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Herald Farm ews i

Mechanization to Ease Farm Load New and Better Equipment Coming A new era in farm mechaniza tion to help farmers increase their pet acre income is predicted in a lepoit prepared by two Purdue 1 'mvei sitv professors. Released by the Farm Equip ment Institute, the report was prepared by Prof. J. Carroll Bot tom and Dr, J. O Dunbar. The study credits improved farm equipment as making possible a large .hare of the increased ef ficiency taking place on farms in the past 15 years, pointing out that in 1940 each farm worker in agriculture supplied 10 others with J id. while in 1955 each farm .. ■i ke! supplied food for 19 others. ■'During this same 15 years,” the report continues, "labor re quircments, percentagewise, were

Maybe we have overdone it with the above illustration, but experts say that mechanization will make the farmer's job much easier in the future. reduced almost as much as dur ing the previous 120 years." The Purdue economists predict that ‘‘wage rates will rise more than equipment prices and con tinue to make it profitable to sub stitute more and more machinery for labor both on the farm and in the factory." ■ Present types of equipment will be improved and new equip ment to perform tasks now per formed by human labor will be de veloped and put into profitable use by farmers." “As a result of labor prices ris ing faster than farm machinery prices." the study reports, "it takes less days of hired labor to buy almost any item of farm ma chinery than it did in 1940."

Chick Profit Lies In Bigger Flocks "Egg money,” traditional source of income foi the American farm wife, may soon disappear from our agriculture economy. New trends in the production and marketing of poultry products are rapidly making inroads on the small Mocks of chickens which have dotted American barnyards . nd k-'pt the farm wife in spend ing money. ■Researchers at Pennsylvania State university college of agri culture already have been suc r, - slid ;n ti ipling the number of laying hens in c single poultry g.-nsr thro mil solar design and eliicieitt mechanization of the house,” said W. Everett Eakin, farm service director of Libbey Ov. ens-Furd Glass Company. Flocks of a few hundred birds oi h -s. common on many farms :• short time ago, are giving way to Mocks of layers ranging from 1,000 to 10.000 birds, Eakin said. The Penn State solar house utr o . through insulating glass the un's rays for heat in the wintei and shades the birds from high temperatures in the summei months.

Farmers Find Insect Activity On The Increase The farmer’s continuous battle against bugs is getting into full swing in Virginia. In his weekly summary of insect activity in the state, VPI associate 'entomologist Arthur P. Morris says the alfalfa weevil continues to spread, but growth and hatching of larvae has been slowed down con siderably by the cool and rainy weather. Control measures may not be needed in all the counties re ported to be infested for the first time this year Individual fields will have to be watched to determine whether or not to treat. The pea aphid is causing trouble in Some areas. General spraying likely will not be needed, but farmers should watch out for this pest. Army worm outbreaks in small grains may develop earlier than usual this year. Reports of damage to grains in South Carolina have al ready been received. There is no evidence for a prediction that this will be an "army worm year," but there are at least a few scattered outbreaks every year. Sheep scab mites were found on 1,811 of 10.113 head inspected in Virginia during February, and most of the sheep were dipped. Sheep scabies is a disease that must be reported to proper authorities. Con trols are carried out under the of fice of the state veterinarian. Tobacco plant beds should be watched for flea beetle and green June beetle damage. If the weather turns warm and dry, these two in sects likely will start damaging plants any day now. More spider mites than usual for this time of year are present on strawberries in the Norfolk area. Morris says county agents can give control measures for all in sects mentioned.

Prince Edward 4-H’er Sells Heavy Steer Thirteen 4-H and FFA boys and - girls of Amelia, Buckingham, Lun enburg, Nottoway and Prince Ed ward counties participated in the Richmond Junior Premium Slock show and sale April 10. immy Payne, of Darlington Heights, sold the heaviest steer from the Southside Virginia group. His steer weighed 1040 pounds and was bought by Richmond Hotels, Inc. The show and sale is an annual : event and this year included over 50 head of baby beef and 100 or more head of bogs. These animals | were all 4-H or FFA projects

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THE LAST IN' A SERIES of ten sessions for the adult farmers in Buckingham County was held last Wednesday night at the vocational agriculture shop of Central High School. Frank Tapscott, (in white coveralls) representing Nelson Tindall's Farm Equipment company, gave the demonstra tion on forage harvesters.

Sudden Switch From Winter Feed To Spring Pasture Is Not Recommended

A sudden switch from winter feed ; to spring pasture in the dairy herd may do more harm than good. That's the warning from Dr. M F. Ellmore. dairy specialist at VPI. who says that it is extremely important to make a gradual change from winter to spring feeding. Turn the cows on spring pasture only I after they have been filled up on ilie winter ration. Increase gradually the amount of time the cows are allowed on pas ture so they will always have enough dry matter and can become adjusted to the summer ration. Regardless of how good the pas ture may be. the cows should have access to some good quality dry roughage every day They probably won't eat very much while the pas ture is good, Ellmore says, but they apparently need some dry material throughout the pasture season. This practice may prevent the ex tremely high peak production im mediately after the change from winter feeding, but it will also pre vent the slump that usually follows the increase and will prove to be ! an economical practice in the long run. It will, help maintain a more 1 even flow of milk and also will pre . vent the grass and onion flavors in milk which too often accompany the advent of the pasture season. In general the same procedure should be used with dairy heifers. They will undergo some loss of flesh if they are changed directly from dry winter feed to i full feed of pasture grasses. This is pftrticu : larly true of heifers under one year | of age. It is almost impossible for them to hold enough of the lush

watery grass to maintain their nor mal growth rate without at least some kind of dry feed. There is another important reason why animals should be conditioned gradually to pasture. Ellmore says. If the crop is predominately ladino clover, there is danger of bloat. A full feed of dry hay or a full feed of the winter ration before turning the cows on ladino will materially lessen the chance of bloat. Young Farmers [.and Judging At Powhatan Next Week The fifth annual young farmers land judging contest will be held near Powhatan Thursday. April 23. according to Jimmie Dodd, of Louisa county, president of the Young Farmers Association of Vir ginia. The number of Young Farm ers competing in the contest will be limited to 12 individuals from each of the six sections of the state. Cash awards totalling $250 con tributed by the Smith Douglass Fertilizer Company of Norfolk will be presented to the ten high indi viduals and the members of the two high s coring land judging teams. Contestants will be scored on tin .: ability to select the soil conserva tion practices needed to conserve the soil and improve its producti bility, m five different fields The contestants will also classify the different fields as to their land capability, erosion, slope, drainage, permeability, depth, subsoil cons: -

Questions of The Week Q—Whdt can 1 plant now for hay this year? A—It is too late to plant many hay crops, but there's still time to seed sweet sudan and pearl millet for summer grazing and hay, Q—When and how often should tobacco plants be treated to control blue mold? What materials are recommended? A—Treat twice eacli week and after heavy rains with ferbam or /.ineb. Start treatments when the plants are about the size of a dime Q—IT w much and what analysis of fertilizer should I use on pea nuts'’ A—It will depend on many con dition;- The first thing you should do is have a soil test run. Fertilize [according to results. Generally, recommendations are for 400 to 60i pounds per acre of 0-10-20. Q If it rains soon after spraying alfalfa for the weevil, will I have to spray again9 A -Check the fields three or foui days after the rain. If most taround 7.5 per cent of the insects are dead it won't be necessary to treat again However, if there is still a great deal of weevil activity, you may have to treat again. Q At what stage do you spray alfalfa to control the weevil? A—When most of the plant tops ; how -orne feeding injury. Use hep tachlor. tenee and surface type. Jesse Green, Central Virginia area supervisor, and Max Timberlake teacher of vocational agriculture at Powhatan High School, are making contest arrangements.

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Wei And Cold Delay Much Farm Work Last Week During the early part of the week emJing April 12. rani and wet soil prevented many farm activities, thus retarding still further the gen eral progress of farm work. Pas tures, small grains, and commer cial vegetables generally made fav orable growth during the week. Precipitation on April 8 and 9 was ! general throughout the state with most stations reporting over an inch. At Charlotte C. H., 2.1 inches were reported. Freezing tempera tures were reported at most stations but little damage resulted. Four stations reported a low of 2f! de grees, and one a low of 24. Crops Pastures, which at this time are ' better than average, continued to | make good progress. They are now ! providing about 50 per cent of the j forage requirements of livestock.! Wheat, barley and other fall sown: grains continued to make rapid' growth during the week. Alfalfa has made satisfactory growth, but weevil infestation is widespread. Spraying is expected to prevent serious damage. The out look for fruit at the end of the week was favorable but prospects at this early date are uncertain. Peaches were in bloom in most sections of the State, but apples have not bloomed yet. Little, if any. damage resulted from the frosts on the eleventh but cool weather was helpful in retarding the opening of apple buds. Commerical vegetable crops, such us peas, cabbage, spinach and other greens continued to make favorable growth Progress of tobacco plants in beds is satisfactory. Farm Work Generally, progress of farm op : orations was delayed by wet and cold weather. Some of the principal activities during the week were plowing, preparing land for corn, planting spring oats, spreading ma nure. and top-dressing grains and pastures with fertilizer.

Less frequently mentioned were such activities as gardening, re pairing fences, seeding lespedeza. I grasses and alfalfa, and spraying fruit trees and alfalfa fields. Trans planting of tomatoes had started in the Norfolk section and on the Eas tern Shore. Commercial sweet po tato growers were setting plant beds. Tobacco beds were being treated to control blue mold and insects Corn planting started in all except the western and southwestern ; counties. Ilf You Want NEW FURNITURE or USED FURNITURE And Easy Terms that Will Suit You, Shop The I) IS C 0 l N T Furniture Store 2nd & Main Sts. Ph. 1088 FARMVILLE, VA. . 1.

Evans Comes To farmville And Hoy Moves To Concord In FHA Job Switch

Hunter P. Evans, of Concord, has succeeded George W. Hoy as county supervisor for the Farmers Home Administration for the Prince Ed ward, Amelia. Nottoway county area. Ttie new administrator for the federal farm loan agency previously had served as area supervisor for the FHA at Courtland. Ha will main tain ttie headquarters office as formerly in the Dorothy May build ing on Main street. Farmville. The move represents a switch in jobs, since Hoy has taken Evans’ job at Courtland. The new super visor here will maintain the same schedule of visits to the various counties served through this office. Evans owns and operates ' Pilot Farms” at Concord, and returns to the Campbell county farm and bis family for week ends. He maintains a place of residence at Farmville for the work week of five days. A veteran of the Farmers Home Administration, he has served with that agency since 1936. A native of Campbell county, he has served in numerous capacities with public and private agricultural agencies over the years. He is past master of Reedy Spring Masonic Lodge No. 203 of Concord, and a member of the Pres byterian Church.

HUNTF.K 1’. KVANS His agency make prupert. lu.d production loans t. fair to secure funds frum p r 1 v .1 t < i sources. The supervisor al 1 i that agricultural practice • ren.i 1 by the FHA are maintained.

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