Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-10-18

used chemicals the previous year.
This was largely due to the results of
| demonstration work and the valuable
results obtained. The fertilizer dem
onstration was limited almost entire
| ly to the top-dressing of grass. From
three of the demonstrations which
were figured out in detail shows an in
crease in production of from 125 per-
cent to 295 per cent, and produced the
increased hay at a cost of SIS ton on
the average. This attracted the at
tention of great many of our farm
ers, who now have made it an estab-
lished practice to use a certain
amount of top-dressing on their
meadows. 1t has also tended to make
an additional source of income from
the increased yield of hay, which is a
/ good practice provided it is not car
ried too far.
ORCHARD WORK
The orchard work has not been any
too satisfactory this spring because
of the exceptionally rainy season.
The spraying was not as effective as
in the ordinary season and IN many
orchards little benefit could be seen,
but those who were fortunate enough
to have the spraying done under IA
vorable weather conditions, have
shown very encouraging results.
During the spring the county agent
assisted in organizing system of CO.
operative spraying. This proved to
be fairly satisfactory, but there were
so many applicants for the work and
the unfavorable weather that it could
not be worked out to wholly salts
; factory conclusion. This may be at
tempted another season but it is ad-
visable for the farmers of each COM
. munity to provide themselves with
spraying apparatus and do this work
for themselves. Most of the farmers
who are interested in fruit growing
have had an opportunity to see the
work done and they are we'll qualified
to take care of this branch of the
. work.
= THE ERADICATION OF KALE IN
= WHEAT
Three or four demonstrations in
J this line of work have shown favora-
BILE results both in corn and oats
There will undoubtedly be considera-
BILE demand from the farmers to as
sist in spraying during the coming
season. 1t is almost necessary that
the county agent assist in setting up
i the new machinery and making the
S proper adjustment for the work, as
Y this kind of spraying is so different
n from orchard work or ordinary field
e spraying. Results of spraying are
S very apparent in the increased yield
: of the fields.
q CORN VARIETY TESTS
It Corn variety tests have not held as
IS prominent a place this year in the
| lxy
: but have taken the superior varieties
y of the previous year and worked out
o to further conclusions. This years
a results clearly indicate that Dibble's
l. Early Yellow Dent and the Improved
n Mastodon have been superior varie
l. ties to the others because of thei1
IS tonnage per acre and their maturity
n in our season. There are other vari
= cites which mature somewhat earlier
e but do not make the tonnage per acre
It 1t these two varieties are properly
# handled there is no question but wha
they will give satisfactory results
lie Where unfavorable results have beer
s. obtained with them it is in most cases
2 due to the fact that the corn had beer
IS planted too thick and the harvest hat
4 been before the crop had sufficiently
IS matured. They will undoubtedly
2 prove unsatisfactory to the man wht
fills his silo the first day of Septem
s Der, but to those who are willing tt
n wait until the middle of September
lie they will undoubtedly prove satisfac
e tory.
Is ALFALFA
l. Alfalfa has taken the most promi
l. nent place in the demonstration worl
y for the season past, and very encour
IS aging results have been obtained from
e last two seasons demonstrations
e Several of the fields which were sow
II year ago were disked and a small
5 amount of seed applied. This was {
great stlmulant to the plant, and a.
- the same time destroyed the weed:
u and the grass which will come up il
IS an alfalfa field and tend to choke ou
u the alfalfa. There are now at leas
% IS successful alfalfa demonstration
u which comprise more than 50 acres O.
le the county, and at the time of tn
re county agents appearance there wa
- not successful stand which came un
10 der his observation. This we believ
l. is one of the important things whic]
+. the association has accomplished, no
- tor It's present value but for it's flu
- ture. 1t was very encouraging t.
III know how anxious and painstakin.
u, the farmers were to carry out tn
TX county agents directions in respect t
T. this crop, and if the demonstration
IN give indications of success mex
' spring many Of the farmers will pu
IN good-sized areas. AS it now an
pears alfalfa will occupy the mai
u part of the county agents time fo
n the season of 1917. While the cour
1g ty agent will necessarily have to linn
Sc the number of demOnStra tions no VIZ;
ed be very pleased to assist any farme
to IN starting an area on his farm.
% LIME DEMONSTRATION
a w Iva
I'd Lime demonstrations of the. prev
r. Gus years show the benefits from tn
It. use of lime. Until the present seaso
be the ground limestone has not had Gil