Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-08-03
LOOKS FOR RECORD HAY CROP
Larger Tonnage by &ss-Third
Than Average Expected.
Assistant County Agent Leader Says
Quality VIII he Fine, Too--AI-
fnlfn Demonstrations In Count
ty--Good Apple Crop.

1.-THE Vermont hay crop is at least one
third above the average of several years
past. and that applies to every county
in the state. There is more rcd clover and
also moro alske than in other years.
which means the hay is rich in protein
and more valuable for feeding dairy COWS.
THE prolonged wet weather has delayed
harvesting so that probably not one half
of tho hay is yet cut. Much of that re-
maining uncut will he too ripe to be Of the
greatest feeding value. The earlier. cut
ylelds will have an abundant round (sec-
ond) crop. Last year in some parts of the
State there was q better second crop than
there was a first one"
Jay Coryel, assistant county agent
leader. is speaking, and he ought to know
what he is talking about. In his position
in the State agricultural extension serl ice
and the States relations service Of the
federal department of agriculture he is n
down to date compendium of information
on the subject.
Read what he says about alfalfa. "Thorc
IS now some successful alfalfa i'm every
county in the state. In 1909 the United
States census published 1910 Eavo the
area OF alfalfa in Vermont as about 80
acres. According to n most conservative
estimate there are now 800 acres planted
Ice in Addison county alone. Addison
seems better adapted to it and the county
started planting it first. However. it Is
succeeding well in every county whore
proper methods are used. The county az
ricutural agents are conducting 100 alfalfa
demonstrations in the state this year.
THE county agent in Chittenden county,
J. w. Dana, reports q demonstrations in
the county. all started this year. 1t looks
rs if alfalfa will succeed as we'll in {, hit
tenden as in Addison county"
Glance at these figures for 1915: Tons
Of hay in Vermont, 10000; estimated
value, s2o,3c5, COZ" Then remember that, rs
the assistant county agent leader SAYS.
The price will not he lower for this
years hay crop than for the 1915 crop
and add one-thrd to the foregoing figures
"Of course" continued Mr.. Coryell, 1T
was the leftover crop of 1915 that sold at
such high price this year"
Alfalfa is one of the greatest makers of
nitrogen. he said in substance, of any of
the legumes But first. if you don't know.
read what he says about the method Of
1noculation. THE seed is inoculatcd by
being soaked in substance containing
nohs) to grow on the roots of the plant,
a vegetable growth. lnoCulation causes
the plant to make more vigorous growth
and increases its longevity. Bacteria on
the roots have the power of taking nitro
gen from the air, storing it in the soil for
the use of the alfalfa and for some of the
other crops which might follow in later
Years. The plant is supplying a store of
nitrogen which il we bought in fertilizer
rack would cost in the neighbOrhood of ~
cents a pound. In order 10 promote a bet
ter growth of alfalfa and keep up the fer
tility of the soil top dressing of manure
or commercial fertilizer should be fire.
Cuently applied. The manure supplies
phosphorus and potash. Alfalfa. clover
and other legumes add to the supply of
nitrogen, while timothy tends to deplete
It.
1.-THE lining Of the soil IS necessity in
alfalfa growing. The alfalfa is a limc-lov-
1nG plant and must have 1t in order to sue
coed in making n thrifty growth. practi-
cally all Vermont soils are more or less