The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-04-11
COUNTY AGENTS COLUMN.
]. H. CARTER,
Resident County Agent,
Oakland, Md.
Top Dressing Aids Retarded Wheat

! top dressing winter wheat with nitro
genous fertilizers in the spring, it is
said by F. w. Oldenburg, Extension
Service Agronomist for the UNIVERSE
ty of Maryland. Top dressing became
more popular, especially during the
last fifteen years, because of the nj
trogen. In addition, interest was
aroused through the experimental
work which was, and is, being con-
Quoted by the educational bureau of
the National Fertilizer Association
and Educational departments of other
fertilizer companies in cooperation
with the various agricultural colleges.
Nitrogen is of particular help to the
farmers in increasing yields whe1e
the wheat made poor growth during
the fall and was retarded by wet
spring. Under these circumstances
the application of from one to two
hundred pounds of top dressing has
increased the yield of wheat, per acre,
from five to ten and even fifteen BUSH
els. Top dressing should be put OH
the wheat as soon after growth starts
in the spring as possible, which is
generally from March 18th to April
18th, depending upon the general To-
cation of the farm. The amount Of
fertilizer to be applied will depend up
on the soil fertility and condition of
the wheat.
Any grower desiring to top dress
his wheat this spring may receive adj
ditional information and assistance in
doing so from his County Agent or
the Extension Service of the Uni
versity of Maryland.
Early Cultivation Advised for
Orchards
In spite of the uncertainty of pres
ent weather conditions, orchardists of
the State are being advised by A. F.
Vierheller, Specialist in Horticulture
for the University of Maryland Ex-
tension Service, to carefully follow all
spray and cultivation schedules so as
to insure good development of trees
and fruit. This precaution is impor-
tant, it is asserted, because the trees
must be induced to grow for next
years crop even though this years
may be injured by a late frost.
Particular emphasis is placed upon
early blowing of the orchards, as this
work is not only gotten out of the
way and the soil put in better me-
chanical condition in allowing the
turned under organic matter longer
time to rot, but it will help to destroy
the dead leaves and mummied fruit
which contains the spores OF apple
scab and brown rot that may also
hold fruit moth or curculio.
If fertilizer has not been applied it
should be put on as soon as possible.
In this connection, it is pointed, if
nitrate of soda is the fertilizer to be
used it may be applied half at this
time and the rest after the June drop.
Sulphate of amonia should be applied
in the entire amount.
1t is asserted while each individual
grower, by determining the general
soil fertility and vigor of his trees
must decide the amount of fertilizer
to use, in general, it has been found
o,,N1o fro,N, al b+ 10 1yyo
years of age require from three to
five pounds of fertilizer, while those
of twelve years and upward should
have from five to ten pounds. Peach
trees do not require as much nitrogen
and two to four pounds should be
sufficient.
Adapt a regular program of SAM
tation on your farm to reduce the loss
of baby chicks. More than half the
loss of your chicks occur during the
first three or four weeks.
One of the best methods of storing
CSSo 1Ol llOIllS use 10 Vic WoCSl SAeioE
solution method, which will keep eggs
from to IL months in excellent con
dition. The eggs can be stored at ap
proximately cents per dozen. l
you are interested you may obtain in
formation from the County Agent
office.
When a 5000 or $500 bull will in
crease your dairy herds to the exten
of $100 to $125 per year there can b
little argument that the good bull i
not most profitable, regardless of thu
cost. Many time a cheap sire prove.
the most expensive in the long rur
Visit the Better Dairy Sire Specials
at Oakland on April Oath at 200 +
m., and see bulls from dams with higl
records sold at cost.
Farmers who are planning to SOY
alfalfa seed this spring should max
sure of getting seed of the right typ
adapted to Maryland conditions. Their
are two general types of Alfalfa say
Mr.. F. w. Oldenburg, Specialist i
Agronomy for the University o