Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-03-25
JEFFERSON COUNTY FARM
NOTES
Crass Crop Short.


The question most farmers have is
how to produce more hay. Many
| farmers of the county are working
out this problem for more roughage
| in many ways. Silos keep out con-
siderably. Shredding corn stover
gives a good amount of fe feed.
Many are increasing their hay crops
with lime and mari, and many others
raising soy beans.
Alfalfa Valuable.
There are but few farmers In the
county that could not have a patch
of alfalfa. This crop furnishes more
tons digestible feed per acre than
any other crop. There are four es-
sentials to keep in mind IN growing
alfalfa.
| /. Lime and phosphate. Most
soils need $500 pounds ground lime
or two tons of mari or limestone per
acre before attempting to raise al
ifalfa. No less than 500 pounds, 16
per cent. acid phosphate or South
Carolina Bone should be put to the
acre. More would be better. Nat
ural alfalfa soils have to 5 times
the phosphorus as our soils here, and
often as high as 100 tons of lime per
acre. The use of lime should be ac-
cording to the amount of acidity
Ipresent. The County Agent will be
glad to test any samples of soil sent
to him and make a report on the
amount of lime necessary.
2. Inoculation-This may be OBJ
tanned naturally on the seed or in
the field, but many stands have been
Host because of lack of incubation.
cultures bought from firms or re-
lceived from the government are often
good enough, but using a dirt-glue
method is simple, certain and mex
pensive. We will assist any farmer
with inoculating seed who desire this
to be done.
8. Deep Soil-The surface and
sub-soil should be at least three feet
deep. When shallow, caused by
water or rock there is not enough
depth to accommodate the alfalfa
roots.
a. Freedom From Weeds-Spring
seeding often fail because of weeds.
On clean ground alfalfa may be seed
ed first of May. Beardless barley is
a better nurse crop than oats. How
ever, any crop that will retard the
growth of weeds by shading and use
ing soil moisture and fertility. VIII
also injure 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 well as spring seed
ing.
Good spring seedlings may produce
a crop in August. Alfalfa seeded
early in wheat will seldom produce a
stand Also, alfalfa seeded late
may winter kill. A mulch of straw
when it can be spared will prevent
winter killing.
| About 20 pounds of seed are used
in this section. In time we will
know more about varities for the
east. At present good American
strain from Montana is good. The
seed being small require a firm and
rather fine seed bed.
To summarize: Plant 20 pounds
good unoculated seed per acre, at a
time to escape weeds, on soil suf-
lfciently lined and phospated, and
with water table or stone at least 3
feet deep. This is in answer to
many quiries that come to US daily.
This question was taken up in detail
at the Farmers Meetings over the
country in February.
Seed Corn Meetings in April.
| During our April meetings the
subject 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 and rough kerr
, nels, 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 selection corn.
Meeting.
Middleway, Thursday, March II,
1880 p. m.
Nippon, Friday, March 20, 1880
p. m.
UviIla, Tuesday, April 1, $3.50 p.
. | m.
Molers, Wednesday, April 2, $3.50
p. m.
/ Kearneysville, Friday, April q,
$50 p. m.