452 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



LIVE STOCK. 



The keeping of live stock on these lauds is very important: First 

 because much of the material that would otherwise be sold from the 

 farm is retained for feed, and from 65% to 80% of the feed will reach 

 the manure pile. In the second place these lands are said to respond 

 to a remarkable degree to the application of manures. The manures, 

 therefore, should be carefully husbanded and applied to the soils. Where 

 the land is to be plowed, it will be found best to apply the manure as a 

 top dressing after the plowing has been done. Where the land is to be 

 disced, the manure should be applied before the discing, and it will 

 usually be found best to apply the manure a considerable time, if pos- 

 sible, before the discing is done. 



ALFALFA. 



It has been shown that manj' of these soils are especially adapted to 

 the growing of alfalfa. Alfalfa will prove not only a xvery valuable 

 crop so far as yield and feeding value are concerned, but it will, also, 

 prove very beneficial to the soil itself. 



TOOLS. 



For these soils, after they are brought under cultivation, the follow- 

 ing tools will be needed: 

 • 1. Plow, of the long mold-board type. 



2. Disc harrow. The 18 inch disc is usually considered best. 



3. A land roller. 



4. Spike tooth harrow of the lever type and of light weight. 



5. Weeder. 



6. Cultivator of the small, many-shoveled or toothed type. 



The disc harrow will be used instead of the plow in preparing the 

 ground for the crop, excepting where the crop is to follow clover. 



The roller will be needed usually only where the plowing immediately 

 precedes the planting, or where a crop of some kind is i>lowed under. 



FERTILIZERS. 



Commercial fertilizers cannot be made to take the place of organic 

 matter in these soils. In general farm practice the greatest value can 

 be gotten from commercial fertilizers only Avhen such a system as out-' 

 lined above is practiced; but with such system, and with proper ferti- 

 lizer it is probable that profitable results may be obtained from their 

 use. In buying prepared fertilizers it is best to buy the higher grades 

 of fertilizers; for the cost per pound of available plant food in the high 

 grade fertilizers is less than that in the low grade. 



—J. A. JEFFERY. 



