Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1920 — County Agricultural News [ARTICLE]

County Agricultural News

Department of Farm Welfare Conducted by County Agent

Small Acreage of Alfalfa. Its Profits Mighty, is the word to express the advantage of alfalfa fields. The Writer witnessed the cutting and mowing of 12 tons of choice alfalfa hay from acres. This, according to the owner, Russell Van Hook, is about the usual amount at the first cutting. He nearly always secures four cuttings In one season. This year the first cutting was about Id days late. This meadow is now six years old and has produced 16 to 21 tons a year so far. One can readily see the great profit In a like field. Mr. Van Hook says that nearly all of the failures and winter kills are occasioned by not seeding the . right variety of the plant. For this latitude It Is well known that the Grim seed or the Canadian Variegated is the hardiest. While this variety Is not so prolific as the southern seed, commonly on sale, yet it is able to withstand the rigors of our often severe winters. Of course one should not expect to secure a permanent field without inoculating the soil. A plot of ground with a natural drainage surface, if not already tiled, should be selected for the initial effort.

Save the Spuds

This is the time of the year that we, as farmers, should save our oncoming potato, crop, not only In the preservation of moisture after this splendid rain, but by preventing the blight and bugs from taking them. Blight can be prevented, but when the disease gets a good start it usually takes the whole plant. It usually attacks the plant in two forms, namely, by eating. brown spots In the foliage and by causing the vines to wilt and die before they are ripe. Prevention is worth more in this case than a‘ pound of cure. Bordeaux mixture sprayed on the vines thoroughly every week not only prevents the blight, but, from actual experience, makes the vines put on a more vigorous appearance if not a stronger and healthier growth. Then by adding Paris green, % pound to 50 gallons of bordeaux mixture, you kill the buys at the same time. The profits gained by applying this spray more than doubly pays you for your trouble besides saving the crop. Try it and help lower the high cost of living. Farmers’ Federation

To state that the farmers of Jasper county are wideawake to the present agricultural situation is putting it mild. Mr. Farmer, if you had been in attendance at the farmers’ federation meeting last Saturday afternoon and had seen the 100 farmers assembled for the purpose of organizing to better conditions, you would have received a new life or inspiration to help adjust the conditions that the state organizer, H. C. Reed, revealed to us. Mr. Reed gave a short and snappy talk on what the Indiana Farmers’ Federation is doing, and some of the problems that are before us. Fo.lowlng the talk it was moved and carried that Jasper county form a farmers’ federation and plans be made to carry out same. The county agent wans entrusted with the job of heading the campaign for organizing, and receiving memberships until the permanent organization is perfected, and memberships will be received at any time now. Twenty farmers surely put pep in the meeting by paying In their membership fees in advance, and many ‘ others signified their intention of signing up in the near future. Plans were made to held preliminary meetings In each township prior to the membership drives* These drives are to start Monday evening, Sept. 13, spending one night and one day to each township. The main county organization meeting will be the final windup and will be held Oct. 1, 1920, commencing at 10 a. m. G. S. Masterson, a farmer from Hancock county, is also a state organizer and will be here to conduct all of the tqwnship drives while the membership campaign is on. During the campaign every farmer will be visited and any information that is desired will be freely given. Letters or

articles of information will be run in the press from time to time. The outline of the township drives, together with the places and dates, are as follows, special notice is given first that the meetings in each township, beginning on Sept. 13, will be held in the evening and the drive will be the next day, excepting in two cases where they have to be held on the following Monday: Marion, south school house, Sept. 13; Jordan, Egypt school house, Sept. 14; Carpenter, Remington, Sept. 15; Hanging Grove, Banta school house, Sejt. 16; Milroy, Milroy church Sept. 17, (drive on Monday); Barkley, Barkley church, Sept. 20; Newton, Blue Grass school house, Sept. 21; Union, Center school house, Sept. 22; Gillam, Independence church, Sept- 23; Walker, Walker Center school house, Sept. 24; Kankakee, Tefft, Sent. 25, (drive on Monday); Wheatfield, Wheatfield Center, Sept. 28; Keener, Demotte, Sept. 29; county meeting, Rensselaer, Oct. 1, 1920, 10 a. m., court

house. Shorthorn Association Meeting The annual meeting of the Shorthorn Breeders’ association will be held in the county agent's office Saturday evening, June 19. This is the most important session of this association for the year. Very important business will be transacted and every one is urged to attend. Those wishing to • join the association are Invited also. Come and help boost the association. Other counties are accomplishing great things with their associations. Besides helping those that are just starting up in the shorthorn business, it will help bring about pure sires for our herds. Pure sires are first, last and always essential to the best production of meat. Army Worm It is desired that every farmer keep a close search for the army worm, which is liable now at any time to break forth with its most destructive work. Keep looking for them in your rye, wheat, bluegrass and timothy. If you find any, please report to County Agent Mawhorter without delay. He will be at your assistance at once. To hold them in check, first plow a furrpw around the field, then use poison baits, such as 25 pounds of bran, 1 pound of Paris green or 2 pounds of arsenate of lead and 2 quarts of syrup. Add enough water to make about 3 gallons of mixture. This is sufficient to cover about 5 acres. Certified Wheat Finnan Thompson has some Egyptian and Gladden wheat which he Is going to have certified by the soils and crops department at Purdue. This wheat is showing up pretty good for this year. C. A. Battleday also has a good piece which he is contemplating on having certified Purdue offers them enough over and

above the market price to more than pay them for their trouble.