Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1919 — The Neighborhood Corner [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Corner

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Kohley's Fertilizer Trials Reported Kainite waft one of the best fertilizers for corn this season, according to the results of the experiments conducted hy Stephen KohHey* of Marion township om the black, loose, bogus soils of his farm. Last spring Mr. Kohley set out « determine which form of potash K the most profitable under presV Conditions. Besides one check plot which had, no application of potash, he had one plot with 1-0 0 pounds of kainite per acre, one with 200 pounds of 10% Calumet potash, one with 200 pounds of 10% California kelp potash and one plot with 200 pounds of a home mixed 9-9 fertilizer, camposed of acid phosphate and Calnmet potash. The following is a summary of Mr. Kohley’s findings: No fertilizer used —yield 4.7 bushels per acre. 100 lbs. kainite, yield 46.7 bu. per acre; fertilizer cost, $3.60 per acre; net return $38.40 per acre. 200 lbs. Calumet' —Yield 33.8 bu. per acre; fertilizer cost $6 per acre; net return per acre, $23.10. 200 lbs. kelp—Yield 46.7 bu. per acre; fertilizer cost $6 per acre; net return per acre $36.19. Home mixed 9-9 —Yield 44.4 bu. per acre; fertilizer cost $7.20 per acre; net return per acre $32.50. The figures nnder “net return” represent the value of the increased yield after the cost of the fertilizer has been deduced. Seventy-five pounds of corn were taken for a bushel and the corn was valued at s~l per bushel in the field. From several-. years’ experience Mr. Kohley believes that Kainite has a greater value for bogus ground than its analysis would indicate, as it destroys many insect pests which infest this type of soil. Amsler Winner in 5-Acre Corn Club J. W. Amsler has been declared the winner of the Jasper County 6-Acre Corn club this year by Prof. iW. A. Ostrander, who had charge of the checking of the yields in the county. Mr. Amsler’s field yielded 78 bushels iper acre, allowing 75 pounds of corn to the bushel. The ground on which the corn was raised is low and black and

was an old pasture last year. The variety of corn used was a good type of Reid’s Yellow Dent. The high yield was due largely to the good soil and to an almost perfect stand, practically every hill having two or three good ears in it. The 5-acre corn club was one of the projects of the .county soils committee and a great many farmers entered it last spring, but due to the dry summer a majority of the men dropped out before the finish beoauee they did not believe that their conn would yield the 75 bushels required to qualify for this competition. Mr. Aimsler will be awarded a bronze medal by the Indiana Corn association for his achievement. Hessian Fly Losses Will Be Severe As predicted early in the season, losses from Hessian fly in the wneat fields are heavy this fall and in some places the stands are being completely destroyed by the larvae or “flaxseeds,” as many as a dozen of the larvae being found on the stems of some of the plants. The earliest sown fields in every community are the ones in which the losses are occurring. Hessian fly losses occur periodically and at the present time the infestation is increasing each year. For the next two or three years wheat growers will do well to observe the simply preventitive measures against this Insect and not wait until the crest. of the wave has passed.

To Exhibit at the International Another one of Jasper county’s pure-bred hdg herds will be represented at the International Livestock show next month when Lonergan brothers of Surrey will exhibit one of their Chester White boars. This animal is considered by judges to be of unusual merit and it is expected that he will make a very creditable showing at the exposition. Canning and Potato Clubs- to Be Finished Jan. 5 The final exhibit of the work of the members of the county canning and potato clubs will be exhibited at the Jasper County Corn and Poultry show Jan- 5 to 10. The girls who are members of the former club have canned quite a little fruit and vegetables during the past summer in spite of the general dearth of suitable canning imaterial and the exhibit promises to be worthy of general public inspection. Seed Corn Selection Found Practical Last spring, through the influence of the county crops committee about 40 farmers were induced

to select and plant on one side of their fields the best 20 ears of seed corn that they could procure. During the past few -weeks the writer has seen the results of this work on many farms. Ln every instance the corn from the selected seed is higher in yield, freer from disease, mote uniform and of higher market grade than the remainder of the field. I Any farmer who will take the ! time to verify this statement will be well pleased with the showing made qnd will hate a strong inducement to take up the practice.