Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-04

movement Of soil, water and for soil
air which are all necessary for plant
growth. The soil is composed . of
rocky and vegetable materials. The
rocks supplying necessary mineral
matter and the vegetable materials
the organic plant food. These sup
plemented by substances from the
air and water supply the needs OF
the plant for growth material. AS
the soil particles decompose they
gradually lose the soluble materials
and have left largely the particles
composed of quartz and other sub
stances in composition with iron,
iron, aluminium. and various other
minerals which render the plant
food SO nearly insoluble as to make
! the soil practically unproductive.
The Introduction and the subsequent
decay of organic matter assists in
the reduction of the above substance
es into more soluble state Appli-
cations of lime also assist in these
processes of reduction. Thorough
! tillage also serves a very valuable
service in this change"
Some Legume Crops for Maine"
by Professor B. G. Helmick. U. of NJ:
With the constant increase in the
price of protein food stuffs, and the
high price of the heterogeneous ferti-
lizers, more and more farmers are
using legumes as a feed crop or a
green manure crop or as both, and
as result of this demand so many
legumes are being advertised and so
much is being claimed for them, that
the farmer often wonders which one
is the best. There is no best legume
for Maine, though some are better
n a N o. fnt Il
erS.
principles Of Poultry Feeding"
by o. NJ. Wilbur. Poultry Specialist
Extension Service, U. of NJ, de-
livered at Poultry School: AL
though the housings and environ
mental conditions under which poul-
try are kept are important for the
best egg production from hens the
feed which is given them is the raw
material which the hen must use
to keep her body in good physical
condition and from which the eggs
are manufactured. Without proper
feeding, therefore it is impossible to
secure a large number of eggs from
hens even though they may have the
inherent ability to produce eggs. A
complete poultry ration is made up
of several kinds of food and each
class of food has it's particular value
and each performs it's special func-
ton when it is eaten by the hens.
The grain part of the ration is made
up of two classes of feed one part
is known as mash and the other a
scratch feed. The mash is made up
of the grain by-productS and animal
products such as meat meal or fish
meal. The mash is high In protein
and has the particular function of
producing growth in young stock in
maintaining the physical upkeep of
the mature birds and any surplus is
used in the manufacture of the egg.
The scratch feed is made up of the
whole or cracked grain and has the
particular function of producing the
necessary heat and energy required
by the birds to produce fat which
is stored up on the hens body and
in providing the fat used in the egg
yolk"
Care of Manure from the Poultry
Plant" by II. c. Swift, Instructor
in Agronomy, University of Maine:
THE annual production of poultry
manure in the State of Maine is at
least 22,500 tons. Based on the pres
ent prices of plant food in CONNER
cial fertilizers. the nitrogen. phos-
phorous. and potassium in this ma
nure, when fresh, would have a total
value of about s27S,000. From an
agricultural standpoint. the success
full treatment of poultry manure
presents three problems: first, to
prevent teaching and putrofactive
losses; second, to add sufficient
amounts of PHOSPHORUS and potas-
stun, in forms available for plant
food. to make a balanced fertilizer:
and third, to improve the physical
condition so it can be easily handled
and applied to the land in an eco
uomical Manner