IIOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
Winter Preparation of Ground for School Garden
'SlS'
tlon often gives good results for a
short time, but the continual use of
gypsum will do the land more harm
than good.
Fertilizers.
Applications of commercial fertil
izers, if made just before planting or
during the growing season, may in
crease production considerably, but
they are expensive and not as a rule
needed on ground well manured and
plowed In the Fall. Indeed, there is
little danger that too much manure
will be used if it is plowed before the
first of January Forty tons to the
acre is a good liberal dressing, and
none too much for ground previously
unfertilized. It should not be left
lying on lop of the ground any longer
than Is absolutely necessary, since
much of the best of it will be washed
away by the rains.
In this bulletin, which has been
written for the guidance of teachers
of school gardening In the public
schools of Oregon and recommended
to the teachers as their guide in this
work by Stato School Superintendent
J. A. Churchill, many other timely
features of the important subject ot
school gardens receive attention.
Among these are the influence of
gardening on the health and general
welfare of the pupils, the methods ot
supervision, plans and arrangement,
planting directions and reports ot
successful work In the Portland
school gardens. Copies of this bulle
tin are being sent to all the teachers
in the state. Others may receive
copies by writing to the OregonAgrl
cultural College for them.
fl
A
Alfalfa Is Found Not
to Be a Farm Cure-All
ANY farmers have been led
through the excitement pro
duced by alfalfa trains, and other
promotion methods, to plant alfalfa
when they never should have at
tempted it, according to specialists
of the United States Department Of
Agriculture. These specialists feel
that there has been an unnecessary
amount of talk about alfalfa and too
little actual attempt to demonstrate
the limitations that exist with refer
ence to growing that crop.
As a result the Department, while
it is helping farmers to cultivate af
falfa and other leguminous plants by
preparing bacterial cultures, is also
cautioning Us demonstration agents
to teach the farmer to grow alfalfa
where it is desirable to have it
taught and where there is promise
of success. These demonstration
agents are particularly warned not
to encourage individual farmers to
grow alfalfa unless the climate and
other conditions and the soli of the
special farm fully warrant the ex
periment which Involves an invest
ment for seed and cultivation, and
It the crop is not successful means
a waste of the land over a growing
season. The question of whether al
falfa will grow Is not a simple prob
lem, hut Involves frequently a com
plicated group of problems which,
have to be considered from several
different angles and by several dif
ferent groups of specialists. Mere
examination of the soil will not show
. . what is going to happen with alfalfa.
Xsie &&m e?ri.Gtrc3e.-l. ci'7hiMf&' 21s2.t&t The only way to discover whether
(Special to the Farm Magazine.) that in the preparation of soli to be plied at the rate of about three- " ensivclv!!! aTexnwImcnDlot"
worked by children ot scdooi age me tourtns oi a ton to me acre. Air- . - . . , . . . ;
-.ll v..lJ l. - Wto- ..la-bo,! limn nv crminrl ItmnslnnB 6M IPHHin gl nentl IHllS in minQ, SHU
n rinrlv Inn nf th SoiI should be PUt lnt0 8 bettef COn- BlaCked "me 0r gr"nd lllllestone then
and early preparation of the .... , 4 , ,., ,nu k..nii.ni.i.ntiiifi.it tnen
ana eany preparation ui me .... , . ... - 4 , ,.- .i,i,i v. .im .Hhoi.n( Imni luc" . lu "i""1" lu
AVood Ashes Valuable.
Only recently the Department had
strongly
cultural Cnllpcre Rulletin No. 176.
School and Home Gardening for Ele- ef' r A,nn for th, Terown Plots "sed continuously for garden requests for 50,000 to 60,000 pounds
mentary Schools In Oregon, by M. O. be don,e ln p r?f . .l. w, need not be treated with lime oftener ot alfalfa seed for distribution to
"About twice as much work should
be expended on it as would ordinarily
.,.!. i. . author of the. bulletin
Evans, Jr
home garden work in Portland for
the years 1913 and 1914. In this
school bulletin it is declared that all
ground which is to be used for gar
den purposes In 1915 should receive
nerson s garden, says Mr. fcvans,
author of the. bulletin. "Even then
youngsters will have plenty of exer
cise getting It In Bhape to plant."
Neutralizing Acidity.
than every third or fourth year. Lime some 50,000 or 60,000 farmers. It
or quicklime or hard-slacked lime is the Department had acceded to this
more quickly available than ground request, It. very easily might have
limestone and may be applied at the encouraged the farmers ln that
time of final harrowing or raking, region to spend additional money for
Acidity In soils, which is caused by Ground limestone should be applied seed when they should not have un-
a liberal dressing of manure and be decay of organic matter, is likely to somewhat earlier, dertaken the culture of alfalfa at
plowed before January 10. An ex- be prevalent In most Western Oregon Wood ashes are also recommended all.
ceptlon of this is made In soils that soils, with the possible exception of as valuable on the garden. They Tho mere furnishing of Beed Is
have been liberally fertilized and cul- parts of Jackson and Josephine Coun- should be stored dry and spread upon only the first step, because its suc-
tlvated for several years. Very few ties. Unless sufficient lime Is present the soil just-before the seeds are cessful cultivation calls for special
vacant lots or other grounds avail- to neutralize this acidity it will ac- planted since many of their valuable methods of soil preparation, inocula-
able for school gardens have had cumulate and produce a sour condl- constituents are easily leached out. tlon, and many other matters not
such treatment as would justify the tlon ot soil. Mr. Evans does not hold The soft wood ashes, while not so commonly understood by those who
omission of Winter fertilization and that it is impossible to produce a valuable as those from hard wood, have had no experience with this
plowing. Attention is called to the good garden on unlimed soil, but that contain considerable qualities of plant forage and cover crop,
fact that a few lots of good manure as a general thing much more satis- food and lime. According to the an- Alfalfa where it can grow properly
at reasonable prices can be procured factory results can be had by apply- alyses of Professor II. V. Tartar, Is undoubtedly of much value to the
In probably every town In the state, ing the lime. In addition to correct- chemist of the Oregon Station, soft farmer. In regions where It Is al-
The source of this supply should be ing acidity the lime sweetens the soil, wood ashes, such as are obtained ready grown the farmer can gain
ascertained at once without any delay liberates plant food and aids ma- from fuel wood ordinarily used in valuable advice by consulting those
at all and the fertilizer hauled on to terlally in keeping down the Insect Oregon, contain approximately 30 per who are already growing it success-
the field at the earliest possible time, and disease pests which are likely to cent lime, 5 per cent potash and 2 fully.
If the ground to be used is sod It Infest the garden. . per cent phosphorus. IJefore becoming a pioneer in al-
should be plowed or spaded in the The condition of the scnl as to acid- Ashes are especially valuable ln falfa raising ln his district, however,
Fall, since it takes several months ity may easily be determined with a lightening heavy clay soils and may the farmer would do well to consult
for sod ground properly to settle. In piece of blue litmus paper, which can be used in any amount up to two tons with his state experiment station and
largo plots the sod should be well cut be obtained at drug stores. A hand- an acre. If approximately the latter bo gain all possible information that
up with the disc before It is plowed, ful of moist soil may be squeezed amount is used, the lime treatment will help him to make a success, or
A second discing and plowing early in about the paper and permitted to tc- may be reduced or entirely dispensed else obtain information that will
the Spring followed by a third disc- main in contact with it for five or six with. Land plaster, gypsum or sul- show him fully the danger of at-
ing and harrowing should put the minutes. If this turns the pajrer fate of lime has no power to correct tempting to raise alfalfa and make
texture of the soil In good condition pink the soil Is acid and will prob- acidity. It Is regarded rather as a clear to him exactly the risk of
for the work ot the children. Espe- ably be benefited by an application soil stimulant tending to ltberate money, time and use of land he la
clal attention Is called to the fact of lime. Burnt lime should be ap- potash ln the toll. A small applica- taking In attempting the experiment