Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-07-21
AGRICULTURE

able when sown with a nurse crop
aud We believe better results are be-
ing obtained by sowing alfalfa alone.
The land intended to be sown in al
falfa at this season should have been
plowed early in the spring and har.
rowed at frequent intervals, to kill
out weeds and conserve the moisture.
:, We urge all farmers in our territory
tc prepare land if it has not already
been prepared. Lime it, make it
rich and plant alfalfa before it is too
late.
The characteristics which recon-
mend alfalfa SO strongly to the farm
er are: Permanence, large yield,
three to five cuttings per season, OF
one to one and one-half tons per cut
ting; superiority of the hay for cat
tie, sheep hogs and horses, value for
pasture, ability to Withstand drought,
susceptibility to irrigation, and it's
soil improving qualities through the
ASSIMILATION Of nitrogen from the air.
The chief reqisites for successful
cultivation are: A well-drained soil,
of at least average fertility,with an
adequate supply Of lime; a deep, clean
finely pulverized seed-bed; inocula-
ton; choice, acclimated seed, and
proper temperature and rainfall con-
ditions during the period of germina-
ton and early growth. Unless the
drainage is good, failure is certain.
For pasture and forage, the more fer
tile the soil the better, making it
profitable to fertilize heavily with
nanure, as it seems better adapted
tc the crop than any commercial fer
tjlizer mixture.
If sufficient manure cannot be OBJ
tanned to make the land rich, it will
be well to apply four to six hundred
pounds Of basic Stag or acid phos-
phate. per acre. =
Soils which are not rich in lime
must be lined, at the rate of one to
two tons per acre Of caustic lime, or
two to six tons Of ground limestone.
Alfalfa is weak in infancy and strong
in maturity, SO that the seed-bed
should be in as nearly perfect condi:
ton as possible, and entirely free
from weeds.
The striped cucumber beetle at
tacks and injuries Seeding cucun-
bers, melons and related crops, but
Especially the cucumber, as soon as
they appear. They even burrow down
to meet them before they come above
the ground. They devour the tender
stems and leaflets before the plant is
fairly started, gnaw the older stems
and ripe fruits and act as carriers of
cucurbit diseases. They make their
appearance suddenly and in great
numbers, and as they work rapidly
an entire crop may be destroyed in
few days The slender white worm
like larvae injure the plants later in
;,he season by tunneling the roots and
underground parts of the stems
The control measures which have
given the greatest promise of sue
cess are preventives, repellents, farm
practice, and the use of insecticides,
particularly nicotine dust and arse
rate of lead.
| In suggesting control measures, the
department commends that young
and choice plants in small gardens be
protected with tight coverings. If an
excess of seed is planted. the attack
will be distributed, and some Of the
plants will escape the beetles. Nico-
tine dust should be applied directly,
ana arsenate Of lead used as a spray.
either alone or in combination with
Bordeaux mixture. Care should be
taken to cover every portion of in
tested plants, both surfaces of leaves,
vines and stems. Clean culture with
trap plants is an aid. Active CO.
operation of neighboring growers of
cucurbits in these methods is desir-
able.
The first edition of the new Govern
ment poultry poster, STANDARD Bred
Poultry Pays Best" was exhausted a
few weeks after being issued. Re-
quests for this poster now being re-
ceived will be filled as soon as the
second edition is delivered by the
| off