The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-12-02
AGRICULTURAL NOTES

feed grains and hay In 1926 was less
bountiful than in 1925, but with the
proper distribution, there will be
enough to go around.
These are the conslusion of the
Blue Valley Creamery Institute in a
review of the feed situation. Last
years crop production was heavy
and a total of over 225 millions of
tons of feed were produced. This
year conditions have not been so ia
vorable, and the prospects are for a
total feed production of 213,000,O00
tions, SO percent below last years
production, and about percent I'M
der the average for the past five
years. Both concentrates and rough
ages are affected by this drop, but
the former is the more vital, includ-
ing as it does corn, which is by far
the most important feed crop pro-
duced.
The shortage in the feed crop pro-
duction this year is not as serious
as might first appear because of the
heavy carryover from last years
; bumper crops, particularly corn and
oats, the Institute states. Then,
too, the smaller number of livestock,
is also a big factor. The horse and
mule population is more than 10
percent under the five-year average
and still decreasing, the beef and
dairy cattle are per cent under, and
the hog population about IL per cent
below the average. This means that
the lowered feed crop production
this wear will be balanced by the re-
duction in the number OF livestock,
and will not necessitate reduced
feeding.
For the most economical produc-
ton of butterfat, pork, eggs and 9TH
er farm products. the matter OF pro-
per feeding is the most important
factor. Therefore, with no oversup-
DIV of good grain feeds on farms at
this time, it will pay big to give spec,
ial attention to feeding we'll and
without waste. Dairy cows will
maintain their body weight and good
health on a liberal supply of good
alfalfa hay and corn silage, all they
will clean up at each feeding. For
milk production they need additional
feed in the form of a well-balanced
grain mixture, fed at the rate of one
pound to every three or four pounds
of milk produced. Corn, of course,
is the cheapest and most efficient hog
feed in midwest states. When it is
supplemented with skimmilk, an ideal
feed for hogs is made. A good dry
mash and skimmilk with the regular
scratchgrains for poultry is the Sc
cret of large and most economical
egg production in winter. :,
At present the ratio between feed
costs and livestock prices makes feed
operations profitable, and it is not
expected that prices will advance suf-
ficiently to eliminate the margin of
profits in converting feed into meat
and animal products. However, with
closer adjustment of feed supply to
demand, it is probable that the gen
eral trend of the feed market will
be irregularly upward.
Vegetables that Look Out for
hemselves-Varietie of vegetables
that are resistant to certain diseases,
and also adapted to market demands
are being developed in certain in
stances, thus doing away with the
necessity for many Of the usual
methods of control. While it is not
possible to reach this goal promptly,
if at all, for all vegetables, never
theless considerable progress has al
ready been made in this direction. A
few outstanding achievements along
this line are indicative of what may
be expected in future years.
Asparagus growers in the United
States have for many years suffered
serious losses from the presence of
fhnir RrpnHInU
work inaugurated in 1916 by the U.
S. Department of Agriculture in CO.
operation with the Massachusetts,
Agricultural Experiment Station and
the Massachusetts, Asparagus Grow
ers Association resulted in the pro-
duction of the Washington strains of
asparagus known as the Washing
ton, the Martha Washington, and
the Mary Washington, all of which
are highly resistant to rust, and at
the same time of superior market
quality. These strains have been
distributed and are now being plant
ed largely by the asparagus growers,
especially in the eastern United
States.
Other outstanding examples in
clude the development of variety
of bean known as Wells Red Kidney
which resulted from work by Cornell
University and a New York grower
and which is highly resistant to the
anthracnose disease. The Robust
variety of pea bean, which is i'm
mune to mosaic was developed at the
Michigan Agricultural College. Va
rieties of cabbage resistant to cab
bage yellows, widespread and de-
structive disease of that crop, have
been developed by the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture and the Wis
consin Experiment Station. Variet-
les of tomatoes of superior CONNER
cial quality and highly resistant to
the wilt disease, which is serious in
the Central and Southern States,
have been bred by the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture, this work be-
ing supplemented by the State eX-
pertinent stations of the South.
Settled Hogs Don't Overeat-
When hogs of any age have constant
access to self-feeders there is prac-
tically no danger of their overeat-
ing, says the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. This is of con-
siderable Importance in the case of
sows which are sucking their lit
tiers. An additional advantage of
the self-feeder system is the free
dom from overcrowding at the feed
ers which is usual when hand feed
ing is practiced.
Big Butter States-Minnesota not
only makes more butter but also