Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 201, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1917 — LEND A HAND [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LEND A HAND

Field of Eilt Tobin and Sons, Jordan Township

Wheat sowing time is upon us. A reasonable price has been guaranteed by the United States Government and the problem for the farmer is to raise the wheat. The question is bieng asked everywhere: “How can I raise a bumper crop in 1918?” Undoubtedly the selection of a slightly rolling or -thoroughly tiled field is the first essential. Undrained fields invite failure. , Sour soils do not permit a proper development of the wheat plants in the fall to enable them to withstand severe winters. limestone can be secured at various points in the county at figures ranging from $1.50 to $2.00 per ton. Two tons of limestone per acre will improve most of the wheat land of the county for several years to come. Lime should

never be applied until after the soil has been tested and found to be sour. Tests will be made bjr your county agent without charge. A well prepared seed bed should be firm, with a few inches of mellow soil on the surface. Deep plowing is not tobeadvised and on some of the lighted soils, thorough disking without plowing will give the best results. ' , Investment in phosphate fertilizers is one of the best paying propositions that the wheat grower can take up. Under normal conditions, from 200 to 250 pounds of acid phosphate may be expected to increase the yield from five to ten bushels per acre. Thin soils will be benefitted by the application of from 100 to 200 pounds of steamed bone meal. Fertilizer

stocks are low and prompt action is needed on the part of those who wish to secure them for the wheat crop. Turkey Red is a safe and readily obtained variety of wheat in Jasper County. Poole, Rudy and a few other Varieties have given better results in many instances but their usfe involves hazard. > Loss from scab, smut, blight and other diseases may be materially reduced by cleaning the seed at least four times and treating with formaldehyde. The treatment consists in springing the seed with one pint of formaldehyde diluted with forty gallons of water, shovelling thoroughly and covering for at least two hours. /A safe seeding in Jasper County is between September 20th and. October Ist. .

The application of oats or rye straw to the fields after the wheat has been seeded is to be recommended upon soils which blow, but many poor stands have resulted from the use of coarse manure as a top dressing and from the application of straw with a fork. When preparing for wheat is it not a good idea to keep in mind the growing of a bumper crop of clover after the wheat is taken off? Most of our soils need ft and the cost is not excessive. „ STEWART LEAMING, County Agricultural Agent. Purdue University Department of Agricultural Extension, U. S. Department of Agriculture and Jasper County Board of Education, Co-oper-ating.

FERTILIZED

UNFERTILIZED