Smyrna times., 1916-07-26
STITE BOARD AGRICULTURE
STUDIES SOIL CONDITIONS
0scowmENDs FREQUENT USE
os LIME ON DELAWARE FARMS
,,s,lfs Now Become a Lucrative Crop.
MAS Been Found That il Does
Better in Lime Treated Soil

.s,lf, Now Become a Lucrative Crop.
MAS Been Found That il Does
Better in Lime Treated Soil
The State Board Of Agriculture has
,ssn making some interesting soil in
,s.tieAtions Of late particularly the
,.s Of lime in the soil Of this State.
The use Of line on Delaware farms is
ypidly increasing as its value be-
,ones more generally understood
among the farmers. This is partic-
,lsrly the case with alfalfa, as il
has been demonstrated that successful
stands Of alfalfa can be grown only
yben the soil has been treated with
line. Alfalfa is coming 10 be re-
eogni1ed as one Of the leading and
rost lucrative crops Of the State.
sri the number of Kent County farm
grs who are preparing their land for
stands Of this crop is larger this year
than ever before. Alfalfa needs much
,sre and attention. but as il is a crop
that can be cut from three to five
tines in a season. and always finds a
ready market, it more than repays the
grower for his work. The time for
seeding Alfalfa is approaching as the
usus seeding period is between Au-
gust ! and September l. generally
shout the middle Of August. A mum.
her Of growers have tried spripe
planting. but it is not nearly as sue
,essful ss the crops planted in Aug
ust, as the weeds usually crowd ont
the young alfalfa plants during the
BOT summer On the other hand. fall
seeding will yield full crops the fol-
bEing spring and is seldom subject
to serious injury by weeds tie first
ysar
Ground Should be Prepared With Lime
The ground should be well prepared
Eiih lime and fertilizer. and should
ee nnOculated with soil from an old
ifilfa field, or special cultures SOP.
iied BY the government. The rate
seeding should be twentv-five
pounds TO the acre. The seed should
e soWn By itself; never with a nurse
1op The method Of seeding NAV be
Hoadeasting by hand or with one Of
ne various makes Of machines on the
Haiket for that purpose. Among
as'e the wheel-hsrrow seeder gives I
goo satisfaction. Tie seed should
e covered to a depth of about one 1
asli an inch and for doing this no i'm I
Psnsnt is better suited than the |
PIKE tooth harrow with the teeth 1
aantlng back. or a weeoer. Seed can
e procured from the different seed I
ooa'ss although it would be good /
asA 10 have the seed examined before I
" / lseo. as IN some instances the
~ ol weeds has been found mixed I
Vim mat Of the alfalfa, which of 1
o'''e is detrimental to the success |
Of the crop.
mans Have Been 5oon'to Some Crops
Iae recent rains in this county
ave oeen boon to the farmers. es-
,''la'iy those who are growing eanta-
--pes. The weather Of the past week
,.. ,is al'o been ideal for corn. and this
-'.''i0as vegetable is now making its
'ppsafanee in the market. Water
.''as are also growing rapidly. and
-, - present indications the water
-''On and eantaloupe crops will be
s,, st,-l,naily large in this section. The
q. ,..-'AOerry crop is now over, and while
- season has been a profitable one
I. =. growers, others claim that prices
~ y! received for the berries were 90
mat their protts were greatly re-
80 - The corn. oats and other
s.'u .,1 throughout this section are in
10y good condition. On one Kent
i, ,-'1 -- iarm. near Hazelettville. oats
81 siO@ing to the height Of four and
d., .ai ieet. and it is in prime con-
,.. In fact crop conditions in
So 90 have been aided by the rains.
,,... .s chief complaint of the Kent
ia ' N. farmers at the present time
" 'ne scarcity Of labor.
BIG Eide