Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1918 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

A DEPARTMENT OF FARM WELFARE CONDUCTED BY CO. AGENT LEANING; dmmmrnamm Sued Corn Again. The County Corn Show last week served to emphasize the seriousness of the Seed Corn situation. Gut of all the corn on exhibition, Fred L. Ken, Hie judge, reported that almost every ten ear sample was dead and had mouldy ears. Whgn one remembers that these samples represented the best Seed corn stocks that the county affords, we wonder where the seed is coming from to plant this season’s crop. What are we going to do about it? “The hope for seed for the 1918 crop lies in the use of a large amount of old corn. In many cases this will be found to be of only fair quality'and not of the best type, but this year, if it will grow, it will be necessary for farmers to overlook some of these points which have been considered most important in the past. The amount of old com is very limited. It is very desirable, therefore, to locate every bushel of old' corn suitable for seed. “While new com is in a serious condition, yet there are many who have saved early seed and by careful testing can get from this a large amount of good seed. If, with labor and time, twenty to sixty ears can be secured from -00 saved, this is better than discarding the whole lot and taking up something that is new and untired.” “The U. S. Department of Agriculture and Purdue will take immediate steps to locate seed in other counties and other states.” There is no question but that this county must import seed to supplement the local supply. Place your wants with the “Com Committee’ of the Better Farming Association and they will see that you are supplied. Only early action will save the situation next spring.

Cost of Producing Wheat. It cost the farmers of Jasper County ninety four cents to produce a bushel of wheat last season, according to Vthe reports which were made to the U. S. Department of Agriculture by a number of farmers. There farmers were asked to 'fill out a cost sheet, including 38 items of expense in connection with crop production the past season. The county is «given at $6.33 per acre as compared with $11.53 for the average of |he state of Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The total average cost in the county was given as $19.86 per acre,as compared with $28.82 for the district. The yield per acre of the men reporting from the county was 20, as compared with 24 from the district. The higher yield in the district, did not keep pace with the higher cost and Hie average cost of producing a bushel of wheat in the three states is given as $1.20 as compared with the 94 in the county. • ‘ Hog Fooding Demonctratiou Started. I. F. Meader, of Union township, started his tankage feeding trials last week. He has 25 fall pigs which weighed at that time 1200 pounds. They are being fed com, skim milk and tankage, the latter in a self feeder. All feeds are being weighed and accounted for. Mir. Meader will report the progress of this trial from time to time. His purpose is to show the effect Of protein suuuplements upon the cost of pork production.

Interest in Spring Wheat An assured price for breadstuff has created quite an interest in spring wheat as a crop for this county. Unfavorable weather conditions, shortage of labor and fertilizers last fall prevented many farmers from sowing as much winter grain as they desired. Jasper county was asked to sow 14,000 acres of wheat and the acreage now in is about 10,40. ' ' Results with spring wheat \n the past have indicated that it may not be expected to yield ,as well as the winter grain. With present prices, however, it is possible that it will be more profitable than oats on much of the land this coming year. * There are three distinct types of spring wheat commonly grown. Marquis wheat has been introduced from Canada within the last few years. Uis beardless and is characterized by early maturity, stiff straw and plump kernels. It is preferred by millers to all other varieties. It is especially recommended on black loam soils. ' Velvet Chaff is a bearded type ripening somewhat later than the Marquis. It is a high yielder, but is not in favor on account of its poor milking qualities. Bluestem is a later maturing smooth variety with hard grain an: excellent milking qualities.

Young Cora Grower Reports As a part of their work, the boys in the Corn Club were required to write short stories of their season s experiences. These stories were graded by County Superintendent Sterrett who awarded feet prize to Charles Stevens, of GiTlam township. The essay follows v Hew I Rasied My Acre of Cera “This spring the Superintendent

came to school with names of the different clubs, and wanted all the boys and girls to join one of the clubs. “I thought the matter over and decided to go in the Corn Club. The next step I got a plot of ground nearly two acres. It had oats grown on it last year. The soil was a light loam. “I put 8 loads of barn yard manure on the acre just before plowing. I plowed the ground the twelfth day of May about eight in. deep. I harrowed the ground twice before planting. It was planted the 25 day of May. “I planted the corn in hills. The distance between rows was 3 feet, 8 inches. The distance in rows was 3 feet, 6 inches. I put 125 pounds of commercial fertilizer on the acre. When the corn had -been planted about five days I drug the ground. This loosened the ground so the corn would come through better. “I had a very good stand nearly every hill came. When the corn was coming through the ground I blind plowed it, I plowed the com three times after this about three inches deep till the last time, which was done with a -gopher between one and two inches. The first three times plowing was done with a Dutch Uncle, the fourth with a two bladed gopher. “When the com was too big to plow and the ground began to get hard I hoed it. This was the last I did to the ground. About the 15th of August I saw the first tSssel. The corn was not damaged in any way so no treatment was used. “On the 7th day of November the County Agent, Mrs, Learning came up and measured the plot and husked the com. When we got the com husked we weighed it. There was 6,228 pounds,we took 72 pounds to the bushel which made 86% bushels to the acre.” £fp§nifi. Plowing (self and team) 8% hours, SI.OO. Planting (self and team) 1 hour 30c. Preparing seed bed, team, 2 % hour, 75c. Cultivating, 9 hours, $2.70. Hoeing, 10 hours, SI.OO. Husking (at Sc per bushel) 86% bushels, $2.60. Commercial fertilizer, $1.50. Seed com, 30c. Total $10.15. Rent at $5.00), $5.00. Total $15.15.

Farmers’ Clubs. The Newton Farmers’ Club will hold its regular meeting Tuesday evening, January 15th. A good program will be given and a large crowd is welcome. The Kniman Farmers’ Club meet' ing will be held at the Kniman school, Thursday evening, January 17th. An interesting program has been arranged. The Wpst Carpenter Farmers’ night from now on to the third Friday evening. The next meeting* will be Friday evening, January 18. Mr. Welih reports the following program : Song—“ Old Glory”—By Wm Ott, accompanied by violin. Reading—“ How Father Snores”— By Burlington Jones. Debate—Resolved: That the tennant should, feed his share of crops on the farm, while the “landlord” sells his on the market—By Wm. Ott and H. Jones. Reading—“ Our boy has gone to the. war ’ —Accompanied by the SO ng.—Just Before The Battle Mother.” • \ “Incubated chickens va hen hatched chickens” —Mr. Snyder of Rensselaer. Every one is invited. Remember January 18th.

Trip To Purdue For Boys. The County Better Farming Association and the Board of Education has. arranged for a personally conducted trip to the Purdue Short Course, January 14th to 18th., for the boys of the cßunty. A special Course has been .arranged *nr the boys this year and it is of very high value. All boys who make the trip will be given credit for their school work during .the week. County Superintendent Sterrett and the County Agent will be in ehaxge of the party which wil take the Monon train arriving in Lafayette at 12:25 p. n». The expenses of the trip from Jasper County will run in the neighborhood of ten dollars. Any boys who care to make the trip• are invited to take the. train mentioned at their nearest station. A week *at the Short Course, will do much to ereate an inspiration toward better farming.