River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1924-03-06
AGRICULTURAL NOTES
BY H. G. seyforth.

Word has been received from the
State Veterinarian at Madison that
the funds for testing cattle for tuber-
culosis are 4unning low and that the
Federal Testers viii not be able to
take on any new herds until after
July |, 1924, unless, the owner wishes
to waive his indemnity in case he
should have any reactors.
Mr.. Younggren has moved his
limestone crusher to Elmwood whore
he plans to crush 500 or more tors OF
limestone for farmers in the vicinity
of Elmwood and Spring Valley.
Farmers living in that part of the
county should try to haul the lime
stone as fast as he brushes it so that
he will know how much he will have
to crush.
Four Soils Meetings We're held the
past week, at Spring Valley, Prescott
River Falls and Ellsworth. These
meetings were held especially for the
farmers who had private soil analy-
sis made of their farms. Very much
interest was taken in the discussions
Orders were placed for two carloads
of commercial fertilizer consisting
chiefly of 20 per cent Acid Phosphate
this to be used to top dress the fields
before sowing alfalfa. If there is
anyone else wishing to get some OF
the acid phosphate | should be notified
not later than March 10.
1t seems necessary to treat seed
grain every two or three years or
smut increases so as to cause loss in
yield, and spoils the crop for selling
as seed. The treatment for smut is
very simple and very effective. 1t
consists of soaking seed for five
minutes in a solution made by mixing
formaldehyde and water at the rate
of one pint of formaldehyde to SO gal
Ions of water, and then spreading the
seed out to dry. The sprinkling
method is also quite effective. If this
is practiced every two or three years
very little smut will be found in the
fields. Bulletins giving further infor-
nation on this subject can be obtain
ed at this office.
Orchards that have San Jose,
Scurvy or Oyster Shell scale will
need dormant spray Only oyster
shell scale will be found in this
county and that in only few or
chards. Otherwise, a dormant spray
is not necessary. Probably the best
time to apply the dormant spray IS
before or at the time when the buds
begin to swell but if the eggs of the
aphids are abundant, the applications
had best be delayed until the leaf
buds show green, and add nicotine
sulfate, one part to 800, to the spray
solution. This is often termed the
delayed dormant spray. For this
spray use liquid lime sulphur, one
part to or 10 parts of water or dry
lime sulphur at the rate of Is pounds
to SO gallons of water. On power
sprayers, the pressure should be held
at 200 to $50 pounds if effective work
is to be done. Either the spray rod
or spray gun may be used. In using
barrel sprayer, that is, a hand out
fit, good work can be done if very
fine disc is use and the pressure kept
constant at 125 to $50 pounds.
Bulletins that can be obtained at
this Office which would prove very
interesting and helpful to the ladies:
Farm Homes; Strawberry Culture in
Wis; Making Clothes last Longer;
Convenient Kitchens; Milk, the Best
Food; Paper Dress Forms and New
Clothes at small Cost.
Foot and Mouth Disease has broken
out in the western United States, and
Commissioner j. d. Jones has issued
a warning to farmers in Wisconsin
to watch their cattle closely and as
soon as any symptoms are noticed
send for veterinarian.