Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1918 — THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER [ARTICLE]

THE NEIGHBORHOOD CORNER

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Plant a Field of Corn to Hog Off.l /Leading farmers of this county] all agree that hogging off corn should be followed on every wellmanaged farm where corn is grown and fed to hogs, as the gains are more economical and rapid than when “the hogs are fed by hand, and the labor of harvesting and feeding corn is saved. The use of a supplementary protein feed increases the rate of gain and the total acre gain reduces the cost of production. Soy beans grown with the corn or tankage or oil meal fed in a self-feeder have increased the rate of gain and decreased the cost 30 per cent. In a trial last fall, soy beans planted with corn produced 179 pounds of pork more per acre than corn alone. At 15 cents per pound this extra amount of pork means $26.85 per acre in favor of adding soy beans, or $4 per acre more than where tankage was fed to supplement the corn hogged off. Soy beans should be planted in rows with the corn on the same day the corn is planted. The bgan planting attachment is most satisfactory but the farmer expecting to plant a few may drill the beans in the corn rows immediately after the corn is planted, setting the planter a couple of notches x so that the corn is not disturbed. Soy beans and corn help solve the problem of cheaper pork production.

Hog Men to Hold Important Session. i W. H. Pullins of the county hog production committee has issued a call for all breeders of pure-bred hogs tq meet nt ‘the Better Farming .association office in the court house ’Saturday afternoon, May 4, at 2 o'clock. Mr. Pullins wishes to present a plan of swine improvement which should be of interest to every breeder. Mr. J. C. Shanklin of Purdue is expected to be present and deliver a short talk. The number of producers of purebred swine in this county is daily I increasing. The hog production committee desires that they should | co-operate as fully as possible in making their work most successful.

Farmers’ Clubs. Tlie regular meeting of the Gillam Farmers’ club will be held at Independence church next Wednesday evening. May 4 1‘. A good program has been arranged >by the new committee in charge. The May meeting of the Parr Community club will be held at the Parr school house next Thurs-’ day evening, May 2. Prof. John Schwab of Purdue will be the principal speaker. -The North Union Farmers’- club will hold its regular meeting at Virgie Saturday evening. Ma/ f 3. President Dexter has made arrangements for an excellent program and all are invited to attend. Conservation of Machinery. The farm management committee of the Better Farming association has suggested a means of conserving the farm machinery of the countv. -Machinery is high and will doubtless go higher, yet there are many machines and Implements which have been discarded for the lack of a few repairs. Other machines lack parts which might be supplied from these implements. If, instead of selling broken machinery for junk, our farmers would advertise it in the local papers, many actual savings would result. Advertisements -for repairs wanted should also give results. Any savings which may be made in this wayare clear "velvet” for the farmers of the county and will help relieve the congested manufacturing conditions.

All Pull Together for Better Gardens. ( The horticulture committee of the Better Farming association, together with William Bringle of the county council of defense, have planned a final drive in the interests of larger and better gardens this season. \ | “There is a greater necessity for better gardens this year than last,” says A. H. iH.opkins of the garden committee. “Last year we were not required to conserve wheat, sugar and other articles so the extent that we are asked, this year, and we must have good gardens to replace these material shortages. I knew of many farmers who bought their potatoes and other vegetables last winter who could have pro*-, duced enough to supply themselves and to spare with very little extra effort. “I especially urge that all persons Who can .get a piece of ground raise at least enough of the staple vegetables to supply their own families and relieve the situation as much as possible. It will not only help win the war but it will do much to keep down living expenses in these times when food prices are so high.” When In Doubt —Eat Cheese. Economy in the diet does not always depend upon limiting the use of certain, foods, but sometimes it means the increasing of the use of foods which furnish’ nutritious materials at a low cost. Milk belongs to the latter class and the housewife would do well to study

its food value. Many people think of milk as only a beverage, but it is in reality a nourishing food, the 1 only real food provided by nature. There are many places where skim milk is not being uspjl as it should be, on the farms and creameries. Now, the food administration is urging for a greater use of skim milk in the manufacture of cottage cheese. It h ,j s been found out that cottage cheese is an efficient and economical substitute for meat. Each pound of cottage cheese furnishes as much protein or bodybuilding material as the same weight of most meats, and is very much j cheaper. It is also a valuable source of •» energy though not quite as high as food with fat, but this ( can be supplied by serving it with cream. It can be easily made on a ' small scale and requires no special equipment. And because of its ease in making, it is desirable to make the cheese often so that it may be eaten fresh, although if it is kept cool it will keep well for- several . days', j p Cottage cheese alone is an apetizing and nutritious dish, but it can successfully be combined with many other foods. It should be used in as many ways as possible in the diet, as in salads, desserts and sandwiches. 1 Perhaps the scarcity of meat will turn us more to cheese, a good digestible and upstanding food. It i is the belief that the dairy industry is an important one in solving the , world food question, because the dairy cow is the most economical producer of human food to be found on the farm.