The Carlisle independent., 1917-03-15
Pages Weekly Letter

r fdSS ; w 0Ghly e1CDuCI
 Little Rock, March 14th-This is a good year for Sudan and oth- CT early hay crops. Hay is scarce and high priced. So is corn con- seauently it is wise to have some hay produced as early as possible to furnish feed for making the crop. A few acres of spring rye for pasture will help out also. We are now approaching the plant ing season, and remember the value of making a good seed bed. Use the disk and harrow liber- ally and get the soil thoroughly pulverized before planting. Use a roller if you have one, and break up the clods. Clods are worse than rocks. They are in the way and nuisance in the cultivation of a cror, and they supply no plant food whatever The labor used in putting in your crop well will be saved in the cultivation, and the increased yield in the fall will cause you to keep up the practice when you once begin it. In planting your crops use the level system on all well drained lands. In wet lands it will be necessary to bed your land to afford drainage and protection against spring rains. but if not necessary to bed your land, by all means plant it level, and cultivate it level. The first few cultiyations may be deep, but after the roots form and be- gin to extend out into the mid dies. cultivate shallow, so you won't break the roots. Remem- Der that the roots feed the plant. and that they get the food from the soil in liquid torm. You can see the importance of having loose ground at planting time. so that the roots when young and tender can move out in search of foed and moisture. You can also see the importance of shallow cultivation later on, so the roots will not be torn up and broken off. Where land does not dram well, and it is necessary to bed your land for planting, it is a good policy to make wide bed, wide enough for two rows. This plan works well in most in stances.
 The Legislature has adjourned but 1t passed some good laws for the farmers. The Warehouse and Marketing law is one of the best laws ever passed, and will be of great benefit to the farmers in its operation. 1 will explain it's operation full d little later on The Fertilizer Inspection law is now being enforced. Our in spectOrs are now in field busy inspecting the shipments an1 taking samrles, and our chemist is busy making analysis. So far this season we have not found it necessary to hold up any of the shipments. We have analized samples from l25 cars shipped since January lst, and none have b =en as much as tn ee per cent below the guarantee. while most of them nave been a little better than the gual ancee.
 The Legislature reduced the Feed Inspection tax and made appropriation for inspectors and analyses. Our inspectors will be On the road April 1St and will thoroughly cover the state and protect the consumers against violations of the law The Feed law Is not as strong as it should be. and We are limited in our power to restrict what may be used in the manufacture of mix ed feeds However, the law will be enforced, and with the coop eration of all the manufacturers and dealers who want inspection, we hope to give a good service to the public and protect them against impure and adulterated feed and short weight
 John H Page.