Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1917 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

A DEPARTMENT OF FARM WELFARE CONDUCTED BY CO. AGENT LEANING. Marl Deposits Located The most important “discovery” of the Better Farming Association of the year is the location of a bed of marl near the center of Wheatfield township. This bed is located near two stone roads and according to the tests contains from 100,000 to 125,000 tons of marl, analysing 76.3 per cent Calcium Carbonate. This material has the same effect in correcting soil acidity as ground limestone, in proprotion to its lime content. A the greater part of the county requires liming before clovers can be grown with best results, a number of farmers have been shipping in limestone and the practice of liming will become general within the next few years. The location of this deposit in the center of three townships where the need is greatest will doubtless serve as a stimulus to soil building. It will mean a saving of freight charges, and a shortening of the hauling distance. It will also permit individuals to serve the material in less than carload lots and at such odd times as they may haul it Steps are being taken by the Better Fanning Association to have the bed placed in working condition this fall. That the use of lime upon many of the soils of this county is highly profitable is beyond question. It it possible, however, that effort may be wasted by applying the material to soils which do not need it. It is recommended, therefore, that no soils be limed until they have been tested for acidity. The county agent will do this with out charge. A similar marl deposit has been located in Walker township which may have even greater ecomonic importance than the one in Wheatfield.

—o— Ear-To-Row Test Completed R. L. Budd of Union township has completed an ear*'to-row corn variety test for the County Better Farming Association. This test showed that Mr. Budd, out of 100 carefully selected ears, had strains ranging in yield from 20.5 to 35.0 bushels per acre, or that his better strains were yielding 73 per cent more corn than his poorer strains. The ear-to-row variety test is a method by practical farmers and corn breeders to increase the yielding powers of their strains of corn. 100 carefully tested ears are numbered. 300 kernels are shelled from each ear and placed in a paper bag which is given a number corresponding with that of the ear from which the kernels were taken. The original ears are then stored for future reference. The uniform plot of ground is selected for a trial and 100 hills are planted in a row with the seed from each bag. The first row and everv fifth row thereafter (row numbered 0,5, 10, 15, etc) are planted with uniform corn of the same variety in order to detect any difference of fertility of the soil. All the rows are given the same care during the growing season and at harvest time the yield of each row is recorded separately and serves as a measure of the producing power of the corresponding original ear, most of which is stored and available for planting. The breeded can then go to his stored corn and pick out the high producing ears and plaqt them in his seed plot the next season knowing that they will produce a superior yielding strain of corn. The average yield of the 5 highest rows was 33.6 bushels per acre, of the 5 lowest 22.8 bushels and the average of the entire number was 28.0 bushels. This work was carried on for the purpose of interesting more farmers in adopting this method of corn improvement. It is quite common in many good farming districts and a number of our own farmers have begun to use it A wider use is to be recommended. —o— — Farmer* Club* The regular meeting of the Wheatfield Center Farmers’ Club will be held at the Kennedy school house, Thursday evening, November 29th, President Grube reports the following program. > “Livestock and Soil Improvement” —Stewart Learning. “The Shorthorn,” Chauncey Wood, president of the Shorthorn Breeders Association. Several important business matters will be transacted. The regular meeting of the West Carpenters Farmers’ Club will be held at the Welch school house Friday evening, November 30th. The matter of liming will be discussed. All persons desiring soils tested for acidity are invited to bring samples. Sheep production will be given .a place on the program. . The North Union Farmers Club will hold its regular meeting at Virgie, Saturday evening, Dec. 1. Plan* Made For Fam Engineering School The Farm Engineering school will be held the first week in January according to the plans made at an enthusiastic meeting of the committee in charge. Professor D. C. Kins-

man will be at the head of a subcommittee to arrange for speakers, who will discuss the care, management, and adjustment of farm implements, power machinery, household conveniences, and other farm appliances. A committee consisting of W. H. Pullins, Erhardt Wuerthner, George Myers, Conrad Kellner, Rex Warner and Ed Herath was appointed to arrange for a suitable and display space. Four days instruction will be given by the best authorities obtainable. This will be the second school of the kind ever held in the state and the committee has high hopes of making it a valuable feature of the winters’ work. —o — The Mor* Th* B*tt*r Floyd Amsler returned from Flora, 111., last week where he purchased an entire herd of 47 registered shorthorn cattle. These are all excellent individuals and 20 of them are straight Scotch. Mr. Amsler has now about 90 head of good shorthors, which is probably as large as any in the state. James W. Amsler purchased a Scotch shorthorn bull and two Scotch heifers at a sale at Bloomington, Hl., recently. AU of the animals are very well bred and give him an excellent foundation for a high class herd. —o— B.aver* Talk* On Lima “Much of the land in this county will not be at its best until it is limed,” said Prof. J. C. Beavers of Purdue at one of the lime meetings last week. “While most of our farms are already under capitalized, this is one thing for which a farmer can afford to borrow money, as it will soon come back. The great effect of lime is that it greatly increases the growth of clover, adding fertility which is manifested in succeeding crops of corn and small grain.”

—°~ S**d Potato** The yield of potatoes was reduced 20 bushels per acre in this state on account of the use of poor seed this year, according to the Bureau- of Crop estimates. Potato growers who have stocks suitable for seed are asked to report them to their county agent, who will arrange for inspection. Should they be approved by the inspector, assistance will be given in distributing them to those desiring seed for spring planting. - —o— Soft Corn For Hors** “Don’t forget that soft corn aften developes molds that are dangerous to horses,” this is a warning issued by President Henry Paulsus of the Better Farming Association.” Everyone knows that moldy com is injurious to this class of livestock but sometimes it is forgotten. I know of two horses having been lost lately through this oversight