Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1918 — The Neighborhood Cornel [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Cornel

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Coro Club Workers Finished. 95.2 bushels of air-dried corn were produced by Charles Waling, of Newton township, this season. This.young man has the distinction of being the winner in one of the most hotly contested Corn erowing clubs ever conducted in the county. Last spring thirteen young men set out to see who could raise the largest number of bushels of high grade Corn on an acre of ground, under the direction of the County Better Farming association. The plots received special attention all summer and last week representative portions of each plot were husked out and weighed. The moisture content of the corn from each field was determined and the yields were all reduced to a 15 per cent moisture basis, thus giving every member an equal Chance. The boys producing the five higest yields are as follows: Charles Waling. Newton 95.2 bu. Clermont Stack, Carpenter 94.4 bu. Francis Brown, Jordan 74.6 bu. Walter Brown, Jordan .......... 71.7 bu. Theodore Amsler, Marion 67.6 bu. The young men also made an exhibit of the corn produced, which was judged by Prof. Kruers a few weeks ago and On the basis of the best corn and the highest yields the following awards wore made: Ist, Charles Waling; 2nd, Clermont Stack; 3rd, Francis Brown; 4th, Walter 'Brown; sth, Theodore Amsler; 6th, Francis Wilson; 7th, Lester Wortley; all of whom will receive cash prizes, while members producing less than 65 per cent scores will be awarded diplomas for their efforts. Signs of the Times. Two more Shorthorn herds were added to the ever increasing number in Jasper county last week. John J. Kelley, of Carpenter township, has purchased four excellent cows as a foundation of a herd which he expects to enlarge from time to time. The individuals selected were good, substantial animals and are a credit to the community. John'Scheurich has purchased six head as a start for his farm in Barkley township. "I feel that by keeping a few good cattle I can make more money than by keeping a number of inferior ones,” is the way he sizes up the situation. Farmers Will Handle Limestone. , At the request of W. U Pullins, of Barkley township, the directors of the Rensselaer Farmers Grain company have decided to handle ground limestone in Order-ttuassist the better farming campaign of the county. The limestone will be sold at a small nominal profit and will offer the farmer two distinct advantages. It will enable him to purchase the product in less than carload lots and will save in hauling, as the farmer may bring a load of grain to town and take a load of limestone home, Mr. Pullins has given some interesting results that have been secured through the use of lime in growing legumes in this county and is a strong booster for its use. Farmers desiring to sectffe lime from the first shipment should make their ■wants known immediately. Acid Phosphate Gives Good Beturns. With corn at 90 cents per bushel, $2.35 in returns for every dollar invested in acid phosphate is the result secured in a field trial on the farm of .11. L. Budd, of Union township, this season. ■Last sprnig Mr. Budd- selected a uniform, well drained field of black sandy loam, such as is common in northern

Jasper county, and laid off four plots in it, which he planted to corn. To on< plot he applied slag at the rate of 200 pounds-per acre, to another no fertilizer and to the third and fourth, 200 pounds of acid phosphate and 1-10-1 mixed fertilizer respectively, drilled in the row. The following yields were obtained, expressed in bushels per acre: Slag ...... ~. ... •. . • ... • . •..... 22.25 No fertilizer ...28.50 Acid phosphate .................. 33.50 1-10-1 ... . ... ~ .. . . . ....23.75 It will be seen from the figures that both the slag and the 1-10-1 seem to have actually reduced the yield, instead of increasing it. Mr. Budd accounts for this by stating that the corn suffered from the dry weather and believes that the application of these materials in the row caused the corn to fire badly, a rather common experience with heavy applications of fertilizer on light soils. The fertilizer situation is one of extreme interest to farmers of northern Indiana, many men reporting good results with certain Combinations and others securing poor results. The Better Farming Association is collecting a mass of data from results secured in the county this season and will publish figures from time to time. Stockmen’s Handbook Issued. I The Indiana Veterinary Department has just issued a reference book which should be in the hands of every stock- | man. It gives information that the shipper must know in shipping stock I into all other states or in bringing stock into this state. It also gives instruc- | lions as to the tuberculin test, the mal- | liur test and other veterinary work for inter-state shipment It also gives a synopsis of the laws of the state affecting the livestock interests. Free copies | may be had by application to the Better Farming office in the. court house. Lime Helps Coro. Last year J. W. Amsler, of Marion township, applied 2 tons of limestone per acre to strips through his farm. This year on the high sand, the limed strips are producing 3937 pounds of corn per acre and the unlimed strips 388§. On medium sand the limed strips are producing 2800 pounds of corn and the unlimed 2675. On the clay ground the lime soil produced 4462 pounds of corn and the unlimed 4112 pounds, a difference of about five bushels per acre. Limestone, clover and manure are bound to be the winners in soil improvement through the greater part of the County and the farmer who realizes it first is the one who may be expected to reap the greatest reward. Food Conservation Report. Fourteen women volunteered to keep a record of the amount of food saved in four weeks. The amounts saved according to these records are: Wheat, 380 lbs.; meat, 122 lbs.; sugar, 10’3 lbs.; fat, 88 lbs. Used as a war measure: Cottagecheese, 145% gal., and potatoes 22% bushels.

Canning Beports. The first week in December, the Ist to 7th, each home 'will be canvassed in order to ascertain the amount of food preserved in Jasper county this year. Be ready to give this information when you are called upon. Girls’ County Club. Mabel Wallace, of Gillam township, member of both the Girls’ Canning and Poultry: clubs, as the resul t of her summer’s work, has raised 400 chickens and preserved 500 quarts of food. Prepare for Jack Frost. Now that the garden, products are ready for storage, the following suggestion may: help to . insure them against decay: Potatoes, turnips, carrots, parsnips and salsify are best stored in the cellar. Store potatoes in a dark place with temperature between 33 and 35 degrees F. Beets, turnips ami carrots may lie stored like potatoes, but keep better condition when covered with sand. Place a small amount ol .sand in the bottom of a box then- alternate layers of vegetables and sand. If the Vegetables start to shrink moisten the s.aij.i occasionally. J n drying beets the tops should be twisted off and" not cut with a knife, as this will cause ■■bleeding,’’.and very often decay. ‘ Squash, pumpkins and onions can be stored in the attic. Onions before being stored should be thoroughly well cured. Dampness causes decay. Tliev will keep well in slat boxes or shallow travs. Squash mid pumpkins should be laid out sepmately cm the floor of the attic, not lit aped. They also can be stored in the cellar near the furnace and keep for some time. Place in -barrels or boxes, packed, in straw or excelsior. They should be carefully handled so as to avoid bruising, and sort frequently. Cabbage is latter stored outside in a straw-lined, well ventilated pit. Celery may be stored outside in trendies made about the depth of the celery and 12 to 16 inches wide This trench should be on a hillside or a well drained spot. Place plants upright and leave until touched by frost. Then cover over with leaves. Leave one end of lite trench open for use. Before using Wis celery, freshen up by placing in cold water to remove the frost. When kept inside it is important to keep, roots moist and leaves dry.