The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-09-16
BLUE VALLEY FAR SERVICE
BY M. "A. Nye
Why a Winter Protection

of growth left on an alfalfa field, to
tide it over the winter?
The reason rs to maintain an even
temperature on the Alfalfa plants,
according to Ralph Grim, Extension
Crops Expert, University Farm, ST.
Paul, MINI.
Ground covered with mat of
growth does not get nearly so cold
in severe winter weather, then when
the thaws come, it doessnot thaw out
readily.
Freezing and thawing of the
ground is bound to be hard on any
root crop. The contraction and ex-
pansion which goes on, forces the
root out of the ground. Roots are
strained and pulled and may be even
snapped in two.
Bare ground is the quickest to get
very cold and the first to warm up.
This uneven temperature is controll-
ed where good winter covering is
left on the field.
Just as a large body of water MAIN
tains an even temperature upon the
country Immediately surrounding it,
so the winter covering protects the
roots of alfalfa.
Alfalfa Proves Short Cut to Profits
on the Farm
Alfalfa pasture is the foundation
of cheap pork production on thous-
ands of middle west farms. Expert
ments in different states have shown
some remarkable returns from graz
ing hogs on this kind of pasture.
Typical of these is one conducted at
the Iowa station.
A group of spring hogs in dry
lot reached the desirable market
weight of 225 pounds in TIA days,
consuming in this period an average
of 396.33 pounds shelled corn, As. 81
pounds meat meal tankage and .27
pounds salt, totyl of 442 IL pounds
feed for each 100 pounds gain. These
hogs had no pasture whatever, but
were simply fed on concentrated
feeds in spacious dry lot. They
were sold att S10.6 60 cwt. on De-
ceber 8.
The samme number of hogs on
alfalfa pasture, receiving the same
grain feed, were ready for market at
the 225 pound weight in LAG days.
They went to market November H.,
nearly month before those on dry
lot, and brought $11.75 a cwt: While
on alfalfa pasture, they required for
100 pounds gain 381.28 pounds corn,
1875 pounds tankage, and .21
pounds salt, total of 1874. % pounds
feed.
Not only did the alfalfa-fed hogs
bring better price on account of
going to market earlier in the mar
keting season, but there was a big
saving for every 100 pounds gain
made on alfalfa pasture as compared
to the dry lot. The saving in corn
for every 100 pounds gain was Is
pounds plus the more Important saw
ing of tmkage, which amounted to
49,. rs pounds. Other appreciable
savings on the alfalfa-pasture hogs
in going to market earlier were the
risk of loss from disease, overhead
and carrying charges.
Corn Sweepstakes go to Martir
County Boy-Marcus Teeters, Jr.
exhibited the best 10 ears of corn in
the contest for juniors which culmi-
mates every year in the boys and
girls club building of the Mime
sofa State Fair and Northwest Dairy
Exposition. He was awarded the
grand sweepstakes for his Silver
King, a variety of White Dent. Mar
Gus lives on a farm near Granada,
Martin county. Although but Is
years of age, his county agent, A. R.
Karr, says the boy has been driving
team all summer on the farm and
otherwise substituting for hired
man. Besides being in the corn
club, Marcus is member of pig anc
poultry clubs. In 1924 and 1925 h.
was in baby beef work. He fortified
his two corn plots with phosphates
and was rewarded by improved
yields and early maturity.
Marcus won the sweepstakes for
the best Yellow Dent and White
Dent. The sweepstakes for any other
variety were won by Lloyd johnson
of Fergus Falls. Leading winners in
the different zones were, in their or
der:
Northern - Yellow Dent - Loren
Braton, John Gerhig, and Arnold
Hough, all of GAINESVILLE, Clay
county.
WnCe DenU@WHDer COleInan, ALL
kin; Philys Damke, Balm, Aitkin coun-
ty.
Amy Other Variety-Loyd john
son, Fergus Falls; Alvin Weberg,
Lancaster, and Lawrence Halstad,
Crookston.
Central Yellow Dent-Max Mol
lenhauer, Mortified; Ross Bryant,
Monticello; and Lester Ost, Month
cello.
White Dent-James M. Hansen,
Jr., Elizabeth, Ottertai county; Gail
Bryant, Monticello.
Southern-Yellow Dent Marcus
letters, Jr., Granada; Cyrus jaeger
son, Sherburn; Paul b. Larson, st.
Peter.
White Dent-Marcus Teeters, Jr.,
Granada; Robert Blanchar, Sher-
burn; Rollo Campo, Granada
September Fl "Family Day" at
Conference-Special days for the
discussion of 'thealth" delinquency"
s'neighborhoods, Children" and the
stfamily" have been set aside for the
34th session of the Minnesota State
Conference of Social Workers which
will be held at University Farm, st.
Paul, September Is to 25. The ques-