Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1917 — PRODUCTION INTERESTS MANY [ARTICLE]

PRODUCTION INTERESTS MANY

Good Attendance at Farmers’ Meetings by AH Classes. x About 200 people, including farmers and their wives, business men and school teachers, attended the meeting pt the Jasper County Better Farming association held at the court house Saturday afternoon. The purpose of the ll meeting was to devise plans of action to render the county more self-sustaining and create an interest in greater production in the face of a national crisis. Through the untiring efforts of County Agent Stewartxlieaming an unusual interest in the matter had been” created and

the east court room was filled to its capacity; many standing, outside in the corridors. - The meeting was called to order by Mr. Loaming, who in a few wellchosen words stated the purposes and desires of the association. Henry Paulus, president of the association, who had been assigned the subject, “Increasing the Acreage,” next took the floor. Mr. Paulus stated that at the present time it would be almost impossible to increase the crop acreage in Jasper county this season as practically all available land was now being cultivated and it was Joo late to. start drainage projects and rejclaim wild land. However, he voiced the opinion that the yields could be greatly increased by the proper use of manures and ferdilr izers, improved machinery and better cultural methods, such as seed testing and greater care in the planting and tending of crops. His talk was to the point and well received. W. L. Wood was the next speaker and stated that it was the patriotic duty of the farmer to do all in his. power to produce the maximum amount of food. . He quoted figures, tb show that prices of some foodstuffs have advanced 250 per cent in the last two ’years, due to a wotld scarcity, and gave it as his opinion that a much greater advance could be expected in. the future. He suggested that an increased yield would not only feed the people but would add greatly to the farm income. His talk was

patriotic in every sense and was well received by . the audience. Attorney C. M. Sands spoke on the subject of “How the County May. Be Made Self-Sustaining,’-’ and in the the course of his remarks stated that a special effort should be made to see that the available seed, land and labor be properly distributed in order that maximum crops may be grown. The support of the bankers should be enlisted to ftfrnish the proper working capital. While many of our young men might be drawn into the war there are a number of able-bodied men above Military age who are s; ending their time in comparative idleness who should be drafted into a great army for the • production of food. The matter of growing and preserving garden produce was also I discussed by Mr. Sands, and he ■suggested that all produce grown 'in excess pf immediate needs be 'canned, dried or preserved in some manner for futdre use. One other I point touched unon by Mr. Sands jin his talk, and which was also suggested to The Democrat by a promiI nent farmer, was the matter of marketing home produce. There I have been tinjes in the i>ast when 'the production far exceeded the de- | mand and in order to eliminate any loss it was suggested - that* cominitI tees be appointed to confer with 'the local merchants in order to get

them to distribute home grown produce first before purchasing any from other localities, and also the establishment of an information bureau to assist in the distribution of , farm -and garden produce. County Commissioner Charles Welch of Carpenter township gave a very * pointed talk upon ‘‘New Crops That Are Neglected,” and pointed out that many crops, such as spring wheat, barley, sorghum, cowpeas with corn and alfalfa are worthy of "investigation; He stated- that farmers’: clubs would be of great assistance in making these studies and urged that an organization be perfected in each and every neighborhood.

Professor O. G. Anderson of I’urdue was present and gave a very interesting talk on . ‘‘Home Gardens." Prof. Anderson is a young man with a wealth of knowledge on the subject and his. talk /was most as well as interesting.’ He stated that on a plot of ground 50x100 feet it was possible to raise §IOO worth of produce, enough for the needs of the average familj 1 . Prof. Anderson gave a review of the mayors’ meeting held Kt Indianapolis recently and outlined plans for garden work in the cities and towns of the state. It is understood that Mayor Spitler is making plans to conduct this work in Rensselaer. 1 . . County Agent Learning assumed the floor and. stated that the case had been well presented from all viewpoints and urged that definite steps be taken before the meeting adjourned to formulate a definite plan to be carried out by the association in addition to the regular projects to meet the unusual conditions.- Accordingly it was decided to appoint a number of committees to work with the officers of the association ■to develop .certain lines of work during the season. Each committee is expected to develop in every way; possible the

line of work to w hich it is assigned. . I At this juncture C. W. Postill arose and said it was the opinion of Martin Sauser and himself that one very' important feature of the community had been overlooked—the poultry industry.. They predict-, ed dollar-a-dozeh eggs within the next year and s»id that anyone de-‘ siring information on the poultry subject should apply to the Jasper County Poultry' association. > ‘I The following committees were then appointed: Corn Production—P. H. Hauter, M, J. Delehanty, Charles Welch. Home Garden— A. H. Hopkins,] Worth -Stoneburner, Ellis Jones, S.! A. Brusnahan, Henry Marble. Livestock Production—Chauncey Wood, O. S. Bell, Kenton Parkison, John Ryan, Frank Hill. Boys’ and .Girls’ Clubs—John Kolhoff, Ernest Lamson, John D. Matt, Martin Sauser. Dairy Production—Stephen Kohley, I. F. Meader, John Frye. Food Conservation—J. P. Deselms. Miss Mabel Atwood, Earl Eoulkes, Mrs. A. Eib, Miss Helen Murray. Poultry-—Martin Sauser, C. W. Postill, A. E. Wallace. Marketing and Distribution — Henry Paulus, W. A. Lake, P. H. Hguter. Publicity—The four editors of the county. , These committees are all expected to meet at the office of the county agent next Saturday afternoon to formulate their plans of acion. The first named person in each case is chairman and will be responsible for the meeting <of his committe. Another meeting will be held later in the spring to note the progress made by the committee