Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-03-15
Sow Alsike as Economy Crop.

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Sow Alsikc as Economy Crop.
Alsike clover may be own to all
vantage this spring on account Of the
ECONOMY of seeding as well as high
feeding value and wide adoption of
the crop, according to w. r. Heckler
of the farm crops department Of Iowa
State college.
Alsike seed costs no more than red
clover, but a pound Of alsike contains
from two to three times as many seeds
as an equal amount of red clover.
Therefore only one-half as many
pounds are necessary to SOW an acre,
The hay contains more digestible pro-
tein, or muscle building material, than
red clover. The fine stem growth also
makes it a good feed for all kinds OF
livestock.
Alsike may be grown to better adj
vantage than other clovcrs on fiat,
poorly drained land which may be
slightly acid. The hardness of the
plant enables it to withstand unfavor-
able weather and soil conditions which
often interfere with establishing and
mainta lining a stand of the other clov-
ers. The main disadvantages Of grow
ling alsike rather than red are that the
yields of hay arc usually not quite as
large and its slightly shallower and
less extensive root system does not
benefit the soil to the same extent.
The greatest returns arc obtained
from alsikc when grown in mixtures
with other clovers or grasses. Also
when seeded alone the plant has a
tendency to lodge badly. which not
only Inconvenience harvesting but
in a rainy season lowers the feeding
value. Since alsike and timothy have
similar adaptations and mature at
approximately the same time they are
often wixed, using three or four
pounds of the former and seven to
nine pounds Of the latter to an acre.
This rate, however, may be varied con,
siderably.
The seed corn situation as Il whole
in Iowa is very satisfactory but this
does not mean that there. will he nc
trouble with seed corn or that all OF
the corn will give a good strong germ
ination. If anything, there is toe
much of a tendency to believe that
all the corn matured thoroughly last
fall and that late gathered seed does
not need testing. Many men are go.
ling to find to their sorrow that all OF
the corn gathered late for seed pur'
poses during husking time needs the
individual ear test" says F., G.
Churchill, farm crops specialist of Iowa
State ocllegc. This is especially true
in the northern part Of the state"
At a corn show at GeneXa in Frank
lin county out Of 45 ten-ear samples
lexhibied 20 had been taken direct
from the crib and in II Of these sam
pies there. were dead ears. The mum
Der of dead ears varied from One to
as high as four jim one Of the samples
Farmers attending the corn show were
surprised to find the crib corn and
late gathered seed in such condition
as they had believed it would grow
satisfactorily.
The same conditions were found to
be true at the. corn show held at Ter
rill in Dickinson county. The corn
that had been gathered early and
properly taken care OF appeared to the
good to the eye. The samples that had
been taken direct from the crib were
from late gathered seed and were still
a little damp and in practically every
one dead ears were to be found.
"A little time spent in testing seed
corn during the next few weeks will
bring greater returns for many men
than time spent in any other way
says Mr.. Churchill. 1T does not make
so very much difference what method
of testing is followed as long as the
work is done carefully and systematic
callr. At the present price Of Iowa
land no chances should he taken with
the seed corn that is used on the same.
The kind of seed corn a farmer uses
is one factor which he can control"
Blairsburg Superintendent Is Loyal.
Miss Faith FentOn, superintendent
of Blairsburg's consolidated school, has
refused to accept an offer Of the hoard
of education Of Omaha. asking her