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HOME AND FARM MAOAZIXE SUCTION
The Agricultural College Is a Friend to the Farmer
Bulletins and News notes rrum w " --
VIIJW IIK W.WIHXGTO.V AUItlCIJl.TUKAI. COI.I.WIK IT VU.UMAS, WASH. ITS M.I.IJ ALU IH TO All A.tlQt,l,TIMtlS15.
Save Farmytrd Manure;
It h Beat Fertilizer
Ily K. H, Stoolcoy. Agronomist.
EXPERIMENTS at Hila Slntlon, as
well us tlioso at many other sta
tions, liavo proved conclusively that
barnyard manuro Is the best fertilizer
Hint can bo used for most crops on
our soils. With systematic crop ro
tation and tbo application of 15 to
20 tons of manuro per ncro every
three- or four years the fertility of
most soils lu Western Washington
can bo materially increased, and so
be inado to yield increased returns.
On tlio proper handling of manuro
depends tlio amount Hint can bo
saved to apply to the land, aud also
Its fertilizing value. When planning
to liund I o manuro to save all the fer
tility posslblo two facts should bo
kept well In in I ml: 1st, tbo liquid
uxcromont of nnlmals contains equal,
ly as much fertilizing value as docs
(bo solid excrement; and 2d, fresh
manuro In tlio open will loso ouc-balf
or nioro of Its hulk and almost half
of Its fertilizing vnluo In six months.
Tlio loss in tbo open Is largely duo to
leaching nnd heating. Tlio nnnual
loss lu fertilizing vnluo In tbo United
States from tlio leaching and wasting
of farmyard manuro Is estimated at
$750,000,000. Any method tbo
farmer may employ to reduce tlioso
losses to tbo minimum will Increuso
his supply of fertilizer nnd bo well
worth while.
Expoilonco and experiments show
that manuro can bo stored with tbo
least amount of loss when kept under
cover, tbo muiiuro from tlio different
farm animals being well mixed and
well compacted by tbo tramping of
farm stock. This plan anticipates
tbo uho of sufficient bedding to ab
sorb all tbo liquid manuro. Tlio
nuovo plan can very well ho put Into
practice where a covered concroto
manuro pit Is provided. The farm
unlninls should bo allowed to uho tbo
sheltur and tramp over the manure,
or such n pit might well be part or
a covered barnyard for housing tbo
stock in Winter. The pit should ho
built with sloping sides so thnt tlio
manure can ho moro easily hauled
out.
Provision is often made to storo tbo
liquid manuro from dairy barns In
concroto tanks. This plan Is prac
tical hut in order that It may work
satisfactorily there must bo catch
basins closo to tbo ends of tbo gut
ters from which tlio drain leads to
tbo liquid manuro tank. Without
these catch basins tbo drain becomes
clogged periodically, much to tlio nn
uoynnco and Inconvcnlcnco of the
fanner.
Tbo time to apply manure is large
ly n quostlou of farm management.
Tlio greatest fertilizing vnluo would
undoubtedly bo secured If tho fresh
manuro wero hauled every day on to
tbo laud, especially grass land. If
tho manuro la applied to tho land In
tho Spring it should bo plowed under
mid tho soil well worked down so
that tho manuro becomes thoroughly
Incorporated with It. When a heavy
coat of strawy manure Is plowed un
der It may form a layer In tho bottom
of tbo furrow through which molsturo
from tlio subsoil cannot penetrate. In
which caso the land Is apt to suffer
lu enso of drouth.
Cousldornblo losses may occur
whon manuro Is applied to land In
tho Fall whero tboro Is much surface
di-aliinga unloss tbo land can bo
plowed beforo periods of heavy rain.
Tho really Important thing Is to
got n much manure on to tho land
as possible and in such a way that
there Is but little loss of fertility.
A E of internllng llrnm frum
tlio Orrcuii AK'lt'iiltural L'ollrgc nt
ConallU will iillrrnate lu Hi farm
nprkl) Willi u (uiKtt r llrua uotra
frum tly Wittlilngtuii Klato Cnllrca
ut l'ulhn'iii. Till, will uUiii-d tin lu.
trlt'liiiiiKcW tlrn from I lit" tno Lie
uittloiilluiuV t'lillrtiri, f tho North.
ct that tWilil (iruvv f bfucflt u
(lia ifu.lrr, lor I lie ln.JtuJ.iu deal
.
villi kliullur VroulniM,
Succulent Feed Supply
Should Be Home-Grown
iiy V. A. MnlclatiT. Superintendent.
IT Is often practical for Western
Washington dairymen to buy part
or nil of tho liny and grnln feeds re
quired by their cows, but nil of the
succulent feed needed should be home
grown. Succulent feed should bo pro
vided throughout the jenr nnd must
bo If tbo cows nro to be held up to
maximum aud profitable milk ields.
Like many dairymen, wo, nt the
Experiment Station cannot furnish
sufficient pasturage to maintain our
dairy herd throughout tho Summer.
Wo nro not nblo to provide more than
ouc-thlrd of an acre of pasture laud
per cow nnd consequently have as
jtrcnt a need for succulent feed dur
ing the Summer season as at any
other time during tho yenr. We mnko
use of a silo and grow corn for fill
ing tbo silo lu tbo Kail and Tall
sown ontu and vetch for filling the
silo in early Summer. Knlo and
maugcls nrc also grown for cow feed.
Tlio feeding of kale Is begun lu tho
Pull as soon ns the silo Is filled with
com. Our kalo crop usually lasts
until about Jauunry. We grow about
ono ton of mnugols per cow. These
nrc stored lu a root cellar before frost
and are fed as soon as tho kale crop
is finished. When the mangel sup
ply Is exhausted or about .March 1st,
wo open tho silo nnd begin feeding
corn ullage. Usually somo corn
slluge is still left In tho silo when
tho season arrives for filling the silo
with oats and vetch. The ont uml
vetch ullage Is put right In on top nf
this. Wo begin nt onco to feed oat
and vetch ullage and continue feed
ing It until tbo Bllo is filled ngaln
with corn. In this way n continuous
supply of good, succulent feed Is pro
vldcd throughout the'yenr.
Wo prefer oats nnd vetch, to rye
and vetch, because the ont and vetch
sllago Is somewhat more palatable
than tho ryo nnd vetch nnd because
ir wo havo any of tho crop left after
tho silo U filled, It umbos n moro
pnlntnblo hay than the rye and vetch.
Wo prefer mangels to turnips or
rutabagas, because wo sccuro as
largo or larger yields per acre and
tho mangels mako a better chicken
nnd hog feed than do tho turnips or
rutabugas. Also the mangels are not
attacked by plant llco or by root
maggots.
Homo dairymen prefer carrots to
mangels nnd others prefer ruta
bagas. In each caso the carrots or
rutabagas nro preferred becauso they
ran bo loft In tho ground practically
all Winter nnd llko kale, can bo
hauled direct from tho field as
needed while tho mangels must be
harvested and stored beforo heavy
frosts.
Some dairymen prefer Fall-sown
ryo nnd vetch to Fall-sown oatB nnd
votch becauso this crop will usually
yield n somewhat larger tonnage or
becauso ryo will Btaud pasture dur
ing tho Winter and early Spring
somewhat bolter than oats.
A successful dairyman of tho
wrltor's acquaintance, whose land Is
bandy loam with good natural drain
ago, bows rye and vetch early In
Soptomber. This crop Is pastured
from about tho first of February to
the 15th of March or tho 1st of April
whon tbo cows nro tnken off and tho
crop Is ullowed to grow nnd Is cut lu
mld-Summor for bay. HIb cows nro
pastured on tho bay meadows from
tho mlddlo of March or tho 1st of
April, till May, whon they are turned
onto the regular pasturo fields
Enough knlo Is crown n .!.
Biicculont feed for tho cows from tlin
In tint .oi t o;..i. " 4,l,
Protecting Young Trees
From Field Mice Rnvngcs
WITH tho coming of Winter nnd
tho possibilities of deep snow
we should Immediately turn our at
tention to the protection or young
trees from tho ravages of tho flold
mice.
The work of this llttlo nnlmul In
greatest in hurd Winter with deep
snows nnd the results nro many times
not detected until wo begin Spring
work in our orchards. Thoy gnaw
tho bark and often glrdlo tho trunk
just at tho surfaco of tho ground and
mnko brldgc-griiftlng uecessury to
savo tho llfo of a tree.
A clean, tidy place hnrbors few
mice, nnd so It should bo with our
orchards. See to It that tall grnus,
weeds and other annual growths
which become lodged about tho
trunks of trees nro removed. They
make an excellent harbor In which
these little animals llko to spend the
Winters.
Cover crops nro Induetlvo to tho
habitation of mice, especially clover
nud nlfalfn, wlu-ro thoy nro sown lu
solid blocks throughout tho orchard
and ullowed to grow to a considerable
height. A good plan Is to mow down
the dead stalks for throe or four feet
aiouiul tlio base and rako it buck-,
leaving the ground clean next to tbo
tree. After the first snow fullH,
tramp firmly closo about tbo trees,
thus compacting the grass so mice
cannot find shelter underneath. An
other plan that works well whero
mice are numerous and liable to do
damngo Is to mound up earth nrouiid
the body of the trees to tho height
of six to ten Inchon. This Hhould bo
removed In tho Spring after all dan
ger of attack Is passed.
Holder fences of rocks, shrubbory
nnd hedges are excellent harbors for
mice. Here they can find shelter and
a safe breeding plnco. Tho only
method to pursue In this case Is to
plnn for their destruction by tho uso
of poisons or repollnnt washes put on
tho trunks of the trees.
1. Wash tho trees with somo per
sistent substnnco In which la placed
Tarls green. Maynard recommends
the use of Portland cement tbo con
sistency of common paint for holding
tbo poison, nnd applying to trunks of
trees with n stiff brush.
2. Strychnine is tho most satlsfnc
tory poison for flold mice. Although
u deadly poison and dreaded by many
people, yet with tho proper caution it
can be safely uhed. Various baits
enn bo used with it, such as wheat,
cornmeal, oatmeal nnd brnu. Tho
bait should bo soaked over night lu n
poison s)rup which mny bo prepared
as follows:
Dissolve an ounce of strychnia sud
phnto lu a pint of boiling water, add
n pint of thick molusses syrup and
stir thoroughly. A few drops of oil
of anise mny bo added to scent tho
syrup. While hot, pour over one-half
bushel of ono of the nbovo mentioned
baits and mix thoroughly: If too wet,
add a little more or tho dry mutcrlnl
to take up excowdvo moisture; ir not
wet enough, add warm water until tho
nnlxtur Is all wot. There should bo
moisture enough to wet every pnrtlclo
and yet not enough to make sloppy
and cniiBO dripping. Lot tho poisoned
bait stand over night. Then apply
In small bits with a spoon or smnll
pnddlo iu obscure, sheltered places,
where tho form animals nnd birds
cannot get It, because of tbo dnngor
of poisoning ihoin. C. II. Sprnguo,
Assistant Horticulturist.
inner pari oi September until th i . . .
mlddlo of February whon the rie ni d i, 1 b? 8,nnt n,ltl Insufficient ir
n, V ."""" """ expects to stay In
the dairy biiHlnosg and who bus u.
herd of nnwnni. , a-. "tt8 "
"-'-pr-aoT
..H.m mi in iTintimii la
IM? ,!. JwwE LT.5.r. ." l""8 "and
feed. Tho siTn ill ,.. l "ucc,"ont,
way. without a nlln. nn !,.. "'"
tlnuoiia supply or succulent rood Is
provided. Such a plan Is fal.ly satis.
:;,". iiimiiih, um, nas one de.
elJod weaknoss in that n nw..iJL
'llinilo fn.. c....r..V ."" '""'"XUU
'. ;- o.vmviii ihuci in fiini.
II omant in iinctu- ....., ".lu "' "
B-..i. !, tKVa"!u'r"'S
Wnnll,, AI.!.I f A.. 1
Is Very Insidious Pat
f 1113 woolly uphld I one of the
most InsldluiiH and dangerous ol
applo jiestu. It occurs on tlio roots
nun uiiovo Krouna. also 0u the
brnnchoB. Tho branch form can be
easily controlled by contact Insecti
cides, hut It Is practlrally linposstbte
to stamp out tho nphlds on the
roots.
Winter wenthor of Knstern Wash
Itiglon is iiHiinlly severe enough to de
Htroy what Indlvlilunls uro abore
ground, bo thnt developing colonics
In tho Spring coino from winglcu
nplildB of tho roots or rrown. Thcw
nphlds nro npt to locate on a truhc
or tho bark aud soon becomo con
spicuous becauso or n growth of
"wool."
Their feed Inn poisons the tree ted
results In a local swelling and tild
mately in n weak tree with small.
sized fruit. After a couple of gen
orations somo winged Individuals ap
pear which nilgrnto to other apple
trees, thus spreading tho pest.
Tho Bummer generations nro lest
vigorous, nud In early Fnll other
winged migrating individuals are
produced. These rarely seek apple
trees, but a to attracted to elms, It
near by, nnd there give birth to wluj
loss sexual nplilils, the females ot
whloh produco n single egg, which It
laid for tho Winter deep lu a crack
of tho bark. The following Sprint
tho Insect Inhabits tlm leaves ot the
elm, forming rosettes or curled
leaves. Its third generation Is the
winged Spring nilgrnui that return
to tho applo tree.
Tho woolly aphid I prevalent on
nursery stock, and thus gets ncccnto
a now region. Apple stock shoving
swolllngs or gnlls should not bo plant
ed, ami olm Block should be carefully
senrched tar blnck eggs.
When tho woolly aphid occurs
abovo ground It can be destroyed by
n light nwabblng or alcohol, gaso
lino or kerosonc, or If numerous Ir
a spraying of tobacco-soap, such as
Is given for green aphis.
Tho underground form ran not be
effectively reached nnd Is conse
quently moid dnngcrnus. Kerosene
emulsion, sulphur-llmo or as
abundance of tobacco dust applied
to tho rootB havo been recommended,
but give only partial benefit.
Plowing and cultivation to fore
tho roots down arc thought to be
helpful since tho aphlds do not
thrivo much below n foot. Northern
Spy trees aro remarkably free from
attack, and such stock would prot
valuable In a badly Infested district.
Tho woolly nphls Is too dcllcato and
weak to forco Its way through the
soil, but it will work along cracxi
and roots and thus nprcad througn
tho orchnrd or nursery row.
To provent branch Infection froo
below, tho trunk may bo bnnded with
cqunl pnrts of rosin and castor oil
melted together and applied on bar
lap or cotton strips, or ir In a dusty
district whero this method would" b
inapplicable. It has been suggested W
pack around tho trunk of the tree
goodly layer of sand throws wblrt
tho nphldB cannot crawl. -A.
Mclandcr, Entomologist.
Winter School.
The Voung Men's and Young
Women's Christian Associations el
tho Collogo aro plaiinlug to recelja
tho short courso students and neip
them on their arrival In Pullman.
Tralim will bo mot, rooming m
boarding places will bo found and
recoptlon will bo given for all of J at
men und women. A scries of "
cusslons will bo nrrnnged for, at1"
Ing with tho probloms or rural lite.
State. College Win.
In tho recent stock Judging
test hold in Portland, tho State Wi
lego loam, under tho direction of ijv
fossor IIIslop, won 83 po-ln'8,"!!:
Idaho. Tho states ranked as follow.
Washington, Iduho, Calirornla, Oregon.
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