Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1912 — Page 3

nr NCLE SAM is matting a try at B I using the magic current to B I help the growth of crops. In I order to "test this new idea I the government has recently WSL J laid out what is believed to be the first "electric fann” in g the United States. It isn’t a || very big farm, to be sure, II having, to begin with, a total area of only an acre and a half. All the same, the prog-

rees of vegetation on this little plot will be ■watched with keen interest, for it may point the Vay to helping the farmers of the future in Important respects and even may be the means of making some of them independent of climate. Of course it is not sought to convey the impression that the present undertaking by the United States department of agriculture at its most important experiment farm is the first effort to make' electricity useful on the farm. Public as well as private enterprise Invaded that field long ago and thus we find today many farmers in various parts of the country developing electricity for home consumption by. means of power plants right on the premises, the energy for generating being supplied by the gasoline engines which are becoming so common’ in the rural districts, or through the harnesstag of water power which has been done successfully on so many farms. Moreover, the electricity thus.generated is not used merely for illumination, etc., inside the farm buildings , Progressive farmers and dairymen have adapted the twentieth century power to many tasks that had formerly to be done by human hands —as, for exajnple, milking and churning and feed cutting. But Uncle Sam’s new venture In electric farming pursues quite a different path. This latest function of the magic current is not to supplant manual labor, but to assist nature. To particularise, ft popular form, It may be explained that the idea is to have electricity supplement sunlight in its influence upon growing crops. The artificial warmth and glow will be called Into play as a proxy for the burning beams from the orb above on days when there Is no sunlight and in the mornings and evenings of the short winter days when old Sol is working shorter hours than In mid-summer. Perhaps electricity cannot ever be expected to prove so great a stimulus to growing plants as is powerful sunlight, but preliminary experiments have proven that It will help some and the object of Uncle Sam’s present undertaking is to determine just how much assistance electricity will render under the conditions of soil and climate, etc., which confront the average Americah farmer. The reader might naturally suppose, if he hasn’t been informed otherwise, that if Uncle flam was going to employ electricity to counterfeit sunbeams he would - dd It by calling Into use powerful electric lights, which seem to be.about the next best thing to sunlight in brilliancy. Well, that_was the way it was done by several of the leading scientists of Europe who have rather gotten ahead of us in such -tests. They hung big arc lamps In greenhouses and they lengthened the growing day for plants and vegetables by flooding the hot houses with light -for several hours after sundown each day. The result was that one prominent foreigner has produced splendid strawberries tn a much shorter time than would have been possible had nature been ah lowed to take her own course, and our own Corneil university in New York state was equally successful in hurrying the growth of lettuce, radishes and other vegetables by this same method. But Uncle flam is not going to follow blindly in this beaten path. He is taking a new tack. ._ ...<. The principle of Uncle Sam’s new "electric farm” —if we may call one miniature wheat' field a farm—is to employ the electric current Itself and not the electric lamps to spur nature in her work. This is interesting in itself and the project will be of added value in Its results from the fact that the growing under electricity is to go on out of doors instead of te the artificial atmosphere cf a hot bouse. Moreover, in order to approximate average conditions the experts of Uncle flam’s bureau of plant industry have -chosen as the scene of their experiment, not a prize farm, but a tract on the largest experiment farm of the United States department of agriculture located near Arlington, Virginia. This land was formerly a part of the historic estate of Robert E- the Confederate general, but it was neglected for many years after the war and , 11 cannot be said to offer more than average opportunities far tilling, if they be that good. The appearance of Uncle flam’s “electric farm” is well calculated to rouse the curiosity of any chance farmer riding along the road, even if be did not see the warning signs cautioning him that he must not get within four feet of the wires carrying a current of 100,000 volts —electricity powerful enough to do all sorts of damage if given the opportunity. What the farmer beholds is a plowed area dotted at intervals of a couple of rods with slender wooden poles about seven feet ft height At one corner of the field is the sbcalled “power house” of this farm, a small frame building from which leads a wire connecting with the wires of a near-by Interurban trolley system. If the farmer looks close he

FARMING THE AID of ELECTRCITY

will observe that the slender posts support a perfect network of > wires. Stretching from post to post are main wires, supported by huge insulators of a pattern usually seen only In the vicinity of-Niagara Falls and elsewhere where higfi-pbwer current Is generated or transmited. Cropping these principal wires at right angles—six to the span between each two poles—are finer wires, so that, taken as a whole, there is provided a sort of wire screen suspended about the height of a man above the furrows. ‘ Were it a case of switching on electric light when It was desired to give impetus to crops in the ground it would be apparent to the casual-onlooker wh,en the activity was in progress, but with Uncle Sam’s method of administering the electric treatment things are not so obvious, hence the warning signs that hang from the wires. Nevertheless, for all that,

Gathering and Using Waste Fertility

Today the subject of procuring a supply of manure is concerning the minds of a great many farmers. This has given me much worry at times and is only mastered by hard labor and study. Perhaps, however, I have not secured my manure all in the same way as most gardeners do. True, alt farmers and gardeners cannot secure a great amount of their manure as I have secured much of mine. In the first place 1 have tried to make as much manure on my farm as possible, and also tried to save as near all of it as possible. Also I have made a practice of always having some green growth to turn under at different times and derived much benefit from It. But much of my farm fertility has come from a 25 acre wood land, which I several years ago purchased from a neighbor. This land is rough and stony. The. timber is worth very little except. to keep the land shaded and shed foliage to rot. The rock on the land is of a gravelly nature and when it rains seems to dissolve somewhat and when mixed with the rich dirt and my farm eoil, seems to make an ideal soil. Here in my country there is much land that is of this type and fit for nothing practically, or at least cannot .be cultivated. I bought this piece of land ten years ago and I have hauled a great number of loaded rich dirt and sand mixed every year and 1 still have, it seems, as much to haul as when 1 first bought it I gave |ICO for the 25 acres at first and I have received that much back every year in fertility. However, I do not try to cover my entire and have some green crop to turn under and. apply about 20 loads of this fertility per acre, with only a few loads of barn-yard manure, say abffirt sow or five This is not done to the

Briggs, are trying to demonstrate is that static, electricity when applied to soli and air will stimulate the growth of plants in such environment. There is ample evidence of the soundness of the* theory within reasonable limits. Indeed, the benefit that may be conferred by such electric discharges is illustrated by the flourishing development (until frostbitten) of plants In the Arctic regions where there K of course, mighty little sunlight, but where the atmosphere Is heavily charged -with electricity. Moreover, preliminary experiments which were recently conducted in England, along the same lines that Uncle Sam is pursuing indicated that there was an increase of 30 to 40 per cent in the yield of wheat that had been thus dosed with electricity, and the wheat likewise brought a better price per bushel after a test had evidenced that It was superior for bread baking. • The officials of the department of agriculture make It very clear that their present venture in electroculture —as the new activity is termed—is purely experimental and they make no prophecies as to just what they hope to discover. The Interesting point is that they are determined to find out just how much electricity will do to aid the farmer. They have made the most elaborate plans, t 00,., for measuring the Influence exerted. To this end the experimental area has been apportioned in fourteen plots of uniform size and all have been planted in the same good grade of winter wheat Seven of the beds He under the network of wires and thus receive the. benefit

By R. B. RUSHING.

land every year, that is to the same land. I select say about five acres each year to give a renovation, apply about 100 loads of this woods' dirt and about 15 or 20 loads of barnyard manure, thoroughly Incorporated with the soil and it produces good crops. Some land of course will not infeed quite so much of this, but some of my land is of clay loam and in former years has not been very rich and thus~it requires heavy applications to bring it up to a high producing state. Not only in my country is it possible to have such supplies, but in mapy places, such sourcesare available. The trouble is that these sources are overlooked. I knoV a few farmers tn my neighborhood who have bought a few cars of manure and had it shipped from Chicago, and on their farms there are waste places that they can get about all the fertility they heed to mix with their soil. -.S Five years ago 1 bought one car myself and I must say that I have had far better results from the land that received the wood leaf mould and dirt than from the Chicago manuib. In fact, I have never used anything that gave better Immediate results than does this, i have had to buy a little lime occasionally, but never bad to buy nitrogen and I never expect to. In using this in my cold frames, all the special treatment that it receives is to thoroughly work it into, a good soil, or fairly good soil. As to my hot beds, I use the fire beds and apply. the rich dirt for planting the seed. While I am a great believer in buying the proper elements of plant food when it is necessary. yet I also believe in looking around and trying to find some source near home from . which to supply needs and save money. . I think there should be just as economy practiced tn feeding the soil as in feeding the animals. The cost pf production must be considered.

there ate no lamps the electric current is so strong that at night, the wires give off a sort of glow that is Visible to any person approaching them. In daylight only a scarcely audU ble sound indicates the "leakage” from the electric! ty -1 aden discharge wires. The theory which the government scientists, under the direction of Dr. Lyman J.

Mrs. Tubbs—Don’t you think there is feeling in Maria’s playing. John? Mr. Tubbs—l certainly do. When I hear it it always matpvme feel that I'd like to kick the eat!—Yonkers Statesman. '

A Drawback.

Sage—Knew thyself .Cynic— What's the . use? It’s not an asfrom whom you can borrow money.

ot the electric discharges, while side by side with each of these electrified beds is a “check portion” or plot of equal size where no electric Shower falls. By conquering the yield from the two plots In each pair and by contrasting the production by the seven pairs of beds the officials will be enabled to gauge, very accurately just what influence the electrical factor exerts on the harvest It may be added that It is not the intention at, any time to keep the electric current flowing over the wire-sheltered area continuously day and night. That would be likely to do more ham than good. Late afternoons and early mornings will be chosen for giving an electric boost to. the growing wheat and in no instance, probably, will Dr. Briggs have, his odd cultivator at work for more than one-third of the time in any given twenty-four hours.

THE EVERGREENS

By R. B. BUCK HAM.

To tell something really new about the evergreens would be a difficult task indeed, since the reader has doubtless been familiar -with their principal traits and characteristics since boyhood, and knows them all, root and branch. But a few facts relative to them may never theless prove convenient tor reference, and interesting and suggestive. First of all, then, they , are distinctly desirable as shade and ornamental trees, though many fail to recognize their value as such. In time, however, they will surely come to receive the place as such which is due them. * No tree can add more to the landscape than one of these, and especially in the winter reason, when so many others are leafless and forlorn. The wonder is that we do not see more of the evergreens in the streets of cities, and about fine'country places. Again, they are of prime value as timber. The price of soft wood lumber Is steadily Increasing, yearly. When this country was first discovered, and grants of land were given by the king, in most cases great care was taken to reserve the pine thereon to the crown. Its value was recognized then. Shall we fall to appreciate it, today? The evergreens are all of them hardy, and easily grown, and adaptable to almost any climate a„d condition of soil and surroundings. You will find the spruce growing on the exposed and chilly upper slopes of mountains, and again equally well along the muddy banks of a river, or in the depths of wet and gloomy swampland, or out upon the sandy plain. Only give them a fair chance and the evergreens will look out for themselves. There is ho portion of our nation in which they cannot be grown with success and to advantage. The present is always propitious with them. They care not whether times are good or bad, or what political faction is tn the ascendency. They are ready to launch put with you on a venture in the lumber business at any time, and they make pretty good partners to tie up with, too. The several varieties of the evergreens have their peculiarities, traits and habits, b means of which they can be selected- to conform to one’s individual circumstances. Thus, the hemlock and the larch seem to be able to endure almost any amount of moisture ft the soil, whereas the pine is best constituted tc thrive ft the most barren sands, and to endure long continued droughts. The spruce is the most successful of them all in doing without sunshine, curvivlng dense shade, and making itself at home on northern mountain slopes, where the snow Ungers far into the spring, and the sun makes out to shine but a little time each day. ' . Almost any condition of soil and situation can be met by these hardy growers, and they seldom fall to return a good profit to the man who Is willing to loan them the use of bjs land. If the large leaved trees retained their foliage throughout the year It is difficult to imagine what havoc wind and sleet and snow would not occasion amon 0 - them; but the foliage of the evergreens is so shaped that though retained throughout the year, no damage results in the fiercest gales. What would be the destruction of other trees, but makes music among the evergreens. Long may their lyres be attuned throughout the hills and valleys of our country! k . '

That Piano Music.

STORIES OF CAMP AND WAR

DARING ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE Diary of John L. Ransom Records Effort to Flee From Beits Ist* . Prison, Near Richmond, Vs. Sufferings In Confederate prisons, such as Belle Isle at Richmond and Andersonville, Ga.,are told of by many waiters, but probably nowhere more vividly than tn a diary, now long out of print, wh'eh was written day by day in these two prisons and afterward printed by the author, John L. Ransom of the Ninth Michigan cavalry. An attempt at escape from Belle Isle Mr. Ransom's diary relates as follows: “January 28, 1864. —The nights are dark and cloudy. Mustard and Hendryx both sleep outside now, and I must manage to. We are well rigged, have some food saved up to take along; In good health and determined to get away. Tonight we are to start. The guard will let us cross his beat and gp 4o the water's edge. We all have rebel clothing, which we are to

"A Guard to prick Us with His Baonet if We walked Too Blow.

wear. We take the quartermaster's boat. We row across the river, give the countersign to the guards, and, to quiet their suspicions, start up into the town. Out of sight, take a turn to the left and to the Richmond Jail. We will then meet with a negro, who will guide us ten miles up the river and then leave us in charge of friendly blacks, who will keep us through the next day and at night pilot ns farther along toward our lines. /‘The big bell inHlchmond strikes six, and we close our diary, hoping never to look upon it again until we return to free our fellow prisoners with the glorious army of the north. Now we leave our diary to finish preparations for the flight for freedom. May God aid us in this land erf tyranny, where we have met nothing but suffering, (good-by, Belie isle and prison! Hail, freedom,, home, friends and the grand army of the old flag! What is in store for. us in thefuture? "February 5. —Have been reading over the last few pages of my diary. It sounds well, but the rebel flag stiU floats over Belle isie. Our escapade was a grand fizzle and all hands have been punished in more ways than one in the last few days.' Lieutenant Bossleux suspected something going on among us and had us secretly watched, and long before we had made a move towaid fulfilling our projected plans we were thrown into a guardhouse; next moaning taken out of it' and underwent a severe cross questioning. . "The result has been that we were bucked and gagged twice a day for .an hour each time and for four hours each of us carried a big stick of wood up and down In front of the gate, a guard to prick us with his bayonet if we walked too slow to suit him. Then Hendryx has been strung up by the thumbs. Nights we have been thrown into a damp, cold guardhouse to shiver all night. Every day now for five days we have walked with our sticks of wood so many hours per day, and last night were turned inside with all the prisoners to stay, Bossleux says, till we not; he can place no dependence in us.”

To Make Them Stick.

Ever after the squabble between North Carolinans and Virginians were valor. Once when a Virginian, a staff officer Of General Wise, was riding through a rather forlorn part of North Carolina, he accosted a native home on furlough: “How are you. North CaraHoa?” “We sell an our tar to Jeff Davis." tar?~ .