Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 February 1920 — The Neighborhood Corner [ARTICLE]

The Neighborhood Corner

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Stewart Learning.

Farm Labor Situation Improving More laborers*for the farms have been received into this county in the past week than in any previous week this season and it begins to look as if the more urgent deranands for help may be cared for in good shape if farmers give the

matter attention at this time. A common difficulty In providing help is that many farmers have no work for their extra men at this time of the year when the work in the cities is slack and good men pass up the community in search of places for the summer. Readjustment of the farm operations to provide profitable employment for men at this season would enable, many farmers to secure help that will otherwise have to do without. Applications for farm help will be received at this office up to Meh. 1 and filled as rapidly as possible. Poultrymen Will Meet Feb. 26 Members of the county poultry association will meet at the court house Thursday evening, FclJ. 26, at 7:30 o’clock for an important business session Involving the purchase of new equipment for future Arrangement is being made for some of the members to take over the old equipment and replace it with modern and up-to-date exhibition material. The president has isseud a call for all members of the association to be present at the meeting. Extensive Use of Phosphates Indicated As a result of an item appearing in this column last week relating to basic slag as a source of fertilizer, it is probable that a group of farmers will club their orders and secure a carload of this materiel direct from the mines. A very general tendency Is noted this season for the farmers to recognize the economy of using highgrade fertilizing materials. A few years ago it was a matter of common observation that many fanners lo* ked only at the cost per ton in purchasing their season’s supply, paying little or no attention to the chemical analysis of the goods or the availability of the various elements contained therein. The farmer who buys his fertilizer on the bassis of the net cost per unit of the available plant food is the one who is going to buy the cheapest. A Good Year for Self Feeders Lumber yards report that they are selling more lumber this season to farmers to go into self feeders for hogs and cattle than ever before. The fact that hogs can balance their own rations better than the farmer who feeds themi and that the self feeders are great labor savers tends to bring them into the favor of the public. No cheaper

method of feeding hogs has yet been devised than that of feeding corn and tankage to hogs in the self feeder and at the same time giving free access to plenty of clover or alfalfa pasture and water. The hog feeder who still depends on the old p rmstrong methods of hog feeding is going to bp hopelessly outchasSed as far as economy of production is concerned.