The Lexington advertiser., 1935-10-03

NJ. Williams made summary of the
meetings and continued with the mes
sage to the ones present. He stated
that the farmers had experience Any
things in the last few years due to eco
nomic conditions brought about from the
higher standards following the Wor'i
War and increased production, tn 81
uation creating a living cost beyond OF"
incomes. But that this was trying +
be remedied through efforts of the go
ernment in organizing the farmers anl
such matter would result in a per-
manent control and one that we all must
adjust and adapt ourselves
Answering the present situation thru
illustration of buying an automobile, h
stated that this represented the average
value of a farm, nothing you could raise
going into its upkeep and operati5r.
This had to be done through exchange
or sale of farm product that took from
the income. But even at that with rent
ed acres to the government we had fail
ed to take good advantage of same and
our lands were being depleted and our
own needs that could be raised neglect
ed.
AS an Illustration the county agent
pointed out that we spent the value
OF one cotton crop to buy the necessary
workstock we use every years whca
we could raise every animal bought. V.
spent one-third of the value of our cot
ton crop or $45o,o00 in Holmes county
last year for commercial fertilizer where
cover crops could be planted at small
cost. We import 279 carloads of feed
yo lrInI Oft
our feed. We spent 100000 for meat
and lard showing we do not raise enough
hogs
A. r. Burford of the Soil Conserva-
tlon Office, was next introduced who
spoke on the erosion control plans now
underway to save our soil. He stated
that each year we were losing from 40
to 100 tons per acre of rich top soil
and that we must stop it. He showed
that we must terrace and grow crops
to stop erosion. Such plants as SOW
beans, peas and vetch holds the soil to-
gether. the latter adding nitrogen and
humus to the soil. A chart showing s.
year averages for cotton yields on a
plot of ground gave the following in
favor of vetch: Using tons BARNARD
manure and 400 superphosphate aver
aged l47l lbs; one thousand pounds
commercial fertilizer, 1929 lbs; vetch.
lZol lbs; where nothing was used, 331
IDS. Farmers interested in erosion con-
troll OF farmlands were asked to inter-
view the county agent and obtain appli-
cation form for survey and estimate
of cost.
Agent Williams then told the gather
ing that carload of vetch was being
booked at II cents delivered for plant
ing cover crops and oats in 5-bushel
sacks at 60c bushel plus freight for
farmers desiring to offset the feed
shortage. He cautioned against stary
lnG work animals through the winter.
many complaints being made of swamp
fever which in most instances was "star-
walton" fever, valuable work animals he
ing lost annually.
W. H. Hall, forester of the Soil Con-
Servatlon Service, also gave valuable
hlnts on protecting woods and our
forest products, owing to their HIGH
value each year He asked that fire he
kept out the year round.
Agent Williams asked W. l.. Jordan
and G. H. Love to give their ideas of the
values of vetch. Mr. Jordan told of b;s
increased yields from the fertilizer con-
tent placed in the soil, while Mr.. Love.
probably pioneer in the use of vetcb
IN Holmes county, recited manv illns-
tfatlons over period of years, that was
very informative and helpful to those
present.