HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARMERS' MONTHLY 



Continnetl from pase 1. column '^ 

 gallon.-; of water. This amount of solu- 

 tion just covers a barrel (165 lbs.) of 

 potatoes if they are poured loose into the 

 solution. The potatoes were not soaked 

 in the sacks as the corrosive sublimate 

 Iras a great affinity for organic matter 

 and it would lose considerable strength if 

 the sacks were dipped. 



At every demonstration at least two 

 barrels were used, both having holes bored 

 on a stave near the bottom so that the 

 liquid could be drawn off. One barrel 

 was placed on a platform and the .solu- 

 tion poured into it. Then the potatoes 

 were poured into the solution and soaked 

 for one-half hour. The liquid was then 

 drawn off by pulling the plug in the up- 

 per barrel and allowed to run into the 

 lower barrel. The soaked seed wa.s then 

 spread out one deep to dry off and to 

 gi-een and another barrel sack of potatoes 

 put into the upper barrel and the solu- 

 tion poured over them. The solution may 

 be used four times and should then be 

 thrown away. In extremely bad cases of 

 Rhozoctonia the seed may be soaked up 



CORN FERTILIZATION 



DEMONSTRATIONS 



Acid Phosphate vs. Mixed Goods on 

 Manured Land 



Demostrations have been established in 

 many towns of the County to show that 

 acid phosphate is a more economical and 

 more efficient fertilizer to use for corn on 

 manured land than the usual commercial 

 "corn" fertilizer. Last year demonstra- 

 tions were carried on in Middlefield, 

 Ware and South Hadley. In the first two 

 towns the results were so striking that 

 the majority of the farmers were ".sold" to 

 the idea and have stopped using low grade 

 commercial fertilizers and are using only 

 straight acid phosphate with the manure. 



The theory and facts of the case are 

 that the manure carries all the nitrogen 

 and potash that the corn crop needs. It 

 does not carry enough phosphoric acid. 

 Acid phosphate carries twice as much of 

 the needed clement and also cost 1/4 to 

 1/3 less than mixed goods. Application 

 may be made at the same rate as mixed 



to an hour and a half. The seed should ■ goods which usually means from two to 

 not be .sprouted much as the corrosive I four hundred lbs. per acre. If the corn 

 sublimate will kill the sprouts but new ' planter has a fertilizer attachment the 

 ones will come out. In handling corro- ! acid phosphate should be applied in the 

 sive sublimate no metal containers should I drill. If your planter has not the fer- 



be used as the poison eats them rapidly. 

 Wooden pails were used. 



The picture on the front page shows 

 the county agent cutting seed potatoes be- 

 fore an interested group of farmers in 

 Easthampton. It shows no special 

 equipment is needed. In this ca.se we 

 took an old bench, nailed on two .side 

 boards, put a few blocks under one end 

 so as to tilt the table up. Then a short 

 pine board was found and a common 

 paring knife driven through it. The 

 board with the knife in it was then nailed 

 to the bench and the cutter was ready. 

 It took less than five minutes to rig up 

 the outfit. A short board was nailed be- 

 tween the sides in front of the knife and 

 then the seed potatoes were placed on the 

 tilted table. Then the operator has only 

 to reach in front of him to get the 

 potatoes. The rest of the outfit consists 

 of a' seat and a basket to receive the cut 

 seed. 



In cutting, draw the potato over the 

 knife cutting the tuber in halves. Then 

 turn it half way around and cut off the 

 stem end merely being sure there is at 

 least one eye on the seed piece. The seed 

 end may be quartered if the potatoes are 

 large. The main idea in cutting seed 

 potatoes is to get a good sized seed piece 

 (li to 2 oz.) which has at least one eye. 

 In New York state 1.50 experiments have 

 shown that seed cut fine so that only 6 

 to 8 bushels were needed to plant an acre 

 gave 100 bushels less than seed cut so 

 that it took 16 to 18 bushels per acre. The 

 increase of 100 bu.shels per acre wa.s due 

 solely to an investment of 10 bushels of 



tilizer attachment apply the acid phos- 

 phate the same as you usually apply 

 mixed goods. 



The following demonstrations have 

 been signed up: Amherst, C. E. Stiles, 

 R. S. Schoonmaker; CummAnf/fon, Leon 

 Thayer; Goshen, Geo. Barrus; Granhii, 

 Ashley Randall, A. French, 3. E. IVIajor, 

 W. Forward, Oscar St. Jean, C. D. Ly- 

 man; Hadley, J. G. Cook, E. P. West; 

 Huntington, Merrill, Mellen, Ralph Cole, 

 E. F. Tinker; Plain field, Ralph Rice; 

 South Hadleii, .Joe Long; Westhampton, 

 Ralph Bridgman, A. D. Montague, Geo. 

 Burt, G. W. Graves, Clifford Bartlett, 

 Hugh Bridgeman; Worfliingtoii. Howard 

 Johnson. 



Look over the demonstration in your 

 town. They are there for your benefit 



seed potatoes. It is, therefore, poor 

 economy to cut seed pieces too small. 

 After one has become proficient with the 

 one edged knife both edges may be 

 sharpened and a still further saving of 

 time be effected. We know of one farmer 

 in the County who has cut 25 bushels of 

 seed potatoes in a half day by using this 

 method. Can you beat it? 



Those who attended these meetings 

 were amply repaid for the time spent. 

 If you were not there, plan to attend the 

 next meeting held in your town. It will 

 be worth your while. 



Notice 

 Sample Farm Bureau harnesses can be 

 seen at the farm of Josiah Parsons, 

 Bridge St., Northampton. 



Northampton 

 d* National Bank ^ 



WARREN M. KING, President 



C. H. PIERCE, Vice-President 



EDWIN K. ABBOTT, Cashier 



J. MALCOLM WARREN, Ass't. Cashier 



CAPITAL AND SURPLUS. ST18,(XJ0 

 DEPOSIT.S, fii.aKI.IIOIJ 



Savings Department 

 Interest Payable Quarterly 



We are qualified to act as Executor, 

 Administrator and Trustee 



Why not make your will appointing 

 this Bank as Executor? 



THE BANK FOR EVERYBODY 



H. D. SMITH 



Hatfield, Mass. 



GRAIN, COAL, ICE 



AND 



FARM MACHINERY 



The Habit of Saving 



Is at the bottom of most 

 big successes in the busi- 

 ness world. Begin the 

 habit l)y opening a sav- 

 ings account with the 

 H a y (1 e n V i 1 1 e Savings 

 Bank. One dollar is 

 enough to start with. 



BANK BY MAIL 



HAYDENVILLE SAVINGS BANK 



HAYDENVILLE, MASS. 



