Smyrna times., 1917-06-20
DAIRYMEN DISCUSS THE HIGH
FEED QUESTION At kENTON
KENT FARMERS OWNING CATTLE
HOLD A PROFITABLE MEETING
County Agent ZimmerY and Prominent
DairYmen Attend Demonstration at
Farm of Harry B. Clark

Farm OF Harry 3. Clark
Kenton, June 19.-Kent County |
dairymen and farmers to a consider |
able number gathered at the farm of |
Harry B. Clark near Kenton Saturday |
afternoon to witness MIR. Clark's fine |
herd of high producing Holsteins and
to hear talks and discussions on the
Feed Question and other important
topics. The weather being fine gave
zest to the meeting. Dean Hayward
of Delaware College. Mr.. Clark P.
Balderson, of the Milk Producers AS
sociation, and Paul T. Menzel, of the
Kent County Cow Testing Associa-
tion, delivered addresses on COW breed
ing, feeding and wedding. The lee
lures were enjoyed by those present.
Miss Ethel Dole, the Domestic Science
Worker, also gave a demonstration of
canning for the benefit of the women
folk who gathered at the Clark farm.
1t was pointed out that great part
of Kent county is ideal for profitable
dairying, but better dairy methods,
and especially better stock, is needed
to secure a good income from the dairy
and to utilize the natural advantages
enjoyed. The slogan of all live dairy
men is Weed-Feed-B Breed, and the
good work has already begun.
All the Speakers Gave Helpful Advice
All the speakers laid emphasis upon
the necessity of better feeding. olimi-
nation of poor animals and breeding
up by the use of good sires. Mr..
Balderson outlined the method and
purpose of his organization and urged
the Delaware farmers to Join in the
fight for better prices for milk. In
a very plain manner Mr.. Clark told
how he has brought his herd TO it's
present standard of excellence. His
talk was made especially effective by
a guessing contest in which those pre-
sent were asked to select the animal
which appeared to be the most profit
able and place them in order of great
est profit. After all had made their
choice, placards with the amount of
milk, fat and profit were posted for
each animal. The contest proved very
instructive and the seventy dairymen
all agreed their afternoon had been
we'll spent.
Food Costs Lowered by Forage Crop:
Along with this question present
high cost of dairy feed outlined at the
Clark farm, County Agent Zimmerl!
showed that every dsiryman shoulC
grow as much feed as possible ant
purchase no more than necessary. L
is impossible to procure such concen
trates as cottonseed meal, gluten
brewers grains, oilmeal and bran ol
the farm, but much can be done t.
cut down the use of these costly ma
terials. AS a general rule the higl
priced feeds are those rich in protein
and therefore the farmer should ain
to raise as much protein feeds in tn
shape of legumes as possible. Al
falfa. clover, cowpeas and soybeans
will replace much of the protein in
grain mixture. Cowpeas and so.
beans can be planted until the middl
of June and alfalfa should be seede
in August after the seed bed has bee
even better prepared than for wheat
Good drainage, neutral soil, plent
of humus and incubation are tou
essentials to successful alfalfa an
only the best land should be used
For a beginner only a small acresg
should be started the 6rst year.
SiIage now important for 0airYmer
Silage will do much to lower tn
cost of milk production. A fair so
will produce at least ten tons of cor
silage to the acre. At this rate Ii
tie over three acres will produC
enough silage to feed ten head of ca
tie 80 pounds daily for z month";
However it is advisable to make II
silO large enough to include allo~an'
for backward pastures in early sprir
and scant pasture in late summe
Two silos for year around feeding a
even more satisfactory. Recent r
suits in this county with wheat al
vetch would indicate it would be pr
ferable to fill with corn silage to la
until about May 15 and then to 4
with wheat and vetch which wou
also be used as a green feed or ha
Vetch has a feeding value nearly
high as alfalfa and therefore tn
mixture is more nutritious than r
which is often used for spring silag
CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGE