Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-09-08

Moving cowpea and MiIIet Hay-T'
(By ]. NJ BELL.)
The following experiments In rals-
ing forage crops, on an intensive plan,
show most conclusively that If land
is heavily MANFRED 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. ]. Crun, a 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 a 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 year ago last September and
harvested in June: l saw this crop
as two-horse tedder was stirring it
up and it was the first time in my life
GO years of which has been
spent in farming) that l ever saw
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 Is very large
wagonlOads of hay were harvested.
The hay was perfectly cured and a
ton per load was a most conservative
estimate.
The hay at that time would easily
have brought $50 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 Is loads per acre.
a total of 80 loads, value 81 per load,
$50; cost of blowing, SIG; cost Of har-
rowing. rolling. disking and seeding.
SIG; cost of harvesting, SIS; cost of
II 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 eOwpeas, at the rate of bushels
Of peas and 3 pecks Of millet per
acre.
Before the crop was sown, an appli-
cation Of a little over 800 pounds Of
acid phosphate per acre was used. or
In other words, / ton put on the 6
acres.
When this crop was harvested, hay
was very high on the Richmond mar
ket and $25 per ton is a conservative
value to place on the beautifully cured
millet and pea crop. which made
splendid mixed hay. The yield was
Is tons, which, valued at $25 per ton,
totals 1915. Cost Of crop as follows:
Flowing. SIG; narrowing, rolling. disk
ing and seeding, SIC; harvesting $16;
1 ton acid phosphate. SIG; g bushels
of cOwpeas, So; Az bushels Of mil
let, $7.S7. Total cost Of crop. $82.873z.
Profit, $2S7.12.
Another five acres were sown In cow
peas and millet about two weeks
earlier. This crop followed oat stub
BILE from a crop sowed the previous
September, but owing to the fact that
u was constantly grazed, the value Of
Che hay crop was SO materially less
ened that no account was kept Of the
hight 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 Is spreader
loads per acre Tin 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 1t was being
moved, and 1t 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 2h
tons per acre. making Is tons, which
at time of harvesting was worth $25
per ton, or 1915. Cost Of crop: Plow-
ing. $3.50; disking. rolling. narrowing
and seding. $14; harvesting. $14; cow
peas, $40; millet, $685.. Cost of IS
loads Of manure at 81. per load, SIS,
but 1t 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 $3.50 manure
account. The total cost of this other
pea and millet crop follows: $91.56h
profit. $2S3.44.
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 1 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 5-acre plot latter plowing) had
ground limestone at the rate Of tons
per acre spread over it. This lime
stone was secured from the state
Highly Productive Soil.
For its best development corn 70
quires well-drained, deep, mellow soil