San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-08
Chamber Agricultural Man
ager Issues General In
structions.
SOME MIGHT FORGET
Little Things Neglected at
This Time Become
Big Ones.

VI VI AtdL TUT III Auoh VI WI n
vrAnt comes in the spring, when the
increase in temperature in the atmos-
phere and the soil causes plant life to
become active, the farmer will leave
undone or only half done many of the
necessary things around the farm, c.
H. Alvord, manager of the agricul-
tural department Of the Chamber Of
Commerce, in a statement made Sat
urduy, offered some April Sugges-
tons" that might aeep the tilier OF the
soil from over cropping and trying
To do more than his snare.
"A good thing TO remember this sea-
son, .dr. Alvord said, lis that it Is
moi the number OF acres cultivated,
but the profit per acre that counts. 1t
should not be, more COWS 10 milk, but
more profit per COW; and not more
hours of labor, but more. profit tor
euch hour OF work that is done, and
every hour of labor should be per-
formed with the idea Of making it Just
as profitable as possible by utilizing
teams and machinery that will do the
work required and in such a mali
over again in a few days"
On Fighting the Weeds.
1t should always be remembered,
Mr.. Alvord said, that weeds spring
into activity much quicker than cot
ton and corn, and unless killed when
very young they will not only sap q
great deal OF the moisture from the
ground, but the cost OF getting rid Of
them will also increase very material
ly. He recommends the use of the
harrow to kill the weeds, but stated
that to be successful it should be used
when. the weeds are just breaking
through the ground. There has been
some difference in opinion, he said,
az whether the harrow should be run
across the rows when narrowing cot
ton or corn, or lengthwise. In his opin-
ion. it is more advisable to nm the
harrow over the rows diagonally.
Also. he said, narrowing should be
done in the afternoon when the ground
Is dry, and the plants are wilted. Pre-
caution should be taken, when using
harrow, he said, to see that the teeth
ere all running at the same depth and
that the braces on the harrow are in
place and all bolts tight, SO that the
teeth sill run at the same angle and
each cut n separate furrow.
$ Mr.. Alvord advises against plant
ing in ground that is coming up in
weeds in the hurry to get the seeds
into the ground. If this is done and
a wet spell follows. he said, the man
who intends to, "c,ean out the mid
dies later" is apt TO find his crop
swamped by the weeds before he can
get them out OF the way.
Early Grass Not Sufficient.
With reference to pasturing. Mr.. Al
vord said, that at this time of the year
when the grass Is beginning to show
green. there is a tendency TO take
the cattle and live stork. especially the
dairy cattle. off Of their hay and grain
rations. and turn them out TO forage.
He advises against doing this too
early. for the reason that the grass
in many cases is insufficient to give
them full supply of food. and they
will naturally fall off in weight and
production. This also applies to mules
md other work animals which are
worked all dny and then turned out to
forage ut night.
Another thing to be considered. he
said. is that turning stock into the
pastures too early does not give the
grass time to get we'll started. If al-
lowed to get some growth before being
eaten off il will become well estab-
lishetl. and will furnish great deal
more feed during the whole season.
Must Move His Smoke House."
Mr.. Alvord said care should be taken
not to neglect young stock and poul-
try. An animal that is not well treat
ed during the first three or four
weeks Of Its life. according to Mr.. Al
word will never be profitable animal
on the farm. II is a poor policy. he
Ikaid. TO turn large number OF pigs
Drsdhirrent sizes together in the same
lot to feed. The same thing applies
10 different broods of chickens. In n
large bunch Of animals of different
sizes. he said. the weak ones and the
young ones cannot hold their own.
with the result that the strong ones
grow stronger and the weak ones get
weaker.
Mr.. Alvord urges farmers to have
garden. "While at first this may
seem needless precaution." he said.
"a journey through the large farming
sections Of the state will reveal r.,any
farms having only a small flock of
chickens. practically no garden. no
hogs. and either is going without milk
or buying ii in tin cans. The farmer
If the South must learn to produce
more Of his own living and and move
his smoke .-ouse from the corn belt In
Indiana to his more immediate neigh
hnrho,J