest and
value were on the afternoon program
and followed the reports of the var
ious township committeeman. The
lectures were by Prof Charles Dor
chester, of Ames, on the subject,
Soil Fertility and S. M. Jordan, Of
Sedalia, on Alfalfa Both partook
of the nature of general discussions,
the speakers calling for questions OH
any of the subjects discussed. They
were questioned freely by members
of the audience
| The importance Of the study of soil
was brought home by Professor Dor
chester in his opening remarks when
he said: "a good soil makes rich
people; a poor soil poor people. -
The study Of soil, he said, is very in
teresting and worth careful considera.
ton.
His lecture was illustrated by means
of chart on which were shown the
five soil areas OF the state The char
acteristics Of each were briefly out.
lined by the speaker The soil CT
southern Iowa, including this section
is largely acid.
A complete chemical analysis of
soil is not practical to the average
farmer, the speaker said The cost is
too great and the reports of the test
often misleading to the farmer OF
average scientific education Besides,
he said, the farmer can tell by per-
sonal observation what crops do well
on his land and thus can gain very
accurate knowledge of the character
of the soil on his land.
| Should Build Il up.
! In speaking Of the use of nitrogen,
phosphorus. and lime as fertilizers,
Professor Dorchester said the com
plete commercial fertilizer, containing
all three elements, Is not recomme nd.
ed by his university. This is because
Of the fact that as a rule all three Of
these elements are not needed by the
soil at one time.
The farmers Of Iowa are not main.
tanning the fertility of the soil, let
alone building 1t up, the speaker said.
lie emphasized the necessity of Civ,
ing more attention to this work.
The value Of various fertilizers was
discussed. The use of manure was
one Of the first taken up. rs per cent
Of the elements taken from the soil
in the crop can be returned in the
manure if it is kept under perfect
conditions. The value Of macadam
screenings was pointed out as being
about the best lime fertilizer that can
be obtained The amount that should
be used varies from two to four tons
per acre. The use of manure in con-
nection with limestone was urged
Soil bacteria was explained by Pro.
lessor Dorch lester. who spoke particu.
larly in reference to this section OF
the state The survey made in this
county during the past year was
brought up and discussed. Soil tests
were discussed by the speaker, who
Explained how a number of simple,
tests can be made. A number of queg-
lions were asked and answered, after
which he closed.
Jordan is Practical.