The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-08-30
County Agents Column

Last week about $50, farmers
of central Washington, viewed the
research work and program be-
ing carried on at the experiment
station at Prosser. Superintend-
ent Harold Singleton and his staff
conducted very interesting tours
to the work being done with the
tree-fruits, small fruits, varieties,
agronomy, crop rotation, soil con-
servation, insect control, and
others. It was felt that very
worth while day was spent at
this station. It should be remem-
bered that this is your expert
ment station, set up for your
benefit and should be used as
much as possible.
MINT
And speaking of research, the
mint question is one OF those
problems with which we are still
struggling. Samples are being sent
in for analysis at weekly inter-
walls. AS yet no definite recon-
mendations can be made but pre-
liminary information leads one
to believe too early cutting is not
advisable. More can be men
toned next week.
WORM CONTROL
DOT controls the ear worm.
DOT has been successfully used
against ear worm in sweet corn,
USDA reports. This insecticide
when mixed with mineral oil or
thrum in 1914 field tests made
in an emulsion gave better con-
troll of ear worms than did pyre-
in Illinois. Before DOT can be
recommended for farm use, how
ever, scientists must determine if
any poison hazard exists for men
and animals in the residue left
from it.
DRY HAY
How many farmers can judge
good-quality dry hay lying in the
field, the stack or the NOW?
Leonard Hegnauer, Washington
extension agronomist says that
to many farmers ''ton of hay is
a ton of hay" but careful buyers
look at the quality.
Farmers who know value in dry
legume hay are willing to pay
more when they can get the kind
with the following four points OF
merritt
l. Good color. Hay should be
bright green and free from stack
burn, weather stain and other dis
coloration.
2. Leaves should be plentiful, as
food value of hay is stored mostly
in them.
3. Stems should be light and
fine.
4. Hay should be free from
weeds and other foreign material.
"a ton of hay may be ton
to some people; but high quality
hay is worth more than low quail
ity," states Hegnauer.
'Alfalfa hay that was cut when
the blossom was starting to 60
to seed and which lay in the wind
row or swath until it was bleached
out probably is low in protein
and vitamin A and isn't worth
much.
Farmers have the chance to
examine hay before they buy it.
# they consider the four points
of merit listed here, they're apt
to get hay Of a desirable quality;
and, likewise, sellers will find it
pays to grow the kind Of hay
which is in demand.
Farmers who are growing chic
kens for meat poduction should
choose strains which feather out
and can be picked at an early age,
because these birds may be mar
keted sooner at higher prices, ac-
cording to Fred Frazier, extern
sion poultryman of Washington
State College.
A number of hatcheries in the
recognizing the advant-
age Of fast feathering for early
pay especial attention
to providing the farmer with this
type of heavy chick, says Frazier.
AT ten day Of age, fast-feather-
ing cockerels and pullets have
tail feathers about one-half inch
in length, whereas, slow feather
ing cOckerelS and bullets have