Farm Bureau Work ix New York State for 1914 2175 



A study of crop conditions and particularly of the historv' of the farm 

 always showed a striking; improvement from conditions before drainage. 

 Basing plans on a general drainage survey in the county and on successful 

 drainage experience, a ditching and drainage demonstration and field 

 meetings were held. These field meetings were attended by about 200 

 farmers who were deeply interested in the discussions and in the work. 

 A carload of tile was ordered by a group of farmers just before one of 

 the demonstrations was held. A twenty-acre field was surveyed and 

 mapped for tiling and part of the work of ditching and la3ang the tile 

 was done during the demonstrations. 



The tests with chemical fertilizers on hav fields, while in several cases 

 interfered with by the severe summer drought, in most cases showed 

 a profitable increase in the yield of hay. With the demand for market 

 hay at a good price it is believed that growing hay for market thfough 

 the use of chemical fertilizers, can be made an important adjunct to 

 dairying. 



A considerable ntunber of farmers have been interested in testing 

 the \'alue of winter vetch as a supplementary' forage crop in growing oats 

 and in the succeeding clover crop. The results are very encouraging, 

 and man}- more farmers will tr\' the experiment this year. A bulletin 

 on this subject has been published jointly by the St. Lawrence and the 

 Jefferson County farm bureaus. 



The question of what kind or kinds of com are best adapted to the 

 cHmate and other local conditions in this county is one that has been under 

 discussion \'cry generall}' during the past few years. With the hope of sort- 

 ing out a few desirable kinds, four comparative tests of ten varieties of 

 com have been made in four distinct sections of the county. This work 

 has not reached completion, but the field work indicates that there are a 

 limited nmnber of varieties that can be relied on to produce matiure silage 

 in this county. 



Finding that there are man^^ sections in the county with soils well suited 

 to the prodviction of potatoes and believing that this crop might be made 

 an important adjunct to dairying on many farms, the manager has en- 

 deavored to interest as many farmers as possible in growing the crop. 



The production of choice seed potatoes is likel}^ to be an important 

 industry for the farmers of this county in the near future. There is sure 

 to be a demand for seed potatoes that are free from dangerous diseases. 

 Thus far no powdery- scab has been found within this county. However, 

 there are other diseases common to potatoes that it is important to pre- 

 vent if good prices for seed potatoes are to be obtained. 



Whenever possible farms have been visited for the purpose of gi\'ing 

 advice or suggestions. It may be of interest to a,dd that more than half 

 of the specific calls for assistance have been on drainage problems. A 

 variety of questions arc naturally asked in connection with these calls, 

 and the}^ extend all the way from plans with regard to the construction 

 of barns, through the various farm cropping operations, down to questions 

 of how to raise more turkeys, and how to get more eggs in winter when 

 the hens do not lay. 



In general a feeling of sympathy and cooperation toward the work of 

 the farm bureau is manifesting itself wherever farmers have acquainted 



