Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 21, Number 208, Decatur, Adams County, 1 September 1923 — Page 2

| Soil Survey of | S Adams County | Agriculture is the principal resource of Adams county. It began as early as 1820 in a small way, and not until about 1834 was much progress was made. Development was slow, as all the earlier homesteads were located only on land having good natural drainage, and this us a rule was heavily forested with hickory, oak. beech, elm. maple, and walnut Small fields were cleared and planted to corn and potatoes, and a little later wheat, rye, and buckwheat were introduced. Some flax also was grown and used in the manufacture of homespun. Later the higher parts of the poorly drained areas of black soils were gradually encroached upon, but several years passed before any large areas of these lands were reclaimed. In recent years drainage systems have been greatly improved and extended through co-operative effort. The channels oF the Wabash River and many of the creeks and small streams have been straightened and deepened, and larger ditches also have been constructed. Tile drains have supplanted the small open ditches which originally were used in opt ration on practically all farms located on level, low-lying lands, com-: posed of the Clyde, Brookston and' Genesee soils, nearly all of which w ere formerly too wet for cultivation. Suchtureas have "been freed from surface water and now form the most productive lands in the county. l ands of the Miami silty clay loam type, with more relief and better natural drain- i been improved by laying tile drains, i While much has been done to improve the originally wet lands of the county. the question of drainage is still an important one. as more effective drainage systems could be installed profitably on many of the farms. Corn, oats, and wheat are at present the principal crops, ranking in the ord r named. Rye, barley, sugar beets, alfalfa, buckwheat, sorghum, ami truck crops are grown to some extent. Corn has always been the leading crop. Wheat remained second in acreage until after 1899, but was third 1 in 1909 and 1919, oats going into second plat e. According to the census ■ the total value of all cereals in this county is brought out by a comparison of this sum with the value of all crops, which is given by the same authority as $5,670,168. Corn is considered the most profit-

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able of the cereal crops on most of the soils of the county. The Clyde and Brokston soils are especially well adapted to the crop, and the acreage i has increased steadily with the I reclamation of these productive black : soils. Hay and forage crops, with a total value of $1,326,954. are next to the cereals the most important products of Adams county Hay is grown on all the soils except the Genesee silt loam and Muck and Peat. The hay consists of clover, timothy, timothy and clover mixed, alfalfa, and an occasional cutting of oats, Seeding of clover and timothy may be done with either wheat or oats, the former being more generally used. Rye is also a very desirable nurse crop. The importance of clover as a teed and as a soil renovator is generally appreciated, and it is grown on practically every farm. The growing of alfalfa is not extensively followed; in 1919 there were approximately 200 acres in this crop, and the production was 365 tons. Small fields have been successfully established, but there have also been numerous failures. It is believed that the lack of proper drainage was responsible for many of these. For the successful production of alfalfa it is essential that the soil should be thoroughly drained, in some instances subdrained, richly manured, limed, and reduced to good physical obtained each year. Within the last few years the growing of soy beans has increased decidedly. The county agent has been particularly active in his efforts to in I crease the acreage in soy beans and alfalfa. He states that the soy bean acreage was increased over 1,000 per cent in one year—l9l7. The crop is ! considered a promising one for this section. The common method of plant- | ing for a seed crop is to drill the : seed in rows. It requires one-half j bushel of seed to plant an acre. Soy J beans are planted about corn-planting time. May 15 to 20. Cultivation is given during the early stages of growth. The seed may also be planted in corn at the last cultivation, or sown broadcast on well-prepared ground. The yields range from 20 to 25 bushels per acre. Hollybrook. Ito San. and Early Brown have given good results. For late planting the j latter two varieties are considered : best. These varieties mature early. The Hollybrook is the best variety to 1 sow with corn for silage. The practice of sowing soy beans with corn intended for silage should i be extended. By this method a wellbalanced ration is obtained, and at the same time the stubble adds more organic matter and nitrogen to the soil than where corn alone is grown. Sugar beets have been grown rather

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT, SAT. SEPTEMBER 1, 1923.

extensively In the county for ti numi ber of years. The beets are sold to I u sugar beet factory at Decatur. i The cost of production has so far t varied between $lB snd $25 an acre. The yields average about 12 tons per acre and a maximum of 35 tons per I acre has been obtained under especlal- • ly favorable conditions. The soils i and climate are well suited to growI ing this crop. The better drained ; areas of Brookston silty clay loam r live a larger tonnage and larger net 1 r Grosby soils, though it is stated that • the sugar content of the beets prot duced on the two soils last mentioned i Is 1 to 2 per cent, higher. The sugar . company, which is the only one in i Indiana, receives beets from various 1 parts of the Sthte of Ohio. The price 1 I paid for fleets ranges from $5 to $6 r a ton. The townships of Washington, 1 . Monroe, Wabash, French. Kirkland, and Freble lead in the production of - sugar beets. ( > Potatoes and other vegetables are . , grown for home use and to supply . local markets, but there has been no ( ' marked development of the trucking i industry. Fruit growing also is con- , ; fined to production for home needs. . Most of the farms have an apple or- ( ■ chard and usually a few peach, plum. i cherry and quince trees. On many • there also are grapevines and patches i of small fruits. , Hog raising is the most important I branch of live stock farming at the present time, and the industry is ■ growing. The raising of beef cattle - is not very important, though a few head are fed in winter on a number of farms. 1 Commercial dairies supply the i larger towns. Many farmers keep r ■ few milk cOws and sell the milk and i cream to local creameries, ice cream s factories, and the milk condensers a . Berne, and at Vera Cruz in Wells coun “ ty. The dairy products from farms- [ near the electric lines are shipped out- ’ side the county. Separators are com ;' monly used, the cream being sold ant i the milk fed on the farm to the young : stock. The Holstein predominate; ■ among the purebred cattle. Decatur is a well-known horse mar I ket, drawing from a large territory 1 and many of the farmers in Adams , county raise one or two colts a yeai i for their own use or for the mar ■ ket. I There is considerable variation ir . the crop rotations on different farms > Tlie one in most common use con sists of corn, oats, wheat and clover 1 The substitution of soy beans for I oats would make a very desirable - rotaiion. The principal recognition of adapta ■ tion of crops to certain soils is that ■ of corn to the Clyde clay loam. Th< quality of corn grown on the lightei ■ colored soils may be considerably better than that grown on the dark soils. Usually early frost, coming before the grain has fully matured may injure the crop materially. This is more likely to happen on the Clyde and Brookston soils than on the Miam soil. As a result there is in some seasons considerable soft or chaff: corn in the product of the lower lying black lands.* Acid phosphate at the rate of 151 pounds per acre is sometimes appliei to corn on the Clyde clay loam ant' Brookston silty clay loam. For w-heat about 200 pounds per acre is applied The soils are benefited by liming; th< application of 2 to 4 tons of grounc limestone per acre has proved espe dally valuable in farming the Miami and Crosby soils. Ground limestont should be used in conjunction with stable manure to obtain the best re suits. The farms of Adams county art well equipped with modern farm ma chinery. including corn planters, har vesters. shredders, wheat drills. dis< plows, manure spreaders, hay loaders and rollers. A number of tractors also are employed in plowing and othei heavy farm work. The 1910 census reports the tota number of farms in the county at 2.353 and the 1920 census as 2,328 | showing little change in number dur ing the decade. There was also prac- I fiscally no change in the average size ■ of the farms during this period. t Approximately 96 per cent of the < area of the county is in farms and 87.8 per cent, of the farms operated ] by owners, a decline of 17 per cent, i since 1880. Farms are generally t rented on a share basis rather than on a cash basis, the owner receiving two-fifths to one-half. Leases usually cover a period of one year only, t The average cash rent for improved s farms is $6 to $8 an acre. For land to be used in the production of sugar c beets as much as sl2 an acre is paid, t The majority of farms are well im- n proved. As a rule, the buildings are large and substantial, and many are J equipped with modern improvements. 1 In the southern part of the county p the buildings on many of the farms are small and agriculture is not in i: as prosperous condition as in other o sections. In this southern section -be b income from oil leases has been tor a over 20 years in excess of the profits a

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CLUB CALENDAR Saturday Christian Ladies Aid Two-Cent supper—Old Adams County Bank Bldg. Tuesday. Psi lota Xi sorority, Miss Donna Parrish, 7:30 p. m. Tuesday L. of C., K. of C. hall. Annual Union meeting of the Missionary Societies of Reformed church, at church, 7:30 p.m. Annual banquet of Phi Delta Kappa fraternity, Murray Hotel. Shoemaker-Lybarger Miss Martha, of Geneva, became the bride of Harold D. Shoemaker, also of Geneva, in a quiet wedding at the Decatur M. E. parsonage Friday afternoon, at 3:30 o’clock. The •eremony was read by the Rev. U. S. A. Bridge, pastor of the local church. Mrs. Shoemaker is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Lybarger, of Geneva. Mr. Shoemaker is a farmer and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Shoemaker also of Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker will reside in Geneva. * A number of out-of-town guests were here today to attend the wedding of Miss Gladys Ann Flanders, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.’ George Flanders, to Mr. Richard Cliamber'ain. of Peru. The ceremony was to occur at the home of the bride's parents, on South Third street at 1:30 o'c lock this evening. A wedding tinner will follow the ceremony. * Mr. and Mrs. George Flanders gave i bridal dinner at the Murray hotel Yesterday evening in honor of their laughter, Miss Gladys Ann, who is to >e married to Mr. Richard Chamberain, of Peru, this evening. A four■ourse dinner was served at 6:30 Vclock. The table was attractively lecorated with cut flowers. Those iresent were, Mr. and Mrs. Carlysle Glanders, of Fort Wayne; Mr. Cham>erlain, of Peru; Miss Dean Finch, jf South Bend; Mrs. W. E. Mayer, of Cincinnati; Mr. Raymond Petty, of "oledo. Ohio and Mr. and Mrs. Fland>rs and daughter, Miss Gladys Ann. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weber and family of Root township entertained Thursday evening for Mr. and Mrs.

Fred Dirke and daughter, Miss Lorena; Mr. and Mrs. Win. Buhr and Mr. Earl Buhr and Mrs. Dallas How>r and daughter, Miss Mabel, of Sa>ulpa, Okla. Mrs. Hower is a sister of Mr. Weber. This is Mrs. Howir’s first visit here since 1919 and she expects to leave by next week. The * members of the Phi Delta <app fraternity will hold their annual all banquet at the Murray Hotel iext Tuesday evening. * Mrs. A. R. Holthouse is enteraining this afternoon at her home >n Madison street, for Misses Mar;aret and Jeanette Uhl, of Toledo, 3hio. Tiiousand Cases of Beer Seized In Illinois West Frankfort. 111., Sept. I.—A housand cases of five per cent, beer n seven motor trucks, seized yesterlay in Johnson City, Marion county, vere held here today under an arm'd guard. Twenty-five deputies escorted the •aravan safely into Franklin county ate yesterday when Federal Prohibi | ion Agent Wiley was told that arm-1 ■d bands were forming to seize the •contraband booze. Many groups of citizens were seen I >n the unusually lonely road be'.ween the two towns ,but no disturbance was caused. The beer, unlabeled and in pasteboard cases, was confiscated when a traveler yesterday noticed one of the trucks had broken down, holding the other six up. Drivers of five of the trucks. George Hunt, Roscoe Woolridge, John Sullivan, Clyde Thomas and Geroge Turner were arrested. Mr. and Mrs. Riley Chrisman and ' ■hildren and Mr. and Mrs. Farr left today for Turkey Run. Indiana to spend Labor Day obtained from farming, and as a remit agriculture has been somewhat neglected. The usual wage for farm bands is | $25 t 0535 per month, with board' Harvest hands and extra help are paid $2 to $2.50 per day. But little land has changed hands, in the last tew years. Clay lands. I or the light-colored Miami and Crosby soils, are v &!ued at S3O to $125 an acre black'land and bottom land are held at $125 to S2OO an acr-;.

Twenty-Six Took Test A total of twenty-six pupils from various parts of the county took the eighth grade diploma examination held at the new high school auditorium here Thursday, it was announced at the office of the county super Intendent, E .S. Christen, today. This was a special examination held for those who failed on the regular examinations held last spring. The manuscripts have not been graded yet. > . — s_s—s-WANT ADS EARN—s—s—s . -• Poultry Meeting and Culling Demonstration A poultry meeting and culling demonstration will be held at the Joe Pease farm in Kirkland township next Tuesday forenoon beginning at nine o’clock. At that time county agent Busche will demonstrate the methods of inspecting flocks for non-1 layers and those present will be given' an opportunity to handle as many i hens themselves as they wish in order that they may become practiced. | It is said that Mr. Pease has al flock of about two hundred White Leghorn hens which are giving more than fifty per cent egg production at this time, that is. over one hundred. eggs are being gathered each day. But very few farmers are even approached such results and it is hoped , , a goodly number may be present to inspect the block and equipment. | Some time also will be devoted to i , general methods of feeding and of i equipment and care. The farm is located a short distance west of Hon-1 i duras and all Interested should plan . to attend. o CIT THIS OIT—IT IS WORTH MOSEY . Send this ad and ten cents to Foleyi 4 Co.. 28;!.-, Sheffield Ave.. Chicago. 111., writing your name and address clearlv. Yon will receive a ten cent I»>ttle of FOLEY’S MONEY AND TAR for Coughs. Colds, and Croup, also free: . sample packages of FOLEY KIDNEY PILLS for Backache. Rheumatic Pains.l Kidney and Bladder trouble. and! FOLEY CATHARTIC TABLETS for Constipation and Biliousness. These I wonderful remedies have helped mil-I lIUIIS * f pe,iplg - Try them! 1

Demonstration of the famous 10 - 20 McCormick Deering Tractor on the Ed Christen Farm 3 Miles Northeast of Decatur —All Day— THURSDAY. SEPT. 6 This demonstration will be made on the belt work and plowing ability of this great tractor and will be interesting and very instructive to all who attend. Everything of interest in general relating to the 10-20 tractor and farming helps will be explained by the demonstrator, and many farm helps can be obtained from this show. You are cordially invited to attend. Don’t Miss This Demonstration LEE HARDWARE CO.

Van Wert County Is A Great County in more wavs than one and not the least of its greatness lies in its agricultural resources THE Van Wert County Fair Van Wert, Ohio Sept. 4,5, 6,7, 1923 will afford the best opportunity of seeing what the county can do. $5,500 For Horse Races and SIO,OOO For Class Premiums assures high class racing, large and interesting exhibits of all kinds and of high quality. Every effort will be made to make visitors comfortable and to give exhibitors every advantage in showing their exhibits. Don't you deserve a rest? Certainly you do. The Van Wert County Fair gives you the chance. Take advantage of lhe opportunity and come to the fair. A BIG TREAT IN EXHIBITS, RACES, DISPLAYS, PARADES and SENSATIINAL FREE EVENTS IN STORE FOR YOU. DON’T MISS IT. COM E . W. A. Marker, Secretary, Van Wert. J. W. Weaver President, Spencerville.