The Pulaskian., 1916-07-21
cBy J. M. BELL.)

The following experiments in ra1s- ing forage crops, on an intensive plan, show most conclusively that if land is heavily manured and the crops put in as they should be that the yields will be at least 100 per cent more per acre than the ordinary farmer re- ceives.
 Mr. N. J. Crull, well-known livery man of Richmond, but formerly a successful farmer in the state of Pennsylvania, and later on in Vir- ginia, owns an 11-acre farm near Rich- mond, which when purchased few years ago in low state of fertility, although the land was naturally good. Only forage crops have been raised, and the writer will briefly tell of those which he has seen growing, harvested and estimated.
 Beginning with an oat hay crop, sown a year ago last September and harvested in June: I saw this crop as a two-horse tedder was stirring it up and it was the first time in my life (20 years of which has been spent in farming) that I ever saw a growth of oat hay of such rank growth that a tedder could not stir up the mown crop from top to bottom. From this plot of acres 15 very large wagonloads of hay were harvested. The hay was perfectly cured and ton per load was most conservative estimate
 The hay at that time would easily have brought $20 per ton on the Rich mond market, which gives $500 worth of hay from 6 acres. The cost was as follows, the figures being accurate. Cost of manure at 15 loads per acre, a total of 90 loads, value $1 per load, $90; cost of blowing, $16; cost of har- rowing, rolling, disking and seeding, $16; cost of harvesting, $15; cost of 12 bushels of seed at 60 cents per bushel, $7.20; total expense, $144.20 profit on crop, $155.S0.
 As soon as the oats were off the ground, the six acres were plowed, prepared and seeded to German millet and cowpeas, at the rate of bushels of peas and 8 pecks of millet per acre.
 Before the crop was sown, an appli- cation of little over 300 pounds of acid phosphate per acre was used. or in other words, 1 ton put on the 6 acres.
 When this crop was harvested, hay was very high on the Richmond mar ket and S25 per ton is conservative value to place on the beautifully cured millet and pea crop, which made a splendid mixed hay. The yield was 15 tons, which, valued at $25 per ton, totals $375. Cost of crop as follows. Flowing, S16; narrowing, rolling, disk ing and seeding, S16; harvesting $16; 1 ton acid phosphate, $16 bushels of cowpeas, SIP; 41a bushels of mil let, SYST. Total cost of crop, $S2. .S71a. Profit, $2S7.12.
 Another five acres were sown in cow peas and millet about two weeks earlier. This crop followed oat stub- ble from a crop sowed the previous September, but owing to the fact that it was constantly grazed, the value of the hay crop was so materially less ened that no account was kept of the light yield. However, the amount of grazing value of the oats was of great value to the owner.
 This crop of oats had been top dressed during the late fall with manure at the rate of 15 spreader loads per acre Gin fact all manure used on any crop was applied with spreader). The land was plowed, and there was considerable growth of oats. as well as manure, turned under. The writer saw this crop as it was being moved, and it could not be excelled either for growth or quality.
 The crop was estimated at tons per acre, by many practical farmers who saw the crop at harvest time. but at the lowest, the yield was 21a tons per acre, making 15 tons, which at time of harvesting was worth S25 per ton, or $375. Cost of crop: Flow ing, $13.50; disking, rolling, narrowing and seding, $14; harvesting, $14; cow peas, S10; millet, S6.56. Cost of 75 loads of manure at $1. per load, S75, but it seems that at least half of this amount should be charged to the oat crop sown the previous fall. Allowing this way, the cowpea and millet crop will be charged with S37.50 manure account. The total cost of this other pea and millet crop follows: $91 .56h profit, S2S3.44.
 Last fall the whole farm of II acres was sown in wheat and Ger man or crimson clover, to be cut for hay in the late spring. The methods were carried out in this manner:
 An application of l ton of acid phosphate was applied on 6 acres, then the land was seeded with wheat at the rate of bushel per acre and at the same time clover seed at the rate of peck per acre.
 The Hacre plot (after plowing) had ground limestone at the rate of tons per acre spread over it. This lime <x<>o.x~oa A.. x-