Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 208, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1919 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

A DEPARTMENT OF FARM WELFARE CONDUCTED BY COUN TY AGENT LEAMING. Cott of Producing Oats Crop Being Determined. The time spent in producing the 1919 oats crop netted the Jasper county farmers ’about $1.20 per hour for a man and two horses, according being submited by representative farmers of this locality. Last spring a number of farmers, assisted by the county farm management committee, undertook to keep a record of their , laharand other costs entering into the production of the crop, including horse labor, interest, rent, seed, fertilizers, twine, threshing and other items entering into the enterprise. These records, while not complete at the present writing, indicate that the above return is somewhere near the correct result. About nine bushels of oats were produced for each hour’s work for a man and two horses, according to the figures, but labor represented one of the smallest items in producing the crop, being exceeded by rent and fertilizer and manure and somewhat approximated by the threshing twine bill combined. The farm management committee has upder way work on the corn crop, which will be compiled some time during the winter. High Grade Fertilizer* Cheapest. High grade fertilizers are the cheapest, according to a letter received last week from E. G. Prolux, state chemist. Not only do manufacturers place a higher price per unit of plant food on the low grade goods but the “overhead” cost per ton is the same on the low grade fertilizer as that on the high analysis. The farmer who buys two tons of low grade fertilizer with the same amount of plant food as-- one ton of high grade goods is paying twice the overhead expense which amounts to about $10.Q,0 per ton. “High analysis fertilizer saves three-eighths of hauling costs, bags and storage,” says Mr. Proulx. This is a matter which should be of interest to farmers who are purchasing fertilizers for wheat. Onion Marketing Service Established. Word has been received from the U. S. bureau of markets that a marketing service has been established to assist the onion growers in getting a fair price for their products. Upon request, the bureau will furnish to each grower daily quotations as to the prices of onions on any market centers in the United States, and weekly reports on the conditions in the onion fields showing the probable shipments for the coming week. A new and important feature is the food products inspection service. In the past it has been possible for unscrupulous dealers to reject cars of products upon arrival merely because of price declines br upon various “trumped up” excuses. The food products inspection service makes it possible for shippers and others to ascertain definitely and through official sources as to the exact condition of any lot of foodstuffs at aj?y time after arrival at any of the principal markets. The , mere fact of the existence of the in-, spection service appears to have al-. ready reduced the number of un-. just rejections by city dealers. Upon receiving a complaint of a car arriving in “bad order” and where the shipper suspects that the car under question is not as stated by the receiver, the shipper should wire the bureau of markets for an in-' spection. A certificate, issued by | the bureau inspector, is acceptable as prima facie evidence in any court of competent jurisdiction in the country in setling difficulties arising in regard to the condition of any lot of produce. \ Put on Super* Now.

If you have not already done so, you should lose no time in putting on supers, as the bees are now busily at work on buckwheat and smart weed. You will be surprised how quickly a colony will fill a super during the honey flow and every day you delay putting on a super you are losing several pounds of honey. If you are not supplied with sections get them at once and give the industrious bees a chance to show what they can do when nature and the bee keeper gives them a chance —nature by providing the nectar and the bee keeper by providing the equipment in which to store the honey.