Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1920 — County Agricultural News [ARTICLE]

County Agricultural News

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent Dwight Mawhorter.

School in Grain Grading , The matter of grain grading schools has come up for this spring and the representatives of the Indiana Corn Growers’ association, with the co-operation of Mr. Roads, grain supervisor at Indianapolis, have made out a tentative schedule of possible towns. They have Rensselaer scheduled for June 3. They would like very much to have all farmers possible in and also elevator men and other interested in the territory tributary to Rensselaer to attend. Mr. Riley of the Indiana Grain Dealers’ association and Mr. Ostrander will attend the meeting. Time of meeting will be posted later. I earnestly urge all those interested to grasp this opportunity and attend this very instructive school as it is of vital, importance to the farmers especially. Commencement Exercises The county agricultural agent attended the commencement exercises at Fair Oaks Thursday evening, April 22, and at Tefft Wednesday evening, April 27. Through the courtesy of Supt. M. L. Sterrett, he was per-* mitted to give a short talk to the audiences just before the exerciess began, -The purpose of the talks was to seek acquaintance and cooperation in the betterment of agri, culture in Jasper county. Public Welfare Public welfare in Indiana today demands increased farm production. This necessitates an increased number of farm Hand in hand with these needs must go an increased interest in agriculture. One aim of boys’ and girls’ club work is to increase interest in scientific farming as planned by Purdue unlversity and the county agents of Indiana, and to aid in increasing the number of farm workers. Another and a greater aim is to help the boys and girls to find their aptitude for becoming skilled in this as the occupation to which they are inclined or adapted —in a word, to find themselves. Therefore, in the light of vocational guidance and placement of minors, boys’ and girls’ club work represents one bf the most valuable types of development of rural junior betterment, and,,., its supervision is worthy the heartiest co-operation. Interest in Clubs The boys and girls are showing great interest in club work. This is shown by the numbers that are sending in their names to the county agent for the different clubs. There is a chance for you to join yet if you will eend in at once. >■ Seed Corn Henry Paulus, the Jasper county corn champion for the past year, says he can’t afford to plant without great care of selection and testing. He' runs an ear-to-row trial each year for the purpose of breeding highgrade corn and the elimination of

diseases as well. His records at the corn shows prove that his methods are ideal and bring results. He also states that the seed corn Is greatly improved over what it was several years ago. With this season being so backward and late many farmers have expressed their intention of planting the earlier varieties of corn for seed, especially on the heavier black soils. Mint Growing Mint growing is proving to be very successful in several localities in Jasper county. Dr. F. A. Turfler has expressed his intention of putting out several acres of his muck soil to mint if the present weather conditions let up soon and permit the preparation of the ground for the new crop. One farmer in Starke county, our neighboring county, paid in income tax of SSOO from his big mint crop of last year. There is no reason why we cannot beat that in this county. Circular No. 65, on mint growing in northern Indiana, published by Purdue university agricultural experiment station, is a very instructive bulletin and would be of special value to the farmer contemplating the growing of this crop. The Rye Prospect The rye sown last fall on many of the farms came through’ the severe winter in many localities and bids fair to be a crop of average yield this fall. Some farmers intend sowing rye with rape this spring for a pasture crop, where their pastures are going to be rather slim for their hogs. Good early pasture for the sow and her litter makes quicker and cheaper gains on the little pigs, especially while feeds are so scarce and high. Community Club at Tefft The officers of the community club at Tefft are arranging for their last club meeting for this season, which will be held at Tefft Friday evening, May 7. There will be a banquet and dancing. They have been having jnonthly meetings all winter, but on account of the busy season and the scarcity of labor they think it advisable to make this the last meeting until October. They are a live organization and we hope to have many more like them in the county this coming year. The county agricultural agent is planning to attend the club meeting for the purpose of getting acquainted with the farmers of that community and co-operating with them in every way he can.

Parcel Post Owing to the wide spread between the Chicago market and that of Rensselaer, many poultry men are shipping their eggs to Chicago by parcel post. This mail service is rendered necessary by the railroad express companies’ embargo. Parcel post egg packages are sent in the 12 or 30-dozen crates. Egg market in Chicago today is 50c on South Water street. Grocers are charging from 55c to 65c a dozen. Farmers interested will improve their prices by looking into this matter more thoroughly. Poultry Inspection The county agent accompanied D. S. Nave and his sixth grade pupils of the Rensselaer schools on a poultry Inspection trip to the farm of

Emmet Pullins Tuesday afternoon, April 27. The boys showed great interest in the fancy flock of Barred Rock chickens. Mx; PulUns’s flock shows that he has given them a great deal of care and attention.