Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1920 — The Neighborhood Corner [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Corner

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Farmer Help to Be Scarcer Than Ever® 1 There is every indication that farm help is going to be harder to secure this coming spring than ever before. Prevailing wages will be higher according to the best indications and high-class imen will be scarce. As usual this office will do what it can to secure help : for farmers but requests that all who are likely to need help make their wants known as soon as possible.

Farmers who change their plans so as to use men from now on until the‘crop season opens up have much better chance of securing men than those who will wait for spring to come. As usual when the demand exceeds the supply the farmer who hires early is the one who will make the best bargain. The help shortage has its compensations to the farmer as it Insures high prices for the products that are raised, which means higher labor income for the farm operator and members pf 'his family. The situation calls for the use of as much labor saving machinery as possible as well as efficient employment of all members of the family. Boy Bean Demand Good Farmers of the county who have soy bean seed for sale will do well to announce the fact through advertisements in the various county papers. Due to the demonstrations conducted last year the county soils committee the practice oT planting soy bean seed with the corn is going to be general next season, many farmers stating that they will plant soy beans with all of their corn and others that they will plant smaller acreages for hoggin® off. As usual, the county agent’s office will supply inoculating material to those who request it. How to Get a Stand of Clover Due to the high price of clover seed there is an unusual Interest at this time in the best methods of securing stands of clover on the various types of soil found In Jasper county. Practically all of the soils require residual manure as a fertilizer for clover. If the corn crop of 1919 had a heavy application of manure, this land will furnish the best soil condition for the clover. The black loam soils of the southern part of the county and the low, black shell lands of the central part of the county do not as a rule need lime for the clover crop but this is an essential on the black sandy and light sandy soils. The application of 100 to 125 pounds of acid phosphate per acre will .'materially increase the chances of securing a stand. Seeding with barley instead of oats will be found more satisfactory. Seeding late in the season, when oats sowing is well advanced, will help to insure a crop. If these, precautions are taken much of the land in Jasper county will produce a crop of cldver. Farm Record Books Available Farm record books, for keeping cost of production records and meeting the requirements of the income tax laws may be secured this year through the department of farm management at Lafayette. Heretofore the books have been distribifted free with the understanding that they should be returned to the department at the end of the year. This year they are sold outright for 15c.