APR 2 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY 





FARM BUREAU MONTHLY 



Vol. III. 



NORTHAMPTON, MASS.. APRIL, 1018 



No. i 



Do Not Risk Having a Poor Corn Crop By 



Using Untested Seed 



The Seed Corn Situation in 

 Massachusetts 



Many statements have been published 

 since the Food Production drive was be- 

 gun calling attention to the shortage of 

 viable seed corn for next season's plant- 

 ing and in many of the states, steps have 

 been taken to determine definitely the 

 exact status of the situation. It was re- 

 garded as significant when the United 

 States Department of Agriculture sent 

 Mr. Kyle into this and other states for 

 the purpose of purchasing flint seed 

 which could show a germination of 85% 

 or better. Mr. Kyle came prepared to 

 pay cash to the amount of $100,000 for 

 all the corn that he could buy at $4.25 

 per bushel. 



Many samples of corn were sent to the 

 college for competition in the show that 

 were of high standard as far as ap- 

 pearance was concerned and were be- 

 lieved to be of excellent quality for seed. 

 But when a germination test was made, 

 one of these samples failed to sprout a 

 single kei'nel and many tested vei-y 

 poorly. It must be remembered that 

 these samples, as a whole, represented 

 probably the best corn in the state, being 

 especially selected and grown by men 

 who have won reputation for high class 

 corn. Twelve of these samples tested 

 below 60%, four were between 60 and 

 70% and 45 tested 70%. As was before 

 noted, this corn was of a class that 

 should have tested uniformly 85% or 

 better. 



The samples that are being received 

 at the college for test probably repre- 

 sent more nearly the true condition of 

 Massachusetts seed corn. From thirteen 

 of these samples taken at random, 2 

 failed to show any germination at all, 

 and the others tested as follows: 1.8%, 

 10, 11.1, 14.2, 19, 34, 5.3.6, 80.9 8.3, 89.6, 

 94, or an average of 37.7%. This is a 

 most serious situation and one that de- 

 mands immediate recognition from every 

 farmer in the state. 



— Mass. Agri. College. 



The 1918 Spraying Campaign 



With the present scarcity of labor it 

 is important that the orchard owner 

 should reduce his spraying program to 

 the lowest point consistent with growing 

 a good crop of marketable fruit. Just 

 what sprayings he shall make depends 

 upon two questions, first, the kind of 

 market he is working for, and second the 

 pests he has to fight. 



As to his market, if he is developing a 

 special personal market in very high 

 class fruit then he should, for example, 

 make the spraying before the blossoms 

 open because that will help to control 

 the curculio stings on his high class 

 fruit. On the other hand if he is selling 

 barrelled fruit in the general market 

 then he might omit that spraying since a 

 few curculio stings will affect very little 

 the price he gets for his fruit. 



As to the second point, the pests he 

 has to fight, he must make a study of his 

 own conditions. In 1916 the following 

 spraying program was advocated : 



"In most orchards, the following is 

 about the program which should be fol- 

 lowed. It does not, however, include the 

 sprayings for such special pests as gypsy 

 and brown tail moths. 



1st spraying. Early spring, just as 

 the buds are breaking. Commercial 

 lime-sulfur, about 1 to 8, and arsenate of 

 lead paste 4 lbs., to 50 gallons water. 

 This is for scale, aphis, bud-moth, and 

 also for certain fungous diseases. 



2nd spraying. Just before the blos- 

 soms open. Lime sulfur 1 gal., 40 per 

 cent nicotine sulfate 3 pint, arsenate of 

 lead 3 to 5 lbs., water 50 gallons. This 

 spraying is for bud-moth, tent cater- 

 pillar, browntail moth, curculio, aphis 

 and scab. 



3rd spraying. Within a week after the 

 petals fall. Warm weather shortens and 

 cool weather lengthens this period. 

 Same materials as second spraying. This 

 spraying is especially for codling moth, 

 curculio, apple scab, gypsy moth and 

 aphis. 



Concluded on page 7 



What Directors Do 



Very often newly elected farm bureau 

 directors wish to know just what their 

 duties are and what benefits they receive 

 for acting as directors. In order to 

 partly answer this, some of the work 

 performed by directors and privileges 

 received are outlined. 



In general the director is to see to it 

 that his community obtains its proper 

 share of farm bureau work and that the 

 work done in the community is what the 

 farmers want done. 



The director's more specific duties are 

 as follows: 



1. One member of the local committee, 

 usually the chairman, presides at all 

 local meetings. 



2. Directors determine the amount and 

 kind of farm bureau work for his com- 

 munity. This includes general meet- 

 ings, demonstration meetings, field tests 

 of all kinds and plans for the organiza- 

 tions of auxiliary associations such as 

 herd improvement associations, breeders' 

 associations, etc. 



3. Directors secure local farmers to 

 act as co-operators who try out field 

 tests and demonstrations. 



4. Directors visit local field tests and 

 keep the county agent informed as to 

 their progress. 



5. Directors make all arrangements for 

 local meetings such as determining the 

 dates, securing halls, advertising, etc. 



6. Directors meet frequently in local 

 committee meetings and once or twice a 

 year as a county body to discuss farm 

 problems and formulate programs of 

 work and policies for the bureau to 

 carry out. 



7. Directors see that a large propor- 

 tion of the farmers of their community 

 are members of the farm bureau associ- 

 ation. This is usually done by the 

 chairman of the local committee dividing 

 the territory, and then by each director 

 making a canvass of his share of the 

 territory. Directors also assist in get- 



Courlmled on page tj 



