Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-01-02


10 Maintain the Fertility Of His Soil
| Through the Adoption of Such
Changes In His Methods as VIII Con-
tlnue 20 Conserve Labor and to Meet
Other Problems of His Operation
Brought About by the War.
Though the armistice has been sign
cd. the eyes Of the world are still fo-
eused upon the American farmer, who
L. called upon to exert his best effort
to produce greater yields Of all farm
commodities under the existing short
supply of labor. The duty is pressing
OF furnishing abundant supplies for
our own people, and In large meas
ure for shipment abroad. Conditions
generally make 1t important that the
farmer retain on the farm over winter
~ much Of bis labor supply as possl-
bic. This man power should likewise
be utilized to accomplish tasks which
might otherwise fall In the busier sea
sons Of spring and summer, or at
planting and harvest times. One Of
these tasks which Is Of a rather Ia
| borious nature " that Of lining, and
fortunately 1t may be done In winter,
though ii 10 net the customary prac-
tics Yet, under the circumstances, II
10 one way to utilize labor efficiently
during the winter and at the same
time bring about better soil conditions
and greater yields so badly needed.
Lining Soils In Winter an Advisable
Practice, According to Opinions of
Agricultural Colleges.
AgriculturalistS and Experiment Sta
ton workers have been prompted by
difficulties arising out of war condl-
lions to give thorough consideration to
the practice of lining soils In winter.
| The opinions Of number on this sub.
| ject are given:
Advice of Experiment Station Workers.
| Prof. L. @. Johnson, director OF the
| Virginia Truck Experiment Station,
! Norfolk, Va, says.
I'VE think 1t very good practice
for the farmer to purchase lime dur
ing the fall and winter for immediate
application or for application prior to
planting crops in the early spring. In
the trucking section 1t is customary to
procure lime during the winter months
and apply it on such crops as cabbage,
lettuce, tomatoes, cantaloupes and Gu
cumbers, but for such crops as beets
and potatoes lime usually should be
applied on the crops preceding those
mentioned We are advising farmers
to secure the lime at the earliest date
possible on account Of the difficulty in
transportation and labor"
DR. II. J. Patterson. director of the
Maryland Experiment Station, says:
"Wa have gotten very good results
by applying Limo during the winter A.
q top dressiDg ON wheat and fall seed
Cd grasses. We do not advise this a.
being tho best method of applying
litne, but hms applied In this way has
proven beneficial both to the grain and
grass which follows tho wheat"
DIR. Jacob q. Lpman, soil chemist,
| dean and director of the New jersey
| Agricultural Experiment Station, says :
1.-THE wisdom Of purchasing and
spreading lime In the fall and winter
Is entirely proper. At this particu-
lar time, when farm labor Ia costly
and scant as to supply. the conserya-
ton of tho efforts Of the farmer should
be urged In every possible way. In
deed, it has been our practice for
! some time past to advise farmers In
| New Jersey not to leave certain OF
the farm work that may be done In
the winter until early spring"
DIR. Elmer o. Tippin, professor of
soils, Cornell University and College
of Agriculture, Ithaca, N. T., says:
"In the matter of the ordering and
use of lime in the winter we
have emphasized the Importance of
farmers ordering their lime In the win
ter because of difficulties Of getting
cars in the spring; also they then have
more time for such work We also
recommend in our regular work the
| practice of applying lime in the winter
any time when the ground is essential
ly bare of snow. While we prefer
that 1t be applied to land that Is to be
plowed or to be given cultivation be-
fore the crop Is planted, we do not
object to a man applying it to a crop
aITGduy eSLdDliSileu3 Dut WIN TIT uii-
Outstanding that his immediate bene-
fits are not likely to be as large as
where the lime can be more thorough
ly incorporated with the SOIL"
Use of the Concentrated Forms OF
Lime Saves Labor.
Considering these statements Of the
leading agriculturalists, in view of the
fact that high percentage (approxi
mately s. per cent? of the soils east
of the Mississippi river are sour and
badly in need of lime and that the
shortage Of labor and transportation
facilities is severe, the farmer should
net hesitate to secure liberal sup
ply of lime now for immediate appli-
cation and home storage.
In the purchase of lining material
the farmer should give careful consid-
GRAFTON to its chemical composition