Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1917 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Formaldehyde Gives Good Results “I’ll tell you, that formaldehyde treatment for seed oats is all right,” said %V. H. Wortley of Jor-| dan township the other da}'. “The oats that I treated yielded about ten buehels more than those that I did not treat. Although there was only about 3 per eent of smut in the untreated oats there was much more difference to be noticed. The treated oats were thicker on the ground, had longer and stiffer straw and the grains were heavier than my untreated oats.” This experience is rather common among men who use formaldehyde to treat their seed oats for smut. Prof. F. J. Pipal of Purdue says that in the treatment of plant diseases we are at about the ' J quinine and calomel” stage which physicians used in treating human disease fifty years ago. Formaldehyde not only prevents smut, but it controls numerous other plant diseases, the nature of which is little understood. Experience has brought out the fact that it is profitable to use formaldehyde even if no smut exists. A Successful Hog Breeder John R. Lewis left this week for the Indiana State fair where ,lse will begin the show season which will take his herd through the leading fairs of Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, and which will end with the International at Chicago. The herd, which consists of forty head, is in the pink of condition and is expected to make a creditable showing for the county. Livestock improvement is making such rapid strides in all parts of the country that every farmer must have at least one class of purebred animals upon his farm. Are you preparing to do your part in improving our livestock? Your Teacher. Teachers’ intsitute is over and within the next few weeks the schools of the county will be opened. Many of the teachers wil be new to their work and to the communities in which they will live. Can you nqt help make your school better by showing a friendly interest in it during the critical first few weeks? Be a booster for your school and you will be well repaid. Lime and Crap Production. Henry Paulus spent some time last week in looking over the lime demonstration plots of the county and made some interesting discoveries. On the farm of Henry Gowland of Marion, he found a good catch of young clover on the limed portion and a very poor one where no lime was applied. On the E. P. Honan farm in Barkley a narrow unlimed strip in a field seeded to Mammoth clover last

spring will produce only a small proportion of crop that will be secured on the limed area. “Clover and lime,” says Mr. Paulus, “are what we need to build up most of our soils in this county.” Gillain Club. The Gillam Farmers’ club will meet at the Independence church this evening. The principal topic for discussion will be “What Benefits Are We Receiving From Our Club.’’ Here is a chance for a good, lively meeting and everyone is invited to go and take part in it. Parr Club The new committee of the Parr Farmers' club has arranged for a bumper meeting to be held at the school house tomorrow evening. Come out and show the committee that the club is the best in the county. Fertilizers for Wheat “If your Tan<F ■wtir~FtTsduce~"sTfy' bushels of corn per acre, you can use 200 or 250 pounds of acid phosphate as a fertilizer for your wheat this fall,” said C. C. Mar-, tindale, the wheat expert, who spent two days in this county in the interests of more and better wheat,” but if it is not that Strong I would advise you to use enough bone meal to give the wheat a good start in the fall. Bone meal and acid phosphate make a good combination.” Better Farming Association Meeting The semi-annual meeting of the Jasper County Better Farming association will he held on the farm of President Henry Paulus next Saturday, beginning at 11 o’clock. A basket picnic will be spread at noon. The program will consist of talks from extension specialists and the main part of the day will be devoted to the discussion of results obtained to date and to making plans for further work. ’Bring your family and come. Everybody welcome. A plarty will leave the court house for the picnic grounds at 10:30 and would be glad to have you join. Will you let the lice kill your cucumber vines? Nicotine sulphate is death to plant lice. Home drying is as important as home canning. Now is the time to'lay in the winter supply of dried fruits and vegetables. A' Hereford Story “I bought a registered Hereford heifer two years ago for s3so,’’ said i one of the cattle breeders of this county the other day. “Not long ago a man from lowa offered nfe SBOO for her and another man of- , sered me SSOO for the calf that she produced. They are worth a good deal more to me than that and I am going to keep them, although SI,OOO profit on one cow looks mighty big to me.”