Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1917-01-12
COUNTY AGENTS REPORT.

The work carried on by the county
agent during the past year has for the
most part been organized on a project
basis. 1t seemed best to attack pro-
jecds that were county wide rather than
local. Thus the scope of work covered
the entire county except communities
where least interest was shown.
At the beginning of the year five
projects were launched, namely:
|. Lime Project
ii. Soybeans and Corn Project
III. Dat Smut Project
~. Alfalfa Project
V. Boys Corn Growing Project
An orchard management project was
launched in the fall making the sixth.
The object Of the lime project was to
demonstrate the value of lining the
soil. Fifteen farmers in different parts
of the county were secured as demon
strators The soil was tested for
acdity. The amount of lime required
was on an average of 46OO pounds ground
limestone per acre. The amount APP
piled was equivalent to $500 pounds
ground limestone per acre. The cost of
lime was 1851 per acre and the cost of
applying was $l.O5 per acre making a
total cost of ST. Sc per acre. The re-
suits were not shown as lime does not
get in its work on the corn and grain
crops. The results will be forthcoming
another year in the clover and grass
crops.
The soil Of the county is largely clay
and clay loan. There are at present
two lime kiIns and one limestone grinder
in the county, 1t seems wise to advise
the use of the lime kiln products, that
is, burned and slaked lime on these
heavy clay soils, therefore except where
transportation is large item of cost
the county agent has not urgently ad-
vised the establishment of local lime
grinders. Several Lodges in the county
have been tested for calcium carbonate
content and it has been found that they
analyze from IS to 100 per cent. Thus
at some future time when the farmers
have seen the ACCESSIBILITY of lining
regularly it will be wise to advise the es-
adjustment of local limestone grinders,
at least in sections removed from the
railroad
SOYBEANS ADD CORN PROJECT.
The object of the soybeans and corn
project was to increase the protein con-
tent of silage grown per acre, and to
improve the soil conditions. Six farmers
were finally secured as demonstrators.
More were to handle the demonstration
but the very late season lead them to
cancel. Eight quarts of corn mixed
with four quarts of Medium Green soy
beans were planted per acre. The soy
beans were inoculated with pure culture,
secured from the U. S. Department of
Agriculture, and there were few rows
planted to soybeans uninoculatcd. A
few rows were planted to soybeans
alone. A portion was planted to corn
without the soybeans. This was almost
pioneer work as very few farmers had
planted soybeans and only one was
found who had planted the Medium
Green variety. The results were emf
nently satisfactory. The cost of the
soybean seed was sixty cents per acre
while the cost of incubation was
nothing, since this pure culture is fur
nished on application to the U. S. Dep
artment of Agriculture.
The amount of fodder per acre was
increased about two tons and the profit
per acre could only be estimated but
the soybean forage is equivalent in food
value to that of alfalfa. Where the
soybeans were inoculated the roots were
heavily noduled while where the beans