Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1919 — DECEPTION IN FARM FERTILIZER [ARTICLE]

DECEPTION IN FARM FERTILIZER

FARMERS WARNED TO KEEP _ EYES OPENED AND TO ASK ADVICE. E. C. Proulx, state chemist, of Purdue, issues a warning concerning fertilizers that should be heeded by every purchaser. He states that last year Indiana farmers bought 244,446 tons, paying over $8,000,000 for it and that more than half of this tonnage was considered low grade and contained relatively small amounts of plant food, nitrogen, water soluble potash and phosphoric acid. Mr. Proulx claims that an equal amount of plant food could have been obtained at a saving of $813,184, if it had been high grade instead of low grade material. Fertilizer' is now generally used and every farmer gives some attention to the particular needs of his soil, and he should find what furnishes the desired plant food the 1 cheapest, Mr. Proulx furnishes some interesting figures to sustain his claim that in buying cheap grade fertilizers the farmer is making a great mistake, for the high grade fertilizer pays a less proportionate part of the .overhead charges of the and seller.. He insists that the combined saving in Indiana in a year would exceed a million dollars if the high and not the low grade was purchased.

Ripley county farmers are trying out lime stone experiments with good results and tbecause of satisfactory results obtained the past year one township has ordered five, tons of lime* for soil treatment. County Agent Calvin Griffith is active in the campaign. The high cost of leather is resulting in greater care of it and reports show that shoes, harness, etc., that are cleaned and oiled will wear twice as long as otherwise. Castor oil, lightly applied to dress shoes at night and removed the next day before polishing, has a good effect, while on work shoes neat’s foot oil is the best. Harness should be washed with tepid water and neutral Soap and dried slightly before oiling with neat’s foot or castor oil. Tallow may he mixed with the oils with good results. Dean Skinner, of Purdue agricuh tural college, reports the greatest interest in the history of the school and probably the largest freshman class .the school ever had. Farmers realize that the methods employed and the courses followed give great advantage and there is an enlivened interest in the short courses each year.

Do you keep a plentiful supply of pure, fresh water always available for your chickens? Nothing is more important for them. Wash their drinking vessels. Yon may ' save a lot of disease from attacking them. The wise dairyman fall feeds his cows. If they go into the winter in poor flesh it will mean a reduced flow of milk. The extra feed now will not only mean more milk now but will put the cow in better shape to go through the winter and aid the production during the entire year. Get the cow barn as comfortable as possible just as soon as you can find time. It will help in production as well as being the proper thing to do. * , The Orange County Sheep Breeders’ association recently adopted resolutions urging the eradication of scrub sires, putting their sanction on the plan started last March at the livestock rally in Indianapolis. Members of the Oxford Pig club in Benton county are making a great showing. Pigs weighing fifty pounds I were distributed about ninety days j ago and today many of them weigh ' nearly 200 pounds. Many Benton county farmers are sowing small patches of alfalfa this year for the first time. They are preparing good seed beds, liming the soil and innoculating the seed.

Eighty-eight culls were removed from flocks of chickens totalling 350 in Hancock county during a recent culling demonstration. 0 Residents of the Idaville community, White county, have started plans for a week’s conference during which representatives of the Purdue university extension department, state library commission and public health board will speak and discuss with the residents working plans for a community betterment* association. Rock phosphate shows excellent results on the black soils of Benton county. Tn One neighborhodd where three car loads were' applied last* year five will be used this season. Ten interested farmers of Clark county and' Jeffersonville business men are arranging to starte a purebred dairy calf club. Interest in better dairy cattle has been stimulated" by the work of the Clark-Jen-nings Cow Testing association and the calf club has been chosen as one of the avenues to improve the dairy herds.