Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1903 — FARM AND GARDEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FARM AND GARDEN

DROUTH IN SUMMER. The lack of rain in summer is more severely felt 'than at any other period, as it Is then that the seeds for the various crops are being planted. The rainfall cannot be anticipated, the farmer being in a state of uncertainty until the rain comes. It is useless so put seed In the ground, to be followed by a prolonged dry spell, as It may never germinate, while the delay in planting may throw the work over Into July only to be met by another dry period, the season for growing the various crops being shortened in proportion to the days lost earlier. Fortunately the lack of rain exists only in certain sections, as some regions are more favored at times than others, but In this section there are localities upon which no rain had fallen unitl recently for several weeks; and the farmers are therefore greatly delayed with corn. Such a condition at this season Is not unusual, but the danger is that the dry period may be extended. There is a limited period for growing corn, as It may be overtaken by frost in October, or even as early as September, and no farmer feels that his crop is safe from fall frosts until it is cut down in the fields and ready for storage. To plant corn in June is not too late, but there may be more dry weather delay in growth, good rains being worth many dollars to the farmer. An early start is desirable, although corn will make rapid growth if favored with warm nights during the summer, but there must be plenty of moisture or the yield will be short. The remedy is to take care of the moisture in the soiL There is such a thing as holding on to what is already in possession and preventing its escape, and it is important to apply all the labor necessary for the accomplishment of that object rather than lose the crop, as it is better to incur a little more expense than sacrifice the labor already performed in the fields. If the land is ready it should be kept smooth and loose with the harrow or weeder until the seed is in the ground. Weeds will start, as some kinds seem to thrive in dry weather, and the harrowing will destroy them In advance of planting. No doubt the farmers have everything now ready for the seed, but if the ground is hard on the surface there will be a loss of moisture. One of the greatest sources of loss of moisture is through the weeds. Wherever they exist they take water and evaporate it. It is customary to wait until the corn is put in and destroy the weeds at the same time —after the first rain that falls — but the weeds are not so easily killed then as when the ground is dry, while every day that they remain means a loss of moisture and plant food. After the corn is plantedjt should be cultivated in a manner to have the surface always loose, not a weed to be allowed, and there should be no “laying by” of the crop as long as grass and weeds can be seen in the rows. It is better to give more room between the rows, so as to cultivate late in the season, than to be crowded out by having the rows too close and allow the horse hoe at a time when weeds and grass get ahead. No farmer should depend on a particular crop. As soon as the opportunity is gone of securing a good yield of the preferred crop take a later one. It is not difficult to secure a crop of millet or buckwheat after the season is late for corn, and it is never too late to grow a green crop for the land. Late potatoes and cabbage may be planted late, and as turnips need not be planted until July (or even August), there are crops that can compensate for corn. One point in favor of corn, however, is that It is almost sure to produce fodder if not grain, as the fodder may be cut at any stage of growth, and if the hay crop should be short the fodder will be valuable. But there is too much dependence on corn. Some farmers omit other valuable crops, making corn their specialty, and if the corn crop fails they are compelled to reduce their stock. They should grow more root crops, and not omit other grains than corn. Hungarian grass and millet are quick growing crops, and will provide against loss should there be a shortage of grass. It may be that the summer will be very warm, and the rains frequent, and if so there will be an abundance; but the farmer will make no mistake by preventing the weeds from robbing him of soil moisture; any stirring of the ground while waiting for an opportunity to plant will be so much saved, and will also be of advantage, whether rains are frequent or the season dry.—Philadelphia Record.

WHAT SOILS NEED. Professor C. 0. Hopkins, of the Illinois Experiment Station, in a bulletin Just issued, emphasises the importance of feeding the different soils the kind of fertilizer they require. He says: “Preserve good physical conditions and then put back upon the landfall of the fertility that is taken off—not some of It, not most of it, bnt all of It —and not only that which is removed by cropping, bet also that which is removed by blowing, washing and teaching of the soil.”

Then he lays down some deflinlte propositions as to the needs of certain soils in the five paragraphs fol : lowing: Rule 1. If the soil is acid sour, apply lime to It to make it sweet. Rule 2. If the soil is poor in nitrogen only, grow clover or some other legume which has the power to secure nitrogen from the air. Rule 3. If the soil is poor in phosphorus only, apply bone meal or some other form of phosphorus. Rule 4. If the soil Is poor in potassium only, apply potassium chloride or some other form of potassium. Rule 5. Always save and use all the barnyard manure you have, and also all you can economically obtain from others, and make liberal use of green manure when necessary to maintain the supply of organic matter in the soil. With a large appropriation from the Illinois Legislature for that purpose, very complete analyses of the various soils are being made, in order to enable the farmers to determine what each section of the State needs for its soils. This Is a very important work, and it would be of immense benefit if the same kind of work could be done in Indiana.

METHODS OF PRESERVING EGGS. Having last year given a careful trial to both water glass and lime water as egg preservatives, the conclusion arrived at is undoubtedly in favor of the former; in fact, I am convinced it will, when generally known, supersede all other methods of egg keeping. Apart from the fact that eggs preserved in a solution of water glass retains the flavor of a fresh egg (I do not say a new laid egg, by which I understand one not twentyfour hours old), there are two most important points to be considered. Firstly, the shells after months of immersion do not become thin, as those in the case of lime water, therefore, they can be packed for sale as easily as fresh eggs. Secondly, should one become cracked or broken in the jar, it imparts no flavor to the surrounding eggs. In fact, the contents of the shell seem perfectly preserved from any taint whatsoever. With those preserved in lime water, on the contrary, every egg in the immediate neighborhood is rendered unfit for use, and hundreds are often wasted in this way. For cooking purposes I find yolks separate quite easily from the whites which is certainly not the case when the eggs are preserved by other methods. The eggs do not differ in appearance from fresh eggs. I doubt any person being able to distinguish a glass preserved egg from one, two or three days old When poached or boiled for breakfast. If boiled, it is well to prick the shell of the wide end before cooking to prevent the shell from cracking. Last year I found some difficulty in procuring water glass of the right quality, but as the demand increases this will not be the case. Seventeen pounds weight to the gallon is, I believe, the right strength, and this is diluted with sixteen parts of boiled water, viz., sixteen gallons to one gallon of glass. The same proportion should be used in all quantities, the solution being used cold. —S. M. C., in American Cultivator. SMALL FARMS. The man with only a small farm is often discouraged. He is inclined to think that there is no opportunity for him to accumulate. This is a great mistake. There are many men owning small farms who are comparatively rich, and there will be many more in the future, as people become better educated in all department of agriculture. It matters not bow much land a man may own, he has no more time to study and manage his complicated affairs than the man owning but a few acres; and there are few business enterprises that are successful nnless the owner has time to study, manage and oversee details. The man with a small farm his time to devote to some specialty. His small farm is easy to keep and improve; tgxes are light, and not much hired labor required; hence, he does not need so much money a 3 the owner of a large farm, as his expenses are so much less. Quite often the net income of email farms is greater than that of larger ones. The work is much pleasanter and easier, as there is not so much on the mind, there is more leisure time and less confusion. Those who are not able to own large farms should not feel discouraged, but should study local surroundings to find special things to raise for quick money returns, and make the head assist the‘hands.—Cora Wright, in The Epttomist.