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HAMPSHIRE COUNTY 



JAN 8* 1920 



FARM BUREAU 



Vol. IV. 



NORTHAMPTON, MASS., DECEMBER, 1919 



No. 12 



WINTERING BROOD SOWS 



Good Care Means Better Litter 



Sows calculated to farrow early in 

 April mu.st be bred successfully about 

 the middle of December. From that time 

 on, until the litter is born, the proper 

 feed and care of the pregnant sow is of 

 utmost importance. We have plenty of 

 concrete evidence showing that under- 

 nourished pregnant sows, with winter ex- 

 ■ercise more or less restricted, almost al- 

 ways giva birth to small, runty, feeble and 

 often hairless pigs. This kind never 

 wholly recover and are distinctly un- 

 economical producers of pork. But this 

 is not the pigs fault. 



Successful hog growers do not practice 

 slip-shod methods. Throughout the win- 

 ter pregnant sows are prepared for 

 spring farrowing by receiving sufficient 

 food of the proper kind, adequate housing 

 and plenty of daily exercise, no matter 

 what the weather happens to be. 



FEEDING 



For best results, pregnant sows should 

 be fed a little grain twice daily — morning 

 and evening. If roots, such as mangels 

 or sugar beets are available they give 

 good results when fed at noon. The chief 

 value of roots are that they sei-ve in 

 stimulating the appetite and in regulating 

 the bowels against constipation. 

 Continued on page 6 



FARM BUREAU LEADERS AT ANNUAL MEETING 



MANURE AND ACID 



PHOSPHATE FOR CORN 



The high price of fertilizers and other 

 materials has made it necessary for 

 farmers to practice all reasonable eco- 

 nomics. Most of the corn produced in 

 Massachusetts is grown on manured land 

 and in the majority of cases some com- 

 mercial fertilizer is used in addition to 

 the manure. In most cases, this fertili- 

 zer is mixed fertilizer containing nitro- 

 gen, phosphoric acid and potash, (when 

 the latter is available at reasonable cost.) 



Since fertilizer prices have advanced 

 many farmers have been questioning 

 whether the fertilizer bill could not be 

 reduced in this particular case. It has 

 long been known that manure is relative- 

 ly lacking in phosphoric acid and that 

 phosphoric acid is needed to assure early 

 maturity of corn, whether field or silage. 

 Concluded on page 5 



MISS BENA ERHARD 



ELECTED AS CLUB AGENT 



Has Had Much Experience as Boys' and 

 Qirls' Leader 



Miss Bena G. Erhard of East Milton, 

 Mass. started work in the County on 

 December 15th as Club Agent to fill the 

 vacancy caused by Mr. Gould's resigna- 

 tion. 



Miss Erhard graduated from the Mass. 

 Agricultural College last June and while 

 in College, majored in general agricul- 

 ture in which work she was very success- ^ 

 ful. During her summer vacations, she ; 

 acted as club supervisor in Franklin 

 County and Milton, Mass. Her training 

 and experience qualifies her as a leader, 

 especially in the agricultural clubs which 

 are of greatest inteiest to the boys and 

 girls. Co-operating with the Home De- 

 monstration Agent, Miss Erhard also 

 plans this winter to interest more of the 

 girls in the Home Economics Clubs and 

 later on in the Canning Clubs. 



The trustees of the Bureau feel that 

 they are especially fortunate in obtaining 

 Miss Erhard to lead the club work in the 

 county and know that the people will co- 

 operate and give the work as much, if 

 not more support than they have in the 

 past. The annual meeting clearly de- 

 monstrated that club work was one of 

 the most important enterprises of the 

 bureau. Also it was demonstrated that 

 the boys and girls can and will do their ^ 

 part, all that it is necessary is for the i 

 adults to take an interest and give it I 

 their support. 



ANNUAL MEETING A SUCCESS 



Nineteen Towns Represented 



An indication of a successful year is 

 usually shown by the response and en- 

 thusiasm of the people at the annual 

 meeting. This year, 110 people attended, 

 nineteen towns were represented and the 

 spirit was of the best. 



The most interesting part of the morn- 

 ing's program was the reports made by 

 the project leaders. Arthur Field, Gos- 

 hen, reported for the Sheep Project; 

 Ellis Clark, Williamsburg, Fruit Project; 

 M. S. Howes, Potato Project; Mrs. R. J. 

 Kennell, Easthampton, Clothing Project; 

 Mrs. S. C. Wilbur, Huntington, Warm 

 School Lunch ; and Frank Bilski, Hadley, 

 Alice Fairman, Worthington, and Kath- 

 leen King, South Amherst, told of their 

 experiences in club work. 



President Butterfield in his address 

 during the afternon, spoke on the prob- 

 lems facing the American Farmer. He 

 emphasized the importance of obtaining 

 freer access to the land through an im- 

 proved credit system; more effective eco- 

 nomic organization through cooperation, 

 more voice in public affairs by an or- 

 ganized body representing all agricul- 

 tural interests, and the establishment of 

 a definite national agricultural policy. 



The meeting closed with a general dis- 

 cussion on the projects for 1920. 



Eight towns have arranged for two-day 

 Exten.sion Schools in Agriculture and 

 Millinery from the Mass. Agricultural 

 College. Has your town scheduled one? 



