Palmer, Alaska _Dorothy M. Hell, Editor
Publishod every rook at Palmer, Alaska, for the 1!. tanuaka Valley Farmers’ Cooperating
Association for the purpose of giving ners of the Associations *’ork, problems and
Accomplishments, and the dissemination of no^s of a public character,
SUBSCRIPTION RATS '$1.75 per yoar $1.00 6 mos. lOtf a copy
FALLOWING GRC'JNO IS OUTMODED
At one time'it rrts considered riso to fallor cortrin fields ovory for years—or in
other rords, give the ground a rest,Today farm agronomists adviso against such a
practice. It is all rrong they tell the farmers. Cropping annually rith a good rota
tion system is much better for the soil they toll farmers. In climates ”ith approxi
mately tho snno amount of rainfall as to have here this typo of procedure’is advised:
li Plapt peas -"ith some type of grass. In tho Valley this is usually oats.
2. Peas,barley, or oats alone can bo seeded,
Either of theso is recommended instead of the fallor method of resting tho soil,Field
surveys in parts of tho country rherO Tailoring has been used shorn that farmers lose
much soil on ground that is fallorcd.
Uoed control has been used as a reason for summor fallor of fields. There arc bettor
methods to eradicate rocds--say the agronomists. Crop rotation rhich includo3 a good
legume and grass is bettor. Kcoping the soil tilled rith each typo of crop planted
in rotation and spraying rith reed killing chemicals is a hotter method of rood con
trol.
The theory that fallowing helps build up tho nitrogen content of the soil has also
beer* cxplodod by agronomists. Organic natter and nitrogen can be returned to the soil
by groring a logume crop such as peas, clover and vetch. Ploring undor some of theso
crops is still bettor.
On rage 4 of this paper -’ill be found this year’s Soil Conservation program. It rill
be noticed that tho above methods are included in the Soil Conservation program, Fal
loring is not on tho program.
HEREDITY AND EL'GS
Many factors arc important for top quality in eggs,'say poultry specialists. Top
quality starts v:ith the breeding program ro are told, 'Good quality eggs -hen laid,
may bo reduced to a lo-cr quality by improper handling, but—eggs that arc of a poor
quality -hen laid cannot be improved.
!%.at produces blood and neat spots in eggs?" Many people ask this qucstion.Producors
hero have asked that sane question. It is believed that this ability is inherited in
chickens. Thoro have boon many theories advance11 on this subject. Some '■111 toll you
that injury to the hen causos bicod spots in the eggs. Others say that inproper feed
ing rill causo it. Some rill tell you that the sane chickens arrays lay the bloody'
eggs, and that trap nesting to find the culprit rill eliminate the trouble, Horever,
if scientists are correct in this theory of heredity—trap nesting ’-ill eliminate it
temporarily until a nor flock begins to lay.
T?o can conclude then that it is moro profitable to buy your baby chicks from roll
knorfL established hatcheries that have a proven record of good layers and top quality
eggs. • E tching ones orn chickens in a country rhere the cost of feed is so high be
comes an expensive proposition if the quality of oggs produced from those pullets
falls much bclor par. It just does not pay.
THE MARKETS
From recent market reports ro learn-There is a large lato spring drop of potatoos
rhich might rociuirc government buying; support price is 10 to 15 per cent over 1947.
EGGS—fro production form" July-Dcccnbcr is expected to bo 5$ ur.dor last year, tut tho
storage stocks arc larger.
DAIRY PRODUCTS—The price doclino undor the seasonal increase in production has been
much loss than usual.
HAY—T' o condition of ncadors and pastures averago-about 5$ bettor than usual.
FEED—The demand for feed, cspocially chick mashes, has increased.
FEED GRAINS—Lo-er prices arc probable -hen oats and barley is harvested,
LAMPS—A evimmor price decline is oxpcctod.
HOGS—Sane additional price rise is likoly during the summer.
C-ATTLD—-High market for top grad‘d is expected.
Finally, the stock market indicates a continuanco of relatively good times for a time
yot,according to most reports.