FARM DEPARTMENT. 12'S 



teer crop which continued to grow until there was about two-thirds as much as at first. 

 Wishing to use the fall pasture in other parts of the enclosure I turned my cows in. 

 For about three days they would not notice the spurry. But after they "got a taste" 

 they would eat nothing else so long as the spurry lasted. There was a decided increase 

 in the quantity of milk. Also the quality was improved. 



When allowed to ripen for seed I thresh it with a Hail. I feed the straw to my cows 

 together with a ration of turnips. The result is highly satisfactory, the cattle never 

 doing better. The only trouble was in not having enough, as when the spurry was 

 gone they refused to eat other fodder until starved to it. The crop as a whole was 

 worth more than double any previous crop. I know that it will grow where other 

 crops fail, also that it is the best of fodder crops for cattle and sheep. As far as I know 

 horses do not like it. 



As a manurial crop I think it will be excellent, but will test it thoroughly both by 

 plowing under, and also by leaving on the ground as a top dressing, and protection for 

 young clover, which 1 shall sow and drag in after the first harvesting. 



It is my opinion, gained by experience and observation, that spurry if rightly handled 

 will be of great value in reclaiming the pine barrens. Any plant that will grow here 

 that will make fodder for cattle and sheep will be welcome, as sheep raising will sooner 

 or later be the leading industry here. 



Yours very truly, 



Perry Ostbander, 

 Pres. of the Crawford County Farmers' Association. 



Dr. Palmer thinks that spurry will prove a valuable crop for plowing 

 vender as a fertilizer for orchards, but of this we have not yet had 

 experience. On the plains it has not proven troublesome as a weed, 

 but it may be well to be cautious on this point when the crop is grown 

 on richer soil. Experience will soon prove whether there is anything to 

 TPAr 



O. CLUTE, Director. 



February, 1893. 



