Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1919 — The Neighborhood Corner [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Corner

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Like* Soy Bean* in Corn. “I expect to plant soy beqns in | every acre of corn I raise from now on,” says Lewis Selmer, of Ciliary township. “I have been doing this for a year or so and find that the soy beans are clear gain, as they have never reduced the yield of corn. “I plant the beans with an attachment to the corn planter, using inoculated seed. My corn fodder, when cut with the binder, is about half soy bean hay up to the band and the stock always picks out the beans before they touch the corn. I find that this method of planting increases the amount of silage produced per acre and improves its quality. The method also improves the land.” Mr. Selmer is one of a number of men who are enthusiastic about the soy bean in corn. As a method of soil building, increasing the yield of silage of fodder, improving the feeding value of the ration and saving tankage in hogging off, few methods of farming are superior. Experiments have shown that the corn and soy 'bean combination may be expected to produce from 150 to 200 pounds more pork per acre than corn alone. It is a combination that ghould be generally used in the county. Betterment A«»ociation Ha* Enthusiastic Meeting. i Mrs. Frank Schroer was elected president, Mrs. Mary Drake vicepresident, Mrs. Ed. Parkison, Jr., secretary Mrs. Jay Stockton treasurer of tiie Jasper County Home Betterment Association at the annual meeting held last w*eek. Interest proved to be growing rapidly and it was felt that there would j be no great difficulty in carrying out a program of work which would be of I benefit to the women of the county. ■ The keynote of the meeting is re-1 fleeted in the sloga nadopted, “Bet- ■ ter Homes for Jasper County,” to be . developed by a combination of thrift,! home conveniences, Children’s club; work, child welfare, organization of ; home economics clubs and American- ■ ization. . I , A committee of six was appointed to investigate and report on whether or not it would be desirable es- 1 tablish a local market. j While the organization is handi-; capped by the loss of a leader through the resignation of Miss Geyer as Home Demonstration Agent, assur- 1 ances were made 'l?y Miss Gaddis, of the Extension Department, that the vacancy would be supplied as soon. as possible. The women of the county have ‘ been doing a great deal of-cons true-; five work in the past year and the ■ outlook is bright for greater things , in the future. I Calf Feeding Club Intere»t Growing. Interest in the Calf Feeding Club, of the County Shorthorn Association I

is growing steadily, according to the report of Secretary John R. Parkison, who completed a tour of the county fa the interests of the work last week. An experienced cattle feeder himself, Mr. Paridson believes that this club offers unusual opportunities at this time. He predicts a healthy demand for meat products during the year and believes that the boys and girls who enter the club are certain to make a little money and gain a whole lot of experience. He believes that cattle feeding is and always will be one of the most prpfitable lines of farming in the county and urges every young man who expects to enter the club and receive training under the most favorable circumstances. Applications f°r membership in the club must be filed before March 20th.

State Farmer. Meeting March 25th. Delegates of the various farmers associations of the state will meet at Indianapolis on March 25th for the purpose of federating the county forces into a state organization. Similar organizations are already formed or in the process of, formation in the majority <ff the states of the Union and it seems but the question of a short time when the farming interests will have a strong and representative national organization to care for matters concerning the farmer. Farmers of this county will do well to get into the county organization and take part in the direction of its policies and make their wants known. Edward Ranton and P. H. Hauter will represent the Jasper County Association at the state meeting. More Honey for Jasper County. That the use of larger hives is essential in increased honey production was an important point made by Mr. E. G. Baldwin, Federal bee specialist, at a meeting of the County Bee Keepers’ Association held at the court house on Monday. “Small hives cause congestion and stimulate early swarming,” said Mr. Baldwin, “and this weakens the colonies and prevents the gathering of a honey surplus.” Mr. Baldwin’s method of honey production is to re-queen colonies in the fall and pack the hive on their summer stands for the winter. In apple blossom time he places an extra hive body with frames and full sheets of foundation over the brood chamber and allows the queen to fill this with brood. Just before the honey flows, he reduces the size to one hive body with each frame filled completely, with brood and begins to super up. As soon as the first super is one-third full he places another underneath and so on during the season. During the honey flow he goes

through the frames each week and the swarming fever comes on he pinches out the queen cells and when practices “shock swarming.” This method, according to Mr. Baldwin, makes the colony as efficient as from four to a dozen ordinary colonies. Membership in the Beekeepers Association is increasing rapidly according to the reports of President Frank Foltz. Arrangements have been made for a tour of inspection some time this spring, at which several apiaries will be visited and demonstrations on transferring and other operations will be conducted. The association will also make a survey of the beekeepers industry of the county and undertake the control of foul brood.