HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARMERS' MONTHLY 



County Aj^ent.s Animal Koport 



Continuf^d from p;ig:e 1, column *>' 

 ing manure with acid phosphate; (c) 

 Use of high-grade mixed fertilizers for 

 casli crops; (d) Use of nitrate of soda on 

 the hay crop; and (e) Lime where neces- 

 sary. 



The purpose of this program is two- 

 fold: — First, to rebuild soils which are 

 now infei-tile, because of being abused ; 

 second, to make possible a reduction of 

 the grain bill on dairy farms by sub- 

 stituting home-grown roughage for part 

 of the grain being fed. 



The purpose and practices of this pro- 

 gram were discussed before 416 farmeis 

 at 23 Dairy Farmers' Schools, held in the 

 county this year. As a result, 45 farm- 

 ers agreed to try acid phosphate to sup- 

 plement manure for corn and for seed- 

 ing down; and 12 agreed to try nitrate of 

 soda on the hay crop. In towns where 

 this progiam had been presented before, 

 it was found that both of these practices 

 are now in general use. 



The use of the Soiltex tester has done 

 much to further the use of lime in the 

 county. Over 100 soil samples have been 

 tested for lime requirements and in prac- 

 tically all cases, it was found that from 

 1 to 3 tons of lime per acre was needed 

 to correct acidity. The tester also ex- 

 plained why many clover and alfalfa 

 fields have been failing in the past. As 

 a result of the Dairy Farmers' Schools 

 and the testing work, 3.56 tons of lime- 

 stone and agricultural lime have been 

 brought into the county. 



(2) Potato Production 



The use of certified seed potatoes shows 

 an increase of 1700 bu.shels over 1923. 

 This year, 291.5 barrels of certified seed 

 were brought in by farmers and dealers. 

 The trend toward certified seed is well 

 illustrated by the experience of one deal- 

 er. Two years ago, this man only hand- 

 led a few barrels of certified seed, the 

 remainder being selected stock. This 

 year, the proportions were just reversed. 



The outstanding advance has been in 

 the production of certified seed potatoes 

 in the western part of the county. Last 

 year, five men tried to grow certified 

 seed, but failed, because the parent stock 

 showed too high a percentage of disease 

 to make roguing profitable. This year, 

 Prof. Abbott located a .source of practi- 

 cally disease free stock in Vermont. The 

 Western Hampshire Farmers' Exchange 

 purchased this seed and distributed it to 

 growers in Chesterfield, Cummington, 

 Goshen and Plainfield. Fourteen men en- 

 tered their fields for certification. All of 

 the fields wei-e well i.solated from other 

 potatoes. Prof. Osmun of the Massachu- 

 setts Experiment Station pronounced all 

 of the fields practically free from disease. 



During the summer, a trip was held to 

 inspect the fields, which was attended by 

 twenty men. These fields of certified 

 seed produced from 27.5 to 400 bushels 



per acre. The average production per 

 acre was well over 300 bushels, showing 

 that the potatoes are from a good yield- 

 ing strain, as well as being free from 

 disease. 



(.3) Alfalfa 



The fact that alfalfa can be grown suc- 

 cessfully in this county was brought out 

 at the Dairy Farmers' Schools, held in 

 the county this year. In addition, two 

 twilight field trips were held to visit al- 

 falfa fields in South Hadley and South- 

 ampton. At these meetings, the owners 

 of the fields told how they grew this 

 crop. Their remarks were supplemented 

 by Profes.sor Abbott. At these meetings, 

 the Soiltex tester was demonstrated and 

 many requests were made for testing soil 

 samples. These meetings resulted di- 

 rectly in having ten men request service 

 in starting alfalfa test plots on their 

 farms. 



There are now 28 farmers in the cen- 

 tral and eastern part of the county who 

 have alfalfa fields which can be used as 

 demonstrations. Many of the men who 

 only had an acre or less a year ago, have 

 put in increased acreages this year. In 

 all, we have helped to start 83.5 acres of 

 alfalfa the last two years. Most of these 

 plots have been seeded with a combination 

 of Alfalfa, Red Clover and Timothy. 

 Several of the demonstration plots have 

 given yields of four tons per acre this 

 year. 



A.MMAl. HlSlt.VIVDnV 



Twenty-three Dairy Farmers' Schools 

 have been held in the County at which 

 Prof. C. .1. Fawcett, Extension Specialist 

 fi'om M. A. C, pointed out the importance 

 of knowing what each cow is capable of 

 doing and then feeding her according to 

 milk production. At these meetings, 

 eighty men agreed to weigh each cow's 

 milk three days each month and also to 

 weigh each cow's feed one day per month. 

 Record blanks for this purpose were sup- 

 plied by the Extension Service. The 

 blanks were returned to the County Agent 

 as soon as filled out and a summary, 

 showing returns of milk for each pound 

 of grain fed was made up monthly. 



Table: — Changes in Feeding Methods 

 Secured by Dairy Schools. 



Lbs. Milk 

 Per Lb. Grain 



2.6-3 



3.1-3 5 "" 



Percentage of Total 



Feb. I Mar. | Apr. 1 May 

 j 41.9 I 25.0 ! 14.7 I 14.1 

 i 21.0 I 17.9 I 23.1 I 18.6 

 I 15.3 I 25^1 23.9 | 27.1 

 1.0 I 38.1 39.9 



What an appreciated gift 



a box of good hosiery 

 does make 



EVERY SORT HERE 

 FROM SHEER SILK TO 

 HEAVY WOOL SPORT 

 HOSE. 



MERRITT CLARK & CO. 



AOU'ril \MI"TO\, M.\S.S. 



Coiona is the standard Portable 

 Typewriter. 



K Take it with you. Set it anywhere. 



<h Will do anything a big machine can 



i do. 



$50.00 cash or small monthly pay- 

 ments. 



I NORTHAMPTON 



I COMMERCIAL COLLEGE, Inc. 



^ 76 Pleasant Street 



Ip Northampton, Mass. 



BATTERIES 



Oyer 3.5 | 20.9 



The first monthly summary showed 

 that 41.9';'i- of the cows were giving less 

 than 2.5 pounds of milk for a pound of 

 grain. The next month, this dropped to 

 25%, then to 14.7',r and just before the 

 cows went to pasture, it was 14.1"r. Thus, 

 27.87r of the cows gave as good results 

 with less grain. 



The next group of cows, giving from 



Demand a battery that gives 

 you lasting satisfaction — 

 plenty of power and care- 

 free service. Then see that 

 you get an Exide. 



The (J. P. Trowbridge Co. 



129 King St. 



NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 



Phone: 480 



