Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1919 — The Neighborhood Corner [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Corner

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Poole Outyields Gypsy. The Poole variety otf wheat outyielded the Gypsy five bushels per acre in a field trial recently completed bn the R. A. Parkison farm in Barkley township. Last faill three acres of Poole and five acres of 'Gypsy were sown side by side in a well drained field on this farm. The Poole threshed out 79 bushels, or 26.3 buShels per acre, while the Gypsy yiellded 104 bushels, or 20.8 bushels per acre. This fall Mr. Parkison (frill sow PooUe exclusively. Under his conditions he believes that it will outyield all other varieties consistently and considers that the fact that it is beardless makes it more desirably by five bushels per acre than any (bearded variety. The Poole wheat has many friends among the best farmers of the county. As a rule these men have well drained land and supply plenty

otf plant food ao that the yhave little trouble with winter killing. Make* Report on Bee Di*ea*e*. T. C. Johnson, deputy state bee inspector, who, at the instance otf the writer, spent several days last week in the county to determine the extent of the foud brood infection an the county, (has requeated that the following announcement be placed in this codunan: “Notice to Bee Keeper* “I have been in Jasper and surrounding counties for some time looking after the interests of the bee keepers, working under the state department of conservation. I find a great deal of American foul brood, an infectious disease of bees. This disease is spread by the purchase of bees from diseases localities. It is unlawful to buy, sell or move bees from any diseased apiary. If you have any bees to sell or wish to buy, write to F. N. Wallace, state entomologist, and have the bees inspected. The work of inspection is free and bee keepers having any losses which they suspect due to disease should write to the state entonvologist or see the county agent as he may be able to give advice. “Another factor favoring the sread of the disease is the number of old box hives and cross comb hives used by the careless bee keepers, who permit thesir swarms to die and other bees to rob out the hives and spread the disease. As soon as a colony becomes weak it should be closed up or removed from the yard. Box hives and cross combs are unlawful and their owners are liable to fine. The law requires all hives to have removable frames, and these may be secured by the use of full sheets of foundation. “There Will be no excuses accepted for box hives or cross combs the next time an inspector comes around and if any bee keeper has them he had (better get busy and transfer into good combs. All persons who do not comply with this law in an honest effort to stamp out t£e disease will be prosecuted and their bees destroyed by fire.” - -- - After visiting all parts of the county, Mr. Johnson made the statement that the foul brood infection, while severe, seems to be confined to Marion township at the present time. He insists on movable frame hives so that the spread may be kept down. Care Needed in Purchasing Mixed Feed*. With a probability of a shortage of feeding grains, many farmers already placing their orders for various commercial feeds which are being offered as substitutes. While the feeding stuff control law protects the consumer as far as chemical analysis of these feeds is concerned, great care must be observed to be sure that the sources of the protein, carbohydrates and fat are such that the substances may be assimulated by the animal. Many prepared hog feeds contain (their protein in the form of peat, alfalfa meal, oat hull, peanut hulls, cotton seed oil, bran and other substances which are not suited to the hog's digestive system. A more frequent cause of annoyance is the use of low grade materials in these mixtures and the addition of salt or molasses to give palaitability. Every feeder Who contemplates the purchase of feeds should secure a copy of bulletin 228, “Commercial Feeding Stuffs,” and study not only the chemical but the (physical analysis of each feed Wore purchasing. . , Lime Help* Wheat Yield. “Lime and clover increased my wheat yield about 30 per cent this year,” says H. G. Bollinger, of Hanging Grove township, “and lime alone has increased it between 10 and 15 per cent.” Mr. Bollinger is a strong believer in lime for the Francesville prairie and has been applying lime for some time, although he has not been as successful in getting stands of clover as he 'had hoped, but attributes this to unfavorable weather conditions. North Union Club to Meet. The North Union Farmers’ club will hold its regular meeting at the Virgie school house Saturday evening, August 2. The program committee has been busy and in addition to a program of local talent, several outside speakers have promised to attend.