Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1919 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

A DEPARTMENT OF FARM WELFARE CONDUCTED BY COUNTY AGENT LEAMING. Potash Prices Falling. “By fall, I expect potash to drop to a figure where these salts may be used at a profit on most of the soils of this county* said Professor S. D. Conner of the Experiment station who took a trip • over the county last week. “We are being offered 26 per cent, goods now for about SBS per ton and your farmers could well affprd to use that, if they could get it in time for corn planting, as potash is the answer to at least three-fourths of your soil problems.” —— . ; ,The purpose of Prof. Conners trip was to locate an experimental field on which to compare various grades of American potash with the german product. Such a field was located on the farm of Charles Doctor, on the range line road between Remington and Rensselaer. Angus .Herd Founded. The first herd of registered Aberdeen Angus cattle to be established in Union township was founded last week, when I. F. Meader purchased four cows and a bull of Will H. Ade of Kentland. The animals selected are all excellent representatives of the breed, being vigorous, blocky and early maturing. Mr. Meader expects to build up a herd of high class animals gradually. The Angus cattle have been slow vto get started in Jasper county, but in founding this herd, Mr. Meader will have the congratulations of all rattle breeders as there is stil plenty of room for herds of high merit. Club Enrollment Complete. , Enrollment in the Boys’ and Girls Industrial club work for the season is complete, according to J. M. Sailser, chairman of the county club committee. The applications which have been accepted in the spring clubs are as follows: Potato club: Cecil Jeqenes, Earl Stalbaum, Conrad Griffin, Earl Spangle, Francis Christenson, Carl Chester W ortley, Hugo Makus, Oscar Peregrine, Leon K. Todd, Perry D. Gross. , iCorn club; —Kenneth Moore, Theodore Ampler, Charles Waling, William Daugherty, Francis Brown, Waiter Brown, Johannes Eilts, Myron Collin, Walter Deerberg. Poultry club: Helen Keever, Ethel Yeoman, Mabel Yeoman, lona Griff, Gladys Hartley, Catherine Pettet, Rachael Peregrine, Mae Todd, Wilda ’ Dewees, Ruth Sage, Ethel Nuss, Flossie Swisher, Ada Swisher, Myrtle A. Jennings, Golda Peregrine, Louise Deerberg, Irene Lilves. Canning club: Emma Zimmer, Mary Ruth Elder, Della Amsler, Zelma Clark, Helen L. Horsewood, Iva Blankenship, Lillian Kruse. In addition the total club enrollment includes 28 members of the Sheep club and 25 members of the pig club. Farm Management Committee Meet*. Endorsement of the campaign for cost of production records on farm crops and plans for creating a more general interest in the keeping of such records were important features brought up at the meeting of the County Farm Management committees meeting last Saturday. Blanks have been provided for keeping records of the cost of production of corn, small grain, sheep, cattle and hogs and those may be secured through any member of the committee of the county agent. Joseph Kosta was appointed to arrange for a multiple hitch demonstration to show the latest methods of working numbers of horses together without side draft. . The committee decided that the twine being offered through the State Farmers’ Association is not of standard quality and that it should not be recommended for use. Discussion on the matter of better farm leases brought out no definite conclusion and no action was taken. Rat Day May 27th. iMay 27th has been set aside as “Rat Day,” by a proclamation issued by Governor Goodrich. “I call upon and urge all the people of the State to free their premises and their communities of rats and other rodents and I further recommend and urge the Mayors of cities, Board of County Commissioners, Township trustees, Boards of Education and other Public officials to assist in the tion of the people of their respective jurisdictions for this work and otherwise enforce the provisions of the law. I further request Boards of Trade Civic and Commercial organizations, associations, clubs, Boy Scouts, Agricultural and all other similar organizations and activities, including the public press to assist in this campaign. I further recommend that new buildings shoujd be made rat proof, old buildings no son constructed as far as possible be remodeled and rendered rat proof; that harboring places should be destroyed; that public markets and other public buildings should be rat proof and frequently inspected To the end that the public may know the result of the campaign for rat extermination the active forces of each county are requested to make reports through the county boards of health to the state board of health of the accomplishment in such counties and the state board of health is requested to give proper publicity to the information secured.” Members of homes and farms in this county, as well as in other sections of the state harbor rats. According to the best figures obtainable it takes the constant service of $200,-* 000 men with equipment to provide for the rats of the United States, supplying them with food and repairing the damage they do to property. On this basis, the damage done in this county would amount to about $50,|OOO annually. I If the citizens of the county will ’ take “Rat Day*’ seriously and make a conscientious effort to clean out

these products and destroy their breeding places, much good will result. z