Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1919-04-29
JEFFERSON COUNTY FARM
NOTES.
Black Twigs Barren.

A peculiar characteristic of the
black twig apple has been noted in a
few orchards of Jefferson County
recently, especially in Mr.. E. L.
Goldsborough's orchard at Shep-
herdstown and Mr.. C. L. Cranes
orchard at Charles Town. These
trees show a heavy blossom each year
but are always barren of fruit. Both
orchards have good crops of Yorks
and Bens. The reason is not clear.
However the probable explanation is
due to the fact that some varieties
of fruit must be pollenized or the
blossom fortified from another var
iety. The State Experiment Station
has done work of this nature prin-
cipally with the Rome Beauties. 1t
was found that trees kept covered
during the period of pollenation were
barren of fruit. But when bees can
work the blossom when given access
to other varities whose pollen ripen
at the same time as the Romes, good
crops are secured. An examination
of Black Twig show that its pollen
ripens later than the Yorks or Bens,
altho it opens first. An effort is be-
ing made to find the varieties that
will pollenize the Black Twig, so that
top drafts may be made in these
trees if this is the trouble.
Alfalfa From Marl
Many jefferson County Farmers
are learning the use of mari, SO pre-
valent in this county The Stull
Brothers near Summit Point, have
one of the good fields of alfalfa, and
it was lined with mari.
White Mari or Dark MARI.
Recently two analysis of mari was
made on Mr.. Frank Gardner's farm
near Leetown. One sample of the
dark deposit showed 814 per cent
calcium carbonate while white sam
pie of mari apparently purer lime,
showed only rs per cent. calcium car
Donate. A sample of lime or mari
is not to be judged by color. This
mari can be burned, giving a good
quality of burned lime. A sample
from Mr. B. A. Wares farm at
Myerstown, gave IS per cent. cal
eium carbonate.
A Good Ayrshire Calf.
Mr.. j. E. Tabb, Leetown, has just
purchased an Ayrshire male calf from
the Penhurst farms for $500. This
animals registration papers shows
aim to be from a high producing
strain of cows. 1t may seem that
this is rather large price We like
to figure the value of such an animal
in this light. We will suppose the
average COW produces, We will say,
200 pounds of butter fat. This calf
comes from dam and sire with an
average of 450 pounds of butter fat
The heifers from this sire should rep
resent an average production of but
ter fat of the two blod lines of the
cows parents. This would be an
average of 200 lbs, and $50 lbs, or
the average would be 1926 pounds.
Instead of an increase of 125 lbs
let US say an increase of only 25 lbs.
fat is secured. That is we will grant
the 100 lbs. for arguments sake. We
will see that for the first 25 heifers
raised from this sire with an increase
production of 25 lbs. fat, there will
be 625 lbs. more fat prouced the first
year, which at 40c will mean $50.
This is the difference between the
price of this calf and $50 calf
Farmers Meetings.
Mr. Burton, head of the coopera-
tive Bull Association in the United
States, will be in Jefferson County
May 8. A meeting with the farmers
has been arranged at Kearneysville,
Thursday, May s. We would like as
many farmers to be present as pos
sible.
On Friday, May 9th, the Kearneys-
vile Humanity Klub will debate
the Shenandoah Junction club at the
Junction, the question being, resolv-
ed: THAT there should be a tax
placed on agricultural lands such
that the absentee ownership of land
would become Improbable"
Kearneysville, Friday May 2, $50
p. m.
Leetown, Wednesday, May z, 80
p. m. Topic: why and How to In
oculate Alfalfa and Soy Beans"
c. A. HUGHES, County Agent.