The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-04-02
FARM NOTES BY
THE COUNTY AGENT

Many farmers have allowed their
interest in hog-raising to lessen be-
cause of the low market of the past
winter. This is a mistake. The only
way to come out successful in any
business is to stay through the thick
and the thin. The practice of going
in on a high market and getting out
on a low market is almost certain to
bring losses. Hog-raising can not be
entered and discontinued with each
wave of high to low prices. The man
who succeesd in it must make it a
permanent, or continuous. business
end keep his herd of breeding animals
together and in good condition dur
| ing periods of depression in order
that he may quickly get in position to
take advantage of the return of bet
ter prices.
Indications are that there will be
good money in hogs this year. Due
to the poor market of last winter,
many farmers. both in the North and
in the South. have reduced their
breeding stock and the supply of hogs
will likely not be as great as that of
last year. Besides, the several influ-
ences that have held prices down for
the past six months may not be pres
ent this season. So, if the 1920 crop
is fully as large as that of 1919, it is
not likely that the market will be
lower. But, even at the 10 cent mar
ket of last winter, there is profit in
growing hogs if economical and effic-
lent methods are used.
1t seems then that it would be wise
to take extra pains with the spring
crop of pigs and to arrange to have a
large crop of late summer pigs. With
a little thought and planning, it will
be easy to have food crops ready ia
fatten the spring pigs for the August
and September market and to carry
the summer pigs over for the spring
market. So long as the bulk OF the
hogs go on the market from Novem.
Der till March. the prices during this
period will continue to be the lowest
of the year. The best time to mar
ket hogs for years to come will bs
from March to November.
For late winter feed, velvet bean:
and COOLERS are good combination
Both keep well in the field and eacl
makes the other a better food. Also
velvet beans and sweet potatoes arr
excellent. However, some corn with
either combination will pay. Plan nov
= for the winter and spring hog feeds.
Right now is the time to watch on
for thrips in the citrus groves. Thi
is a very small, gnat-like insect Of ;
yellowish, or orange, color that vii
shorten the crop by causing an exces
sive dropping of the bloom and younl
fruit and that may lower the grade o
the fruit by soaring it. When ther
is a heavy bloom, they usually do N
harm and may be beneficial in carry
m | ing pollen from one bloom to another
a But in case of q moderate bloom, the
q may seriously shorten the crop.
n Look for them in the blooms. wher
they will be found, eating on the pei
m ais of the flowers. If very abundan
it will pay to spray against them. Us
one-fourth pint of black leaf 40 in
= gallons of water and spray straigf
into the blossoms when the tree is
ID full bloom. If many thrips are see
,. after ten days. spray again.
Cow peas are very high, selling {
~ 81 and So a bnshel. Those who expe'
"a to grow cow peas later in the summ'
m for hay and who wish to avoid Il
heavy expense of seed. should plal
% now 3 small patch to make their see
- One acre will yield 8 to Is bushel
n depending on the soil, variety al
fertilizer user. w. A. Seasons,
County Agent.