Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 152, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1920 — JASPER COUNTY AGRICULTURE NEWS [ARTICLE]

JASPER COUNTY AGRICULTURE NEWS

Shorthorn Breeders’ Association. The shorthorn breeders’ association held a very enthusiastic meeting in> the county agent’s office Saturday evening, June 19th. The old breeders showed much interest in the meeting and greater impetus was given the association by the attendance of new members and breeders. Most of the breeders as yet have comparatively small herds, but are putting special emphasis on good foundation stock with outstanding individuals, of which Jasper county will be proud of in the near future. The meeting was given over mostly to the discussions of future projects which will be carried out this fall. These were, namely, the stock show, shorthorn sale, and shorthorn inspection tour. These were the three most important projects and were thoroughly discussed and plans were made whereby they could be carried to success. All three will receive the same amount of attention as they are essential for the building up of the shorthorns in the county. There will be several more meetings held later on for the purpose of arranging and completing of the plans. The county agent was not in attendance at this meeting on account of attending the Hanging Grove and Milroy Commencement at the Milroy Church. Canning Situation. A review of the canning situation in the country at this time reveals that nearly all the packers are finding it difficult to secure labor and that the cost of the raw products that will be canned this year will be high in price. This indicates that there will be a great reduction in the amount of commercially canned food and the cost will be higher than in previous years. I feel that the call to can is just as great now as it was during the war days. We have a great ftpportunity a wise, practical and patriotic service. We should urge the girls to join the canning club while there is yet an opportunity so they may have a part in this great service. Inspection Trip to Purdue. County Agent Mawhorter had the pleasure of inspecting the Purdue farm Monday, June 14, with the rtest of the county agents of this district, and in doing so he found many interesting plats and demonstrations on wheat, rye, sweet clover, alfalfa, soy beans and live stock that would be of interest and value to everyone in Jasper county and more especially to those interested in farming. This being the case, we are planning to make an inspection trip to Purdue and thus make it possible for all to receive the same benefits. So all those who are interested in such an instructive trip please meet at the court house and be ready to start for Purdue by auto Monday morning, June 28, at promptly 7 o’clock. Purdue will have guides to take us over the farms and show us every phase of their experiments. -They are making plans for our coming, so make this a big day for Josper county. The ladies are also invited to go along. Please remember the date and make arrangements to go. Many have signified, their intentions of going already. Control Cabbage Root Maggot* Found at last a simple yet effective control for one of the worst pests of the cabbage crop—ythe root maggot. Prof. Arthur Gibson of the Canadian Department of Agriculture and his associates have done a great deal of experimenting and highly recommend the use of corrosive sublimate solution for their control. ' During 1918 Gibson reports that 96 per cent of the plants were saved in the treated portions of the field, while 60 per cent of the plants left without treatment were destroyed by maggots. In 1919 the work was carried on “by tjie Ontario Department on a larger scale and results showed only 5 per cent loss when treated against a loss of from 52 to 80 per cent where left without the corrosive sublimate treatment. Now as to the corrosive sublimate treatment —it is so simple that anyone can use it. Dissolve one ounce of powdered corrosive sublimate in not less than 4 gallons of water and not more than 10 gallons. The first application should be made the fourth day after the plants are set in the field; the second application six days later and one or two applications ten days apart. Where maggots are to be controlled in the late outdoor plant beds the corrosive sublimate solution one ounce in 10 gallons of water should be used, pouring the solution three or four! times along the stems of

the" young plants. As to the application, Mr. Grbson writes, “The method of applying corrosive sublimate solution is ohn* ply to pour about a half a coupful of the liquid around the stem of each plant the fourth day a<ter the plants are set in the field ana another application six days later, with one or two later applications ten days apart. “Under commercial conditions we applied the liquid from a watering can, the spout of which was closed up so as to allow only a small stream to flow. In this way a small quantity of the liquid may be poured over the plants very quickly and the whole plantation covered a comparatively snort time.” ' , ... Not only did the corrosive sublimate solution control maggots, but Prof. Gibson reports that the treatment “showed ho deleterious influence either on the plants or on the

I reUtive number of soil organisms , present in the treated versus the untreated soil. Under field conditions applications of the corrosive sublimate mixtures certainly seemed to have a stimulating effect on the growth of the plants.” Cabbage growers who have been having trouble with the maggots should try out this new method of control as Prof. Gibson says, I have no hesitation in recommending its use under your conditions.”