Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1908 — WHEAT SHOCKS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHEAT SHOCKS.

It Is Essential That They Should Be Carefully Built. There are many ways to build a shock of wheat; but, like all operations, there is a right way and a wrong way. In doing this work there should be a system, and each shock should be built in exactly the same way. When the grain is fairly ripe set up two sets of two bundles each, all leaning toward the center. Then set a bundle at each end, two at each side and two well broken and flattened and put on endways for caps. This makes a shock of a dozen bundles, a good size for grain cut at. the proper stage of ripening; also large enough to stand up well and not kb large but that two cap bundles will cover it. Jf smaller shocks are desired qnly one bundle need be set at each side. If a larger one, three bundles may be set on each side. Another common method is to set up, six bundles by twos and complete as before, but I think the former method l makes a better braced shock. I am thoroughly convinced that cap bundles will not hang on as well during heavy winds when crossed. Many people set their bundles two by two in long shocks without caps. This may do for low patches that are green or full of weeds, but is an unsafe practice to follow for all grain. If a period of wet weather follows the shocking, the heads are exposed, and many kernels will sprout and even grow, while If well capped only the heads of the upper cap bundle are exposed. I have known shocks well capped to stand long periods m'wet weather without injury, while the grain in uncapped, poorly built shocks was much injured. —Exchange.

RENEWING THE SOIL How a Wornout Farm Has Been Made Profitable. “Sixteen years ago I purchased a farm of 160 acres that had been owned by a widow who rented fields to her neighbors on shares, and of course the tenants took their portion home and fed it on their farms and returned nothing to this farm,” writes a correspondent. “When I commenced to farm it, I found the clay land only produced ten to fifteen bushels of corn per acre, the black ground from thirty to forty bushels. The clover was so light on the clay land It did not pay to cut it I put in a good many rods of tile ditch, fed all the grain except wheat that grew on the farm, saved all the manure and spread it on the poor spots and raised one crop of corn, one of wheat and one of clover in succession. I plow eight inches deep, but never plow or turn or stock on ground when wet.

“Now the clay land will produce thirty to forty bushels and black land fifty to sixty bushels of com per acre, wheat fifteen to twenty-five and clover so heavy that all had to be stirred before It would cure. I have never used a pound of commercial fertilizer. I expect to continue Increasing the fertility of the farm by the same process.”

Homemade Cart. Any one handy with tools can make this cart. For wheels one can use almost any kind he chances to have—old buggy wheels, light wagon wheels, wheels from an old corn cultivator or any other not too light or too heavy. The box may be made of any size to ■uit. If one has an old walking cultivator the axle and wheels may both be used; otherwise get any old axle

that will suit the wheels you chance to have. The rest of the work is plain sailing—a good, stout box of the right size and depth, with handles and rest stake to be attached as shown. It is Intended to be pushed forward, and the end gate should be made removable, so it can be taken out or dropped In place as desired. The cart should be rather narrow track, because It is oftAi desired to fit into open doors, and the weight should not be too great.

A GARDEN CONVENIENCE.