Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-14
Advocates Alfalfa and Clover.

4 aJNU\dtCS fAfdu0 anu StONSts
If there is any one thing that stands
out above another in eastern dairying, il
is the fact that farmers do not grow
enough of the cows ration on the farm.
This fact must be apparent to anyone
who takes note of the grain bill of the
average dairyman. This constant pay
ing out of a large proportion of the re-
ceipts keeps him in the hand-to- mouth
class. There are far too many in this
class. Better break away from the tra-
ditions of the fathers, plow up the
meadows, and start system of crop ro-
tation. We have too long been bound
to the "haying" class, that is, We keep
our meadows in mowings and think We
are thereby making the most of them.
In the first place, forage crops of high
er feeding value should be grown. This
means that clover and other legumes
should TO a considerable extent take the
place of timothy. As every farmer
knows, timothy and other common up
land grasses do not make the best
roughage for the cows. Alfalfa seems
to be gaining in favor but so many fail
ures have been recorded that good
many dairymen hesitate about attempt
ing il to any considerable extent. We
find, however. that those who have gone
about it right invariably make a success
of growing alfalfa. In great many case'
the cause of failure is a lack of lime In
the soil or attempting to grow 1t on
poorly drained lands. Ii is pretty gen
eIally admitted that alfalfa does not
thrive on heavy clay soils unless under
drainage is first provided.
Sweet clover is another of the leg
umes that can profitsbly be included in
the rotation. While this clover does
not, in the writer's opinion, equal alfalfa
in feeding value, it is one of the most
valuable plants that can be grown as
soil builder. Red clover is easier to
grow than either of the legumes named
above. 1t is, however, of less feeding
value but still ranks above timothy. 1t
will usually succeed on any of the till
able land in the East, except the un-
drained meadows. On such lands 1t is
better TO grow alsike.
One of the best reasons for growing
clover on the dairy farm is that 1t en-
cOurages farmers to adopt system oil
crop rotation. Ii natures 80 early that
a crop may be cut, the stubble plowed
down and planted to ensilage corn OF
some sOiling crop like oats and Canada
field peas or buckwheat. Some seasons
it is possible to take two crops of hay
aud plow under a stubble in time to SOW
the land to winter wheat or rye. Ii
should be the aim to keep the land work
ing to its fullest capacity. Comparative
ly few dairymen practice Intensive"
farming.
Is il practical to raise grain in the
East? This is a question that many are
asking. Statistics tell us that all kinds
of grain yield more bushels per acre than
in the states farther west. Perhaps 1t
costs more TO handle an acre, but on
many of the best dairy farms crop for
threshiug may well be included in the
rotation. Ii must be admitted, how
ever, that cereals grown as soiling
crops seem to answer the purpose OF the
eastern farmer better, in most cases,
than grain. A Connecticut dairyman
claims that he produces every thing he
feeds right at home with the exception
of cottouseed meal. This he buys be-
cause he considers it the cheapest agen-
cy TO furnish the protein needed in the
ration. Alfalfa FURNISHES part VI tue
protein his cows require, but this is sup
plemented with the cottonseed. Were
he dependent upon timothy and red top
he would have to buy considerably
larger percentage of the protein be
feeds.
The silo is indispensable on the dairy
farm. Storage room TO handle forage of
equal feeding value would be almost be-
yond the facilities of many farms. AT
the same time corn ensilage is one OF
the most valuable of feeds. The grow
ing of corn for the silo fits into the rota-
ton to perfection. Clover is, cut and
stubble turned under, thus making the
land produce two good feeding crops in
the season. The intensive dairymsn
finds it necessary to provide ensilage for
both summer and winter, the summer
silo helping to tide the cows over the
dry period usually occurring in late
summer.-C. Fl. Chesley, New Hamp-
shire, in Hoard's Dairyman.