Ripley County democrat., 1918-08-30
BRITIsHER HAS
CROP DouBLER
Farmer Proposes New Method TO
Increase the Yield Of the
Soil.
CLAIMS MANY ADVANTAGES
Proves Successful 10 the Experiment.
al stase--Britlsh Government Ex-
ports Are Much Impressed
With Possibilities.

London.--IH these days Of cereal and
fodder shortage the farmer who sue
ceeds In growing two blades where
one grew before would be looked upon
as aFpubllc benefactors but an English
farmer has succeeded In going one
better and writes to the Times to give
details Of the new method.
He suggests that IL his plan is adopt
ed there will be more grazing this
year, more beef next winter, more oats,
wheat and hay In 1919, and more graz
In 1919. II the new method Is as sue
cessful over large acreage as 1t has
proved to be In the experimental stage
1t may rightly be termed a discovery
in agriculture.
The new method Is as follows;
In July, by the use Of specially
devised drill, winter cereal and an
artificial fertilizer are simultaneously
drilled through any grass land intend
ed for haying the following year. BY
September or October the cereal will
have made top growth OF from eight
to ten inches. This is. then grazed off
with the grass by whatever live stock
Is turned out upon 1t, and the grain,
nominally an annual, Is thus turned
into q biennial by virtue Of Its yield
OF valuable grazing In the autumn pre-
ceding the year OF the normal grain
harvest,
Double Crop,
The autumn grazing encourages and
strengthens the roots of the cereal.
owing to the projection from frost
given by the covering Of turf, normal
spring growth begins earlier, more
heads are thrown up, development Is
more rapid, and the grain ripens at the
same time as tlle boY, both being har-
vested together The harvesting is |
done by meabs Of :4H ordinary moving
machine fitted With IN extra knife at |
the proper height above the grass to
cut the heads of the grain. The low
er knife cuts the hay as usual and the
upper knife acts os Il header.
A carrier behind the header" knife
deposits the rain in q separate
swath.
Many Advantages.
The advantages claimed for this
method are m ~, among them being
the following:
The productive capacity OF the land
ls doubled. Old and valuable grass
lands are not only not destroyed, but
are improved. Economy Of labor
throughout; plowing and narrowing
IRE not needed; both crops are gath
cred together, planting and rolling are
lone at the same time. and the grain
,rop is gathered with ease and GER
+ainty, as there is no green growth
With the grain to be stood IN the sun
o dry. Economy Of fertilizers. AL
'avlng Of one-half Of the seed usually
leeded. The autumn grazing lis OF a
resh heterogeneous CHI .cter. The pas
age of the drills through the turf inn
proves the surface drainage. The
qual mixing Of straw with the hay for
odder. The great convenience of July
'Ianting for the farmer.
Saves Permanent Pasture.
1t Is asserted that under this method
% permanent pasture need be broken
p, rather that the larger part OF the
rable land might be put down to per
lunent pasture. The permanent pas
ares are in hay and corn one year and
RACED the next. In the spring of the
razing year seeds of annual let umes
an be planted through the pastures
18th the same machine as is used
, drill In the grain, not only on ac-
ount Of their feeding value. but also
increase the nitrogen In the soil for
le following cereal crop. II
The drilling Of the seed through the
irf is accomplished by d small knife
AIDED foot that can be attached to
ny drill In place OF the disk.
Government experts have been SO
with the possibilities Of the
ethod that priority certificates have
zen granted for the manufacture of
le fittings or the Import of any parts
hIch may be necessary If they can
II be obtained here in time for this
asons planting.