Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 September 1917 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

What Shall We Do With the Corn? The frost damaged the corn on the low land of the county: to a very great extent. Farmers ' who have the wheat seeding and in some instances thrashing still on hand are asking how to proceed with their work. Can they afford to leave their wheat to put the frozen corn into the silos? Corn that is badly frozen will lose most of its leaves and much of its feeding value if permitted to remain in the fields for any length of time and the sooner that it is placed in the silo the better. There is still time to seed the wheat crop and if the season is too late after the damaged corn is harvested, the land can be put in some other crop .next season. It is usually good policy to save a crop already raised before attempting to produce another one. Another Herd of Shorthorns. Two jasper county farmers spent a day this week in Benton and Tippecanoe counties visiting Short- , horn herds, and wound up the day by purchasing four registered cows, two of which will go to start a new herd. More goo'd livestock of any breed will help out the progress of the county. , The Sheep Club k Wool and mutton prices tend upward each week. The plan of the Bradley Knitting Company of placing flocks of sheep with boys of the county, to be paid for in five years at five per cent,, is something worth considering. A small flock of sheep will return a good profit on almost any farm. Farmers Clubs. The Kniman club will meet at the Kniman school next Thursday evening, September 20, The chorus has prepared several selection's and Station Agent Harrington will give a talk on “railroad transportation.” The Wheatfield club will meet" in the school building next Friday evening, September 21. A full program has been arranged and all are invited to attend. The Federal Land bank at Louisville writes, "we wish to advise you that a loan may be procured from us for purchasing livestock, provided we are secured by mortgage on farm lands.” ‘ live Stock Shows. Plana for the Rensselaer live•toek show on October 12 and 13

are rapidly taking shape. The Wheatfield show committee /has been called to meet at the town hall on the evening of September 29 to make plans for the show at that point. Chairman Dewey expects a good show. Herds Are Popular. “I expect to see this section of Indiana become one of the greatest Hereford centers in the county,” says O. S. Bell of Parr. “Newton and Pulaski counties have excellent herds and w T e will be able to start a number in Jasper county. I have forty head of splendid heifers located and hope that they can be placed in this county.” Mr. Bell has a good herd of Polled Herefords and invites the public to drop in and see them. There is room for plenty more of the same kind. The Livestock Fawner. “Does livestock farming pay?” has been one of the questions which has been given special attention in the farm management studies being conducted all Over the United States. A farmer’s “labor income’’ is computed by deducting the expenses, interest on the investment and wages of members of the farmers’ family from the total receipts. In our neighboring county of Starke in .1916 it was found that the average labor income, from twelve lightly stocked farms was but six dollars per year, while the average income from twelve heavily stocked farms was $lO3 9 per year. Did livestock farming pay? Tcben Brothers of Jordan township, A. P. Rice of Walker, C. M. Hewett of Wiheatfield, and Amos Daniels of Keener township are conducting wheat variety tests this season to determine what varieties are best suited to their several communities. Each man will sow eig'ht varieties in addition to wheat used to sow the bulk of the crop. Observation will be made from time to time in order to determine ability to stand the winter, freedom from rust and smut and yield. Five hybrid varieties and Beardless Winter Fife. Michigan Amber and Red Rock are being used. C. M. Dewey is conducting rye tests, using Mammoth Winter and Wisconsin. $1 Star and Petkus rye. Petkus rye is a promising variety an<l has,supplanted all other strains in any county of this section of the state. It would be well for every farmer to watch these variety tests.