Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-05-26
AGRICULTURE

Alfalfa isone of the leading forage
crops in this country; says the United
States Department of Agriculture. 1t
is also widely distributed throughout
the world, growing in various soils
and meeting the rigors of both heat
and cold. It requires considerable
moisture, but it does best in rela-
lively dry atmosphere where water is
available for irrigation. In the United
States it succeeds at attitudes ranging
from below sea level in the Imperial
Valley, Calf, to 5000 feet above the
sea in the mountains Of Colorado.
Alfalfa withstands hot weather well
where the atmosphere is dry; most of
the damage is done by very cold
weather in winter and spring. It is
not known to what extent cold alone
does damage to the crop, but it is
known that low temperatures combin-
ed with other winter conditions cause
a high mortality among the plants.
Alternate freezing and thawing on
poorly drained soils often does much
damage by heaving the plants out OF
the ground and breaking the roots.
| Deep loans with open subsoils are
best, but whether other conditions are
favorable the crop has a very wide
range Of adaptation. It does not
thrive on soil that has an impervious
subsoil, hardpan, or bedrock near the
surface. However, it has been known
to do well on soils with limestone
lodges 10 inches below the surface,
Good surface and underdrainage are
necessary. During the growing sea-
son complete submergence for. "a to
48 hours may do much injury, but
when the plants are dormant they
may remain under water several days
without danger. The crop seldom
succeeds where the water table comes
close to the surface, especially if il
| fiuctuates considerably.
While there has been an increasing
tendency on the part of potato pro-
ducers to use certified seed during the
last few years, the favorable results
that have been obtained from the use
of such seed should encourage much
more general use Of certified seed
says the United States Department OF
Agriculture. A number Of States are
now produing certified seed and have
records showing the comparatively
yield from certified fields with the av-
erage yield of the State. In New
York State yields for ordinary fields
averaged 103 bushels an acre, while
the certified fields yielded 223 bush
els an acre. In Minnesota the yield
in favor of certified seed over that of
the ordinary fields produced only 100
bushels an acre. Reports from all
other States show similar increase in
yield from the certified fields in COM
parison to the average Of the State.
Certified seed sent from Michigan
to several Corn Belt States for expert
mental and Unconstitutional tests in
1921 showed a decided improvement in
yield over the local seed. In Iowa the
increase in yield secured from this
Michigan certified seed was 61.2 bus,
in Indiana Fl filds showed an increase
Of GO bushels, in Illinois 81 fields
yielded AZ bushels increase, while in
OHIO, where the great part of the
acreage Of the State is planted with
certified seed, the increase due to the
Michigan seed was only &c bushels.
In two tests conducted in Delaware
the Michigan certified seed averaged
68k bushels more an acre than home
grown seed.
Last season was good one for both
producers and buyers of certified
seed. The large production Of certi-
fled seed has brought the price SO low
that although reports show that a
premium of so to $50 per cent is be-
ing paid for certified stock the grow
er is at least getting little profit
out of his work, while the buyer is
able to buy this seed at reasonable
cost.
What is the basis. Of the hogs
popularity, which, in spite of his
relatively small size enables him to
stand third in total value among all
our domestic animals in the United
States? In the first place, of course,
he produces toothsome meats which in
co.,ao fo,s,,a or. otLn,. oo,,ohino wall with