Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1919 — The Neighborhood Corner [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Corner

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Harvest Time,for Pig Club Members Orville H< gue of Hanging Grove township and member of the county pig club, possesses the champion litter of pigs dC the club, according to reports received thus far. The gilt that he received last July has farrowed 14 belted Hampshire pigs and saved 10 of them. The gilt was valued by a prominent breeder at SIOO last fall and the litter is now worth anywhere from S2OO to SSOO. Young Hague is one of 28 boys who were awarded pure-bred gilts last summer by an organization representing practically all of the (prominent hog breeders of the county. Most of the boys have had unusually good results and will have a fine business established as a result of the club. W. H. Pullin and E. P. Lane, who were the prime movers of the club, expect to supply gilts again this season, when the present club is closed up. Plant Ensilage Corn Earlier Planting the ensilage corn last instead of first is an expensive mistake very generally made, according to C. P. Hartley, in charge of corn, Investigations. Strong germinating seed olf ensilage varieties from' further south should be planted two or three weeks earlier than the home-grown seed, which is planted for the production of grain. When large ensilage varieties from Virginia or Missouri, for ex-

ample, are planted in northern states late in May, they make a rapid, long-jointed, tender, succulent growth, and are so green when fall flrosts occur that they are heavy to handle, low in feeding value and make ensilage which is sloppy and too sour. But when planted in April or very early in May, they make a slower, hardier growth, better withstand spring frosts and summer droughts, and reach a more advanced condition of maturity and produce more grain than when planted later. Fall frosts, not spring frosts, are unost to be feared. Early maturity, home-grown varieties do not need and may not be benefited by unusually early planting, but large-growing ensilage varieties are benefited. Though somewhat dwarfed' by very early planting, the large ensilage varieties will, by nature, make ample stalk growth, and because olf early planting, will yield more and riper grain and make richer and sweeter ensilage. Early planting supplies the age necessary for maturation and reproduction. Ensilage crops are made much (more profitable when these two points are observed: (1) Judge the crop by its feeding value and not by its height or weight, or the amount of labor necessary to silo it. (2) Although earlier planting necessitates earlier cultivation, it pays. Early cultivation dries and warms the soil surface. If it remains wet it remains cold and the young corn cannot grow. Stirring causes the surface to dry rapidly, absorb heat, feel warm to the hand, and the corn to grow; while nearby, uncultivated soil will remain cold and the corn at the standstill. Beekeepers to Meet in Fields A series of demonstrations in the approved methods of transferring bees and in other phases of apairy management will be held in county on May 6 under the auspices of the County Beekeeping association, according to the announcement of Frank Foltz, president of the organization. E. C. Baldwin, who has made many friends by two previous visits, will conduct the demonstrations, the schedule of which is as (follows: 8 a. m.—Charles Postill apairy, Rensselaer. 9:30 a. m.—James Britt farm, Barkley township. (10 a. nr.—Erfaardt Wuerthner farm, Newton township. 11:30 a. m.—John Rush farm, Newton township. 12 p. m. —College farm, Collegeville. 3:30 p. m.—Joseph Borntrager. Marion township. 5 <p. m.—Arthur Bailey, Hanging Grove township. 'Hanging Grove is scheduled subject to change. The purpoce of the tour is tc create a greater interest in practical beekeeping by showing methods of apairy management by pointing out the various bee diseases and by demonstrating the solution of such questions as may be brought up. Everyone interested in beekeeping Is Invited to attend. Offered $1,300 for Yearling Boar .. John R. Lewis of Barkley re-

fused $1,300 for a yearling Hampshire boar last week from parties who wished to ship it to South Dakota. Mr. Lewis considers this one of the most promising animals that he ever raised and expects it to head the show herd which he is fitting this season. Mr. Lewis reports that the hog business has never been better and sees a bright future Ifor the right kind. Cattle Feeding Figures Show Profit 4. F. Meader of Union township has submitted the feed records on a bunch of nine yearling steers which he has just fed out, showing the cost of gain to be $10.85 per cwt. during the last six weeks of the feeding period. These steers were of common to fair quality and were fed on a ration of eight pounds corn, 2% pounds oats, one pound_cottonseed meal daily and all theWllage and straw they would clean up. The cattle made an average gain of 2.31 pounds per day. They sold in the neighborhood of 14 cents. Mr. Meader figures three p-ofits or, the transaction; a profit on the increase in weight, a rising value per pound, and a profit on the hogs and manure which was not taken into account in the Ifeeding records. Practically all of the livestock feeders of the county have been making good money and the future is bright for the industry. Farmers’ Club The North Union Farmers’ club will hold its regular meeting at Virgie Saturday evening, May 3. (Secretary L. E. Harrington reports that a good program, has been prepared, as follows: Song—Questions Quartet Recitation Kenneth Wiseman Recitation Herald tellers Talk—How to Prepare Your Stock for Sale. .W. A. McCurtain Instrumental Music Orchestra Observations on a Trip to Washington, D. C. ..Mrs. H. J. Dexter Instrumental Music .. ~ . Orchestra Observations on a Trip to Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas C. A. Harrington Duett ... . Quartet