ful practice. Further than this, when
the results of properly incorporating
this crop residua in the soil begin to
show in future crops, there will be
u strong additional incentive to save
all the straw and to burn none o f it.
There is not a wide margin o f p ro f
it in the production o f grain ami var
ious other straw-forming plunts and
because o f this, farmers having that
type of crop must be particularly
careful to waste nothing in connection
with it, and must adopt every means
at hand to cheapen the cost of pro
duction by getting larger yields fo r
less work. One o f the best ways o f
accomplishing this result is by re
turning all crop residues to the lields
in oredr to enrich them and to keep
them mellow.
Some people think the straw can
not be utilized on the farm. However,
there are two methods by which it
may be satisfactorily used.
f irst, on stock farms or on farms
having a considerable number o f work
animals, a large part o f the straw
may be utilized fo r feed and for bed
ding. This is the ideal method o f sav
ing straw and returning it to the soil.
It serves a useful purpose in the
maintenance and comfort o f the ani
mals, it absorbs liquid manure and
assists in its preservation, and the
straw is usually at least partially
rotted before it is scattered on the
Held.
In the rotted or semi-rotted
condition, it is more readily assimi
lated, is more easily plowed under and
better machinery is available for its
distribution; but, there are numerous
farms, having little or no live stock
to feed around straw stacks in winter
or to make use o f straw as bedding or
feed in barns and it is on such places
that the practice of burning the straw
or of selling it has become estab
lished. Where this condition prevails,
the straw should be spread on the land
fresh from the stack, in many cases,
it may be hauled directly from the
stack us soon as threshing is over
and scattered by hand methods at
from two to four tons per acre. Var
ious types o f straw distributers are
being offered on the market but on
many small farms there is not enough
straw to justify the purchase o f one
o f these machines.
The following
points
should be
borne in mind with reference to the
application of straw to the soil. Un
applications are usually better after
the first crop has been taken otf. The
effect o f straw on the land is to en
rich it to a considerable extent in
plant food and on the heavy soils it
has a very distinct mellowing effect
that makes them easier to work and
more productive o f crops. It also im
proves their moisture
holding ca
pacity.
Many farmers think that the ap
plication o f the straw to the soil is
too expensive, that it is a difficult op
eration and that the results are not
likely to pay. However, even wheat
straw worth $2.84 per ton for plant
food and probably fully as much for
organic matter, is valuable enough to
distribute, disk in and plow under.
Other straws are considerably more
valuable and of course can be very-
well made use of.
One very good method to avoid an
excessive amount of distribution and
thereby cheapen the operation to a
considerable extent, is to cut the grain
high and leave a high stubble. In this
way, there is not so much straw to
put through the threshing machine
and the stubble is very uniformily
distributed over the soil. The stubble
and any additional material that may
be added should be gone over with a
good, sharp disk harrow and thorough
ly worked in. I f this is plowed under
in the early fall, it may be seeded to
fall cereal or vetch and oats or var
ious other fall-sown crops without in
jury a few weeks after the rainy sea
son sets in.
I f the straw is to be applied to lands
devoted to spring-sown crops, it is
preferable to apply in the fall, disk
in and plow under, then finish the
preparation of the seed bed anil sow
the seed in the spring.
The precaution o f uniform distribu
tion, thorough disking,
good deep
plowing and a reasonable
interval
while the soil is moist, between plow
ing under and seeding, will give a
sufficiently good incorporation of the
material into the soil and sufficient
time for the most rapid decomposition
to take place that any further changes
are not at all likely to work any in
jury. In most cases, they are likely
to show some beneficial results but
even in case they do not appear the
first year, the second and succeeding
T. ikh I type o f plow lor imboildins straw in soil.
der dry-farming conditions, one to two
tons per acre is sufficient; under hu
mid conditions, two to four tons, or
in some cases, even more, may be ap
plied. In all cases, the straw should
lie applied as long as possible before
the seeding o f the succeeding crop in
order that there be every opportunity
for it to decay so that decay will not
be going on at too great iin extent
during the rapid growing period o f
the crop. The straw should be ap
plied uniformity,
it
should be
thoroughly disked into the surface soil
with a sharp disk harrow and then
plowed under to a good depth. This
gets the straw mixed with the surface
soil so that it is not found in heavy
bunches that are likely to cause a
burning out o f the next crop, but
rather, the straw is thoroughly dis
tributed where it can be most efficient
in benefiting the soil and there is no
excessive drying-out o f the surface
soil because o f the presence o f the
straw.
Owing to the fact that the straw is
rather hard and woody, its decay is
a little slow and results from straw
years are almost sure to show better
yields.
Some object to applications of
straw because o f the weed seed con
tained.
In such case, it is always
preferable to use the straw with live
stock and thoroughly rot the manure
before applying it but in case this
cannot be done the thresher may, in
many cases, be so adjusted that the
bulk o f the weed seeds may be kept
out of the stack. In case this is not
possible, if the straw is shaken out
somewhat while being
loaded, the
weed seeds will remain at the stack
and this fine, chaffy residue which con
tains the seeds may be thoroughly
rotted before applying to the soil. In
this way, all o f the beneficial results
are secured without serious introduc
tion o f weed pests. With four to four
and one-half million dollars worth of
straw and stubble in the aggregate
or with an acre value for the straw of
from one to two or more dollars, we
cannot afford to sell it at ordinary
prices and under no condition can we
ufford to burn it.
PROTECTING KALE
FROM CABBAGE GRUB
Preventives, Repel Ian Is and
Remedies May Ail Be
Required
CL L IT R A L
M E T 11 O 1) S
1IE1.1'
Suggest Protection by l sc of Tarred
raper Disks Applied on t ninlectcd
Plants.
Oregon kale growers in some parts
o f the state
are moie
seriously
troubled with the lavages ,>i their
crops by the cabbage anil radish mt g-
gots this fall than ever before, and
are asking how to control tne pest.
Effective control begins with cleaning
up remnants of the proceeding crop
and must ue followed up uy pro
tective and remedial measures us
need arises.
"Gather and destroy all waste roots
and refuse as soon as the old crop is
removed," says Professor A. L. Lovett,
assistant entomologist o f the Agricul
tural College. “ Plow the land to a
depth o f four inches or more, and
destroy as far as possible all wild
mustard and similar weeds about the
field.
"Rotate the crops so that plants
o f the cruciferae fam ily of which the
kale is a member, occupy the soil but
a single season. The Hies are weak
fliers and do not usually travel far.
The use o f quick acting fertilizers and
frequent surface cultivation is decid
edly beneficial.”
Screening the seed beds in which
the young plants are started is high
ly recommended.
Infestation often
occurs soon after the seedlings push
their way through the ground, and
even though the eggs then deposited
do not hatch before the plants are
set in the field they are likely to
hatch soon afterward and at once be
gin feeding on the young stems. The
frames are made o f 12-inch boards
with wires running across the top to
keep the cover from sagging, and the
tops then covered with coarse cheese
cloth, 20 threads to the inch. The
frame is taken down a short time be
fore the plants are transplanted to
permit them to harden.
In some cases it has been found
profitable to pull up the infested
plants, remove eggs and maggots by
hand picking, and reset.
When the plunts are entirely free
from the pests they may be protect
ed by putting tarred paper disks about
them. This keeps the flies that lay
the cabbage maggot eggs from de
positing the eggs against the stem, or
near enough to it fo r the young grubs
to reach it before they starve. Pro
fessor Lovett says that the young
larvae do not travel far, "considerable
less than an inch and a half,” before
reaching food.
Hence if tne disks
prevent the fly from laying the eggs
within a radius o f an inch and a half
from the stem the young grubs will
die.
These disks may be bought from
garden supply houses and easily and
quickly applied.
A fte r that, the
growers may feel pretty certain that
the plants will be protected until too
far advanced for material damage to
be inflicted. Success with the disks
depends on getting them on plants un
invested either by egg or larvae, and
having them fit snugly enough around
the stems to prevent the fly from
dropping eggs near them.
I f it is desired, tarred paper, single
fold, may be bought and the disks
made from it. The paper is cheap,
but there is some labor in preparing
the disks. Some growers cut them
into two or three inch squares— the
writer prefers the three-inch size—
then cut across the center from one
side nearly but not quite to the op
posite side, and finish by slitting the
center at right angles to the first cut.
The writer has found it a great help
to drive a heavy spike down through
the center before slitting the disk.
This action turns down the paper at
the center and forms a flexible flap
that fits snugly against the stems.
The disks may be made with a tool
recommended by the U. S. Bureau
o f Entomology. The blade, (fig. A .),
is made o f a band o f steel bent into
a half hexagon with an acute angle
reaching nearly
to the center.
A
smaller part making a star-shaped
cross at the center o f the disk, (fig.
b) is attached to the handle. One
edge o f the paper is cut into notches,
(fig. c.) and then beginning at the
left the disks are cut as in the illustra
tion. The disks are about 2>, inches
in diameter.
They should be well
pressed down around the plant and
kept fle e o f dirt on top.
Sulphur applied in the drill row
with the seed is recommended by some
Hig. A —a Tarred felt card in outline, one-third
szie; b tool for cutting cards, about one-sixth
size-; c showing how discs are tut, dotted lines
show position o f tool. ( A lter Gofl.)
growers. Three pints milk of lime
and one tablespoonful crude carbolic
acid mixed with one gallon o f water
and sprinkled with a garden sprink
ler about the plants, is another pre
ventive o f some value. One pint of
kerosene to three gallons o f sand,
mixed and applied near the plants, is
a repellant.
Powdered tobacco, or
white hellebore with ten times quan
tity of lime, placed about the plants
every weeks, gives good results.
A diluted emulsion o f 1 pint crude
carbolic acid, 1 pound soap and 1 gal
lon o f water, applied to plants when
: lit in the field, is not only a good pre
ventive but is useful in destroying
larvae and eggs already on the plants.
The soap is dissolved in the boiling
water, anil the acid is added only a f
ter the soap and water have been
portant. The mixture is then agitated
briskly until it is perfectly emulsified,
taken from the fire.
This is im-
One part o f the mixture is used to
fifty parts o f water. As much soil
is drawn from the plant as can be
removed without damage, anil about
half a pint o f the mixture poured
down along the stem. The operation
must be repeated every eight or ten
days while the pest continues active.
TWELFTH COW TESTING
ASSOCIATION FORMED
Oregon Agricultural College, Cor
vallis, Sept. 13.— The work o f forming
cow testing associations is advancing
rapidly among the progressive dairy
men o f Oregon. The twelfth of these
associations was formed recently by
W. A. Barr, O. A. C. and Federal
Dairyman, in Yamhill county.
The Yamhill County association is
made up of breeders of pure bred
and also grade stock. A large number
o f breeders are interested in the move
ment and the association starts off un
der promising conditions. The results
of the associated movement is expect-
i 1 to be the selection and use o f better
dairy cows and dairy sires for breed
Ing and to detect and eliminata the
un rofit: ble cows from the dairy -i o
ducing herd.
The officers o f the new association
a e F. E. Lynn, o f Perrvdale, presi
dent: II. W. Jones, o f Am ity, vice
'resident; and VV. A. Forrest, o f Me
Minnville secretary-treasurer.
Op
erations will be begun about the mid
dle o f the present month.