People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1894 — OUR MILK CHURCH. [ARTICLE]

OUR MILK CHURCH.

Devoted to the Dairying Inter* ests of Jasper County.

Extract from an addres delivered at the recent farmers meeting in Clinton Co., Ind., by M. H. Belknap. How to increase the fertility of the soil is not a new question. Since the days when the Egyptian Swain first wandered with his dusky maiden along the banks of tbe historic Rile singing orisons to the Gods for the annual gift of the waters, the fertilizing efiects of which was to render the Nile land, that mjsterious cradle of human culture, the granary from which the tribes of other lands drew their supplies of corn in times of want. Down to the day of Jethro Tulls’ dogmatic declaration that “Tillage is manure” fertility has been a vital question to the agri-

culturalist. It h;.o u-odified, directed and controlled to a greater or less extent the processes of agriculture, all along the ages of human history. There are but three mineral elements with which as farmers we need concern ourselves, Phosphoric acid, Potash and Nitrogen. Now the question recuio, how not only to prevent the loss of these mineral compounds, but to increase the available supply. This question is rnucli easier asked than answered. We can do something at least that will Le a ong step in the right direction. We must increase our supply of jarnyard manure by every means possible. The first thing on many farms will be the improvement of the stable floors. The old, wasteful plank floors with their gaping cracks, must give place to floors of cement, or if this is not iractical, plank floors laid double will be a vast improvement. Having the floors properly constructed, then with a liberal use of rock phosphate or land plaster in the stalls to fix the volatile gases, and plenty of good bedding, the quantity as well as the quality of the manure will be greatly improved. As to the handling of the various crops of the farm, the kind of slock to be kept must depend on the tuste and circumstances of the farmer. Whether he should grow more straw than can be used as an absorbant in and around his stables is a question upon which we might differ, but certain it is the |farmer who has old straw piles dotting his fields or woods pasture is not living up to his opportunities. Whether the corn crop should be cut up and the stocks carted to the barn yard, thence back to the field or let them stand until they are ripe some frosty morning, and then swipe them down with a long pole thus gening the maximum of benefit with the minimum of labor is a point each farmer must settle for himself, as the question of labor is a very important factor in all farm operations. Of course it is not necessary to urge the imperative necessity of an intelligent system of rotatidb of crops. Upon this more than upon any one thing depends all soil improvement. Neither do farmers need to be told of the importance of the clover crop in the rotation; like all the legumes, clover has the trick of fixing the free nitrogen of the atmosphere and storing it in the most available form for the use of future crops. If you take care to have a good clover crop the other crops will take care of themselves.

The rotation should be in the interest of this crop. But with the clover as with the corn-stalks and* straw, every farmer will have to decide for himself whether he will cut the crop and cure u for hay and haul it to the barn and back to the Held or utilize it where it grew; carting to and fro certainly adds no manural value to the clover. But there is another factor thalenters largely into this question of increasing the fertility of the soil. It is worse than useless to apply manure to wet soil. The first step towards increased fertility is thorough v-rainage; this with thorough tillage and liberal manureing will bring a profit out of the most unpromising farm in the county. You will see by examining the reports of Mr. Laws, of llothenstead, England, that the application of fertilizing matter containing 87 Ids

nitrogen per acre produced 37 bu. of wheat per acre. Now an acre of any of our strong soil at a foot in depth contains 15,000 to 20,000 lbs of nitrogen; as long as the soil is saturated with stagnant water it is so conservative it yields but a small per cent, of its fertility, but give it thorough drainage and thus bring to our aid the most powerful of all ehemickl agents, the solar rays, and by cultivation let m the air the oxygen of the atmosphere decomposes the organic matter of the soil, producing ammonia and nitric acid or in other words we get available nitrogen.

Wet clay lands are never exhausted by farming, for the man who lacks the enterprise to drain them lacks the energy to wear out any soil by cropping. The first step toward increased fertility is first 1 borough drainage; second, thorou t tillage; third, manure. Who evu reverses this order

loses his time, his labor and his money. The golden rule of agriculture is to return as much or more to the soil in matural elements as is removed by each crop grown. This may be done by trowing stock and feeding all the products of the farm at home, carefully sowing and returning the manure to the soil, supplementing the inevitable loss in man ural elements by the purchase and feeding such by products as bran, oil cake, cotton seed meal, or malt sprouts, or by using ground bone or such other commercial fertilizers as contain Phosphoric acid, pol ish and nitrogen. H e all recognize the fundamental principles, we cannot get something for nothing. We all ought to recognize the vast importance of this question of fertility.

Who are the most famous writers and artists of both continents? The Cosmopolitan Magazine is endeavoring to answer this inquiry by printing a list from month to month—in its contents pages. This magazine claims that notwithstanding its extraordinary reduction in price, it is bringing the most famous writers and artists of Europe and America to interest its readers, and in proof of this claim, submits the following list of contributors for the five months ending with February: Valdes, Howells, Paul Heyse, Francisque Sarcey, Robert Grant, John J. Ingalls, Lyman Abbott, Fredrick Masson, Agnes Repplier, J. G. Whittier, (posthumous,) Walter Besant, Mark Twain, St. George Mivart, Paul Bourget, Louis Chandler Moulton, Flanimarion, Tissandier, F. Dempster Sherman, Adam Badeau. Capt. King, Arthur Sherburne Hardy, George Ebers, De Maupassant, Sir Edwin Arnold, Spielhagen, Andrew Lang, Berthelot, H. H. Boyesen, Hopkinson Smith, Lyman J. Gage, Dan’l C. Gilman, Franz Von Lenbaeh, Thomas A. Janvier. And for artists who have illustrated during same time: Vierge, Reinhart, Marold, F. D. Small, Dan Beard, Jose Cabrinety, Oliver Herford, Remington, Hamilton Gibson, Otto Bacher, H. S. Mowbray, Otto Guillonnet, F. G. Attwood, Hopkinson Smith, Geo. W. Edwards, Paul de Longpre, Habert Dys, F. H. Schell. How this is done for §1.50 a year, the editors of the Cosmopolitan alone know.

Sabina May Richards vs. Wm. S. Richards, is the title of a suit for divorce filed Wednesday with the county clerk, to come up during the March term. The plaintiff says in the complaint that the defendent is guilty of cruel and inhuman treatment, also abused her by calling Ter bad names and “cussing” and sw T earing at her. The plaintiff further says that the defendant is guilty of adultery and desires to be released from further marriage bonds by action of the law. Thompson & Bro. are the attorneys for the plaintiff. The Rensselaer fire company, at a regular meeting, last week, elected the following officers: Chief, E. P. Honan; Captain, E. C. Chven; Foreman, E. L. Gay; Ass’t foreman, C. W. Duvall; Sec’y, E. M. Parcels; Treas., D. G. Warner; Standing committee, I. W. Porter, H. C. Smith, Jr., and I. J. Morlan.

Mrs. James A. Kays, living four miles north-east of Rensselaer, in Barkley township, has some farming implements for sale. Any one needing anything in this line can get a bargain by calling on her. Prof. DeWolfe, of Lafayette, has secured a class in violin music here. It will be remembered that Prof. DeWolfe was here last fall and took part in a concert.

Early Risers, Early Risers, Early Risers the famous little pills for constipation, sick headache, dyspepsia and nervousness. Don’t forget Laßue & Miller’s sale to-morrow. Here is a chance to get some good stock. The county commissiQners were in session this week.

Mrs. Jennie McColly, wife of John F. McColly, of Fair Oaks, died of heart disease, on Tuesday morning, March 6th. She was 38 years of age and was the mother of seven children, the youngest being but three weeks old. The remains were laid to rest in Weston Cemetery on Wednesday morning. Our people are beginning to look forward to Sigler's furniture sales, as a good place to make valuable purchases in that line at a low cost. To-morrow, Saturday, March 10th, you can have another chance to buy furniture at your own price.

The Mite Society, of the Missionary Baptist church, gave an elaborate social at the residence of Henry Harris, on last Friday evening. About two hundred persons were present and enjoyed the evening. Healy furnished the music.

Laßue & Miller will have a public sale of horses and cattle to-morrow, Saturday, March 10, and here will be a good chance for those interested in dairying to get some excellent stock as there is a herd of 15 Jersey cows to be sold.

The Louisville, New Albany & Chicago earned, gross, in February, £172,208, a decrease of £17,326 as compared with February, 1893. The Wabash earned, gross, in February, §862,915, a decrease this year of £157,339. Burns are absolutely painless when De Witt’s Witch Hazel Salve is promptly applied. This statement is true. A perfect remedy for skin diseases, chapped hands and lips, and never fails to cure piles, Vic Loughridge and Miss Farrie Wilcox were married at the home of the bride’s parents in Surrey, on last Wednesday at 5 p. m. Rev. B. F. Ferguson performed the marriage ceremony. Not one minute elapses between the taking of One Minute Cough Cure and relief. Why shouldn’t people take One Minute Cough Cure? They should. They do.

Mrs. M. E. Lecklider left for Chicago, this morning, to buy goods and study the styles of millinery. She will be gone all next week.

Elder J. D. Carson, of Remington, was here the first of the week and assisted Elder Brady in the revival at the Christian church.

Farmers, Laßue & Miller have 15 head of horses and 15 head of Jersey cows to be sold at their sale to-morrow. Here is your chance.

The county commissioners this week granted saloon licenses to Chas. A. Gundy, of Fair Oaks, and August Rosenbrook, of Rensselaer.

Mrs. W. H. Coover and son, Clyde, visited friends in Remington the latter part of last week and the first of this.

John Graves, the Republican candidate for Commissioner of Ist district, was in town, Monday. The marshall did a good job cleaning out the gutters along Washington street, this week.

C. B. Harrold has moved into Mrs. Allen Catt’s property, in the south part of town. Advertised letters: Mrs. Sarah Holland, Rev. T. C. Payner, Mrs. Jenet Ulyate. Clarence Lecklider is in Chicago selecting a stock of installment goods. Spencer Vick and wife, of Chicago, are here visiting the former’s parents. Horse and jack bills made to order at this printery. Come in and get prices. The Daily Vidette is a new venture in the ‘newspaper world at Valparaiso. The Y. P. S. C. E. of the Christian church at Fowler has 90 members.

April 12th, is the date set for letting the gravel contract.

The “Rensselaer Symphony Club,” is the name of the new mandolin, banjo and guitar club. The club now has fifteen members and owing to lack of space we cannot give the names of the members and instruments taken by each. They have secured a teacher.

DeWitt’s Witch Hazel Salve cleanses, purifies aud heals. It was made for that purpose. Use it for burns, cuts, bruises, chapped hands, sores of all discretions and if you have piles use it for them.

The farmers in this vicinity will lay considerable tile this spring. The river is doing a rushing business since the recent rains. George Strickfaden visited friends in Hammond last week. The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company is at Goodland. Born —To Frank Corbin and wife, on last Friday, a boy. Mrs. Dr. Jackson was here this week from Hammond. W. H. Cooover visited friends in Woolcott, over Sunday. Smoke the Mendoza cigar For sale everywhere. We take subscriptions for the Youth’s Companion. Miss Emma Tullis visited Carrie Walsh last week. Easter comes on the last Sunday in this month. Don’t forget Sigler’s furniture sale, to-morrow. Farmers’ Institute, March 9th and 10th. Some real March weather this week. It will soon be garden making time. Laßue & Miller’s sale to-mor-row. Campfire to-night.