FREEING OATS FROM SMUT

Indiana farmers sow annually more than one million seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of oats. In recent years oat smut has attacked the crop, causing an annual loss conservatively estimated at three million bushels. Valuing these oats at forty cents per bushel the loss amounts to one million two hundred thousand dollars. This loss can be largely prevented if proper treatment is given to the seed.

ALFALFA

Alfalfa should not displace clover on the farm. Clover is necessary in a well-planned rotation and should be retained. The growing of alfalfa to supply hay for the live stock will allow the clover to be used in a larger way for soil improvement purposes. For the reason that alfalfa usually stands from six to ten years it can not be given a place in the regular rotation. It is necessary to have a piece of land apart from the regularly rotated fields, so that it will not interfere in any way.

The land selected for alfalfa should be well drained. The long tap roots of this crop require that the water level be low. When the water level stands close to the surface of the soil, the development of the plants is interfered with and injuring from heaving during the winter is likely to result. Further, the success of alfalfa is dependent upon the development of bacteria upon the roots. These organisms will not flourish in a soil that is cold and which does not permit a free circulation of air. The bacteria are called upon to extract large amounts of nitrogen from the air as it circulates through the soil. They develop best in soils which are warm,

moist (not wet) and which are supplied with plenty of air and free from acidity.

Under our conditions in Indiana, therefore, it is felt that some form of artificial inoculation is desired. Fields may be inoculated by sowing two hundred or three hundred pounds of soil per acre, from some field or plot which has grown alfalfa or sweet clover successfully.

The failure of bacteria to develop in many soils is due. to the presence of acidity. In order to supply conditions necessary for the best development of leguminous plants and the desirable forms of bacteria, this acidity must be neutralized. For this purpose, lime can be used to advantage. Lime is also necessary for the reason that alfalfa removes in each ton of hay 86.2 pounds of lime.

Alfalfa Supplies Protein. Farmers of the Central West, where milk, pork, beef and mutton are being produced in an extensive way, are demanding a farm crop that will furnish large quantities of protein at a low cost. Commercial feeding stuffs, such as bran, cottonseed meal, linseed meal, gluten feed, etc., that contain large quantities of protein, are very expensive and are not fed by the average farmer at any large profit. Alfalfa meets these demands in a most satisfactory way.

Alfalfa contains II per cent. digestible protein, while red clover hay contains 6.8 per cent., timothy hay 2.8 per cent. and wheat bran 12.3 per cent.

THE POTATO CROP.

Unusual interest has been shown by all classes of people in the production of potatoes. The extraordinary demand has caused them to realize more than ever before the impor

tant place potatoes occupy in the daily menu. High prices have emphasized the, dependence placed upon this article of food and the real shortage in production. Since the declaration of war a concerted effort has been made to plant back yards, vacant lots, as well as larger acreage on the farms with potatoes.

THE FARM ORCHARD

In the campaign for a greater food production in Indiana the farm orchard should receive attention. Apples are no longer considered a luxury but a necessary and important food. The practise of preserving, canning, evaporating and drying apples makes it possible to have this fruit throughout the whole year. The apple trees, too, occupy good land which should show some profitable returns at this time when every acre is called upon to do its share.

PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS

Pastures have proved profitable in the production of pork. Demonstrations show that gains on hogs, made with pasture crops are made at twenty to thirty per cent. less cost than gains produced largely with grain alone. The increased exercise, the succulent feed and the supply of protein, the bone and muscle producer, offered by good pastures are all conducive to the good health and rapid growth of young pigs.

Rape is one of the most satisfactory crops for early hog pasture when clover is not available. It closely resembles cabbage in appearance and manner of growth, except that it does not produce a head. It has large, coarse, succulent

leaves and ordinarily grows from twenty to thirty inches tall. It is a cool weather plant and can be sown early in the spring, as soon as there is no further danger of severe frost. It will endure a pretty severe frost in the fall without injury and may be used for pasture late in the fall, provided the hogs are kept off when it is frozen. It is usually killed by such winters as we have in Indiana.

The cow-pea is a legume producing much forage and considerable grain. It requires about ninety days from the time it is planted until it is developed sufficiently for pasturing. However, varieties differ in this respect, and late plantings develop more quickly than early plantings. It is ready to pasture when the first pods shows signs of ripening.

THE SILO

More than thirty thousand silos are in use at this time on Indiana farms. This number is increasing at the rate of more than five thousand each year. Perhaps this is the best proof that the silo has demonstrated its value and that it is a necessity on every live-stock farm.

No dairy farm equipment is complete without a silo. In fact, there should be at least one silo for winter feeding and one of a smaller diameter for summer feeding. Good corn silage is palatable, succulent, bulky, beneficial to the digestive tract and economical. These important characteristics make silage essential to the largest and most economical flow of milk.

Experiments carried on by experiment stations demonstrate that silage is superior to corn fodder for dairy cows. Cows receiving silage in the ration produced thirteen per cent. more milk than cows receiving corn fodder.