The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-03-07
OCAARD HAS SPLEN-
DID MEETINGS in
SHERIDAN COUNTY
1Cnn. inred from last week.
FORAGE CROPS
(Con,inued from last week.

l. st
was sweet clover which was recon-
mended as the outstanding and ne
cessary supplement for corn. The
White sweet clover was proving pop
ular for hay production especially the
Arctic variety which is lower, finer
stemmed and more hardy than he
ordinary white. The white variety is
often left standing too long before
cutting for hay The Yellow lowered
variety is fine stemmed and more
bushy han the white. 1t is becom-
ing popular especially for pasture.
The Hubam annual variety has not
been promising in its performance IN
Montana as yet. One of the princi-
pay difficulties encountered by the
Montana Dry Farmer in growing
sweet clover under average cOndi lens
is obtaining a stand. The seed IS
small and must be planted quite
shallow. While good stands are OBJ
tanned on any kind of seed bed in es-
pecially good seasons, a firm clean
seed bed such as is afforded on corn
land CIR summer fallow is almost a
necessity in a drier year. Planting
with a light nurse crop early in the
spring is the most popular practice.
fall seeding or seeding during the
winter on the snow might be best. In
the spring one should not use less
than 7-8 lbs. of scariied seed per
acre Flax is an ideal nurse crop. Do
no. expect Wy much pasture the
first year unless conditions are above
normal. If the stand is poor or
patchy in the fall, seeding of winter
rye will fill out the stand and insure
higher yield of feed the next year.
If the S and is reduced during the
winter, sowing of a spring hay crop
| is recommended. The Extension Ser
vice is putting a campaign for more
Sweet Clover throughout the state as
it is needed to balance the corn acre
age.
Alfalfa from the standpoint of hay
and seed production were discussed
and TRIALS Of both Grimm and Cossack
will be made in various parts of the
county. In the sowing of alfalfa,
greater care in providing a firm moist
/ seed bed was urged as alfalfa is
crop which is expected to be carried
for several years before being plowed
up. The extra overhead expense is
warranted
The various annual hay crops were
taken up. Variety trials will be run
in the county with a view toward de-
termining the value of Sudan grass,
millets, grain, hay, etc. for Sheridan
County conditions. The speaker was
of the opinion that We were probably
overlooking the value Of oat hay.
TILLAGE IMPLEMENTS
An illustrated talk on the princi-
pies Of tillage and various type of
homemade and manufactured tillage
| implements was given at various
places. The interest displayed indi-
ca ed that this is of vital Importance
in this county where we are apt to
be trying to use tillage methods and
/ implements adapted to the country
from which we came. Mr.. Ogaard
emphasized he Importance of disk
ing stubble especially on land to be
summer fallowed later than desir-
able. Early blowing of summer fall
low was brought cut and it was
stated that the average dry farmer
in Montana is falling down badly in
| This one particular as compared with
| dry farmers in older sections. Sub
surface packing was deemed a good
practice on loose soils, late plowed
summer .fallOW and where consider
| able trash has been turned under. Fer
summer fallOw subsurface packing
has, been Over-emphasized by dry
farm theorists. In caring for sum
mer fallOw after blowing, the disk
and the spike tooth harrow were
condemned. Various types Of home
made and manufactured implements
were thrown on the screen. The type
adapted to any given farm will de-
pend on sell, capital, etc. In the
use of such implements as the Duck
foot cultivator, various sheariuo or
straight blade weeders, single or
double rod weeders, the same prin-
clples are applied The surface is
kept "cEean and cloddy," deep cracks
are closed up, the fine soil is Sifted
down into the mellow and frnoe7s seed
bed and the subsurface and f1rrow
sllce IS brought into a firmer connec-
ton with the subSOil. This work viii
be continued through tillage impIe-
ment demonstrations this coming sea
son When farmers will be given an
opportunity of observing the different
types OF implements in action on
Sheridan County sells. Mr.. Ogaard
Is preparing . new bulle in on tillage
implements which viii greatly assist
farmers IN constructing any of these
implements
GOPHER POISONING
The county will furnish gopher moi
son at cost this year. The distribut-
ors will be he same as last wear
with few exceptions.
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