Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-04-03
jefferson County Farm Notes.
GRASS CROP SHORT.

GRASS CROP SHORT.
Farmers are asking how to produce
more hay. Many farmers are working
out the problems for more roughage in
various ways. Silos help considerably.
Shredding corn slaves gives a good
amount of feed. Many are increasing
their hay crops with lime and mari, and
others beginning to raise soy beans.
ALFALFA VALUABLE.
There are but few farmers in. the
county that could not have patch of
alfalfa This crop furnishes more
tons digestibe feed per acre than any
other. There are few essentials to
keep in mind in growing alfalfa.
I. LIME AND PHOSPHATE.
Most soils need $500 lbs. ground
lime or two tons mari for limestone
per acre before attempting to grow al
falfa. No less than 500 TBS. l6 per
cent acid phosphate (South Carolina
bone) should be put to the acre. More
would be better Natural alfalfa soils
have three to five times the phosphorus
and 100 tons more lime per acre than
our soils here. The use of lime should
be according to the amount of acidity.
The county agent will be glad TO test
any samples of soil sent in and report
on the amount of lime required.
?. INOCULATION.
This may be obtained naturally on
the seed or in the field, but many
stands have been lost because of lack
of incubation. Cultures bought from
firms or received from the government
are often good enough, but using a
dirt-glue method is certain, simple and
inexpensive. We will assist any farm
er inocuating seed who desires this to
be done.
3. DEEP SOIL.
The surface and subsoil should be
at least three feet deep. When shall
lower, caused by rock and water, there
is not enough depth to accommodate the
alfalfa roots.
4. FREEDOM FROM WEEDS.
Spring seedlings often fail because Of
weeds. On clean ground alfalfa may
be seeded first Of May. Beardless Bar
ley is a better nurse crop than oats.
However, any crop that will retard the
growth of weeds by shading and using
moisture and plant food, will also in
jure young alfalfa. Alfalfa seeded in
August on cultivated ground will not
be bothered so much by weeds due to
cold weather, but will not winter so
we'll as spring seedlings.
Good spring seedlings may produce
a crop in August Alfalfa seeded in
wheat will seldom produce good
stand. Also, alfalfa seeded late will
winter kill. A mulch Of straw when il
can be spared will prevent winter kill
ing.
About 20 ibs. seed are used in this
section. In time we will know more
about varieties for the East. At
present a good American strain from
Montana is good. The seed being
small require firm rather fine seed
bed
To summarize: Plant 20 fbs. good
inoculated seed per acre, ct time to
escape weeds on a soil sufficiently
lined and phosphated, and with water
table and stone at least three feet deep.
This is in answer to many queries that
come to US daily. This question was
taken up in detail at the Farmers Meet
ing over the county in February.
SEED CORN MEETING IN APRIL.
During our April meetings the sub
iect of discussion will be seed corn.
Our purpose is to present the actual
facts the experiment stations have
found from planting large and small
ears, smooth or rough kernels, kernels
from the tip. middle and base of the
ear, ears with deep and shallow
kernels, and acre returns from planting
tested corn as opposed TO crib selected
corn.
C. A. HUGHES,