VOL. XXII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, DEO. 3,1887.
NO. 49
Methods, Old and New.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
That agriculture in Indiana is feeling its
way towards higher standards there are
certain unmistakable signs. This journal
is a proof and index of the fact, and an
interested observer need not go out of his
own district to note that there is a gradual
progress from the old rude, unscientific
methods to newer and more thorough ones.
But the transition is slow, almost imperceptible. Established customs lay an iron
grasp on people of all classes, and on none
more firmly than the countryman, whose
conservatism is a matter of frequent remark ; and hence it seems to be, as a rule,
that our best farmers are those who have
come from'older countries, bringing with
them advanced ideas, while the typical
Hoosier clings to the customs of his fathers with a grim tenacity, the shiftless
habits of a past generation greeting one
from all sides as he journeys through the
land.
Now in early days when ground was
plentiful and fertile and produce of small
value one could afford to plow over his
fat soil in a hap-hazard way, letting crops
grow as. they would—he was sure of
enough for his own use, and that was the
main requisite; but later on when this
soil is sapped of its natural strength—
when taxation on it is increased and there
are new demands for cash—when, in
short, the conditions of life out-grow the
primitive state, the old methods will not
make ends meet, and mean perpetual hard
times and a very slip-shod existence. This
will be admitted in theory, but the admission of a theory as one thing and the acting upon it quite another, and so, in spite
of the hard experiences which result from
non-adaptation of methods to conditions,
there is a sluggish indisposition to adopt
the most efficient remedy. Let us glance
briefly at a few of the old inadequate ways
that still linger in our midst. First, ahd
most deserving of criticism, perhaps, is
that of
TILLAGE.
It is conceded by our best class of farmers that, in the raising of a crop, one-half
the battle is in thorough tillage. If the
plow is the very corner-stone and starting-point of agriculture, so are the harrow,
roller and other implements all important,
and extra time spent in reducing a piece
of ground to a smooth, pulverized condition will be well compensated for. Of
course these implements are in general
use but the conversion to them is oly an
half-way one, and there is a popular impression that too much time devoted to
finishing up fallow will not pay, many
drawing the limit while the field is yet
plentifully besprinkled with clods as large
as the fist, and sometimes much larger.
There is a wide-spread disposition to put
crops in roughly and especially is this so
with wheat. Too much can not be said in
condemnation of that slovenly manner in
which wheat is sown in rough corn ground
which is not broken up and from which
the stalks are not even cut. It is customary to break the stalks down with a pole
during the winter and to clear them away
as well as may be, but the removal at best
is only partial, and such a field is never
fit for a reaper to go into. There are always numberless stubs and stalks to
choke the knives and strain the machine,
to say nothing of the horrible uneven ness
of the surface which will do more damage
in one season to machinery than smooth
ground would do in five.
The man who "chucks" in his crop in
this style is, in all probability, the one
whose land is full of
STUMPS,  ROCKS AND OTHER RUBBISH.
The stump is, indeed, a relic of primitive times, but the pioneer in suffering it
to remain, had an excuse which we have
not. In his day it was new, firmly rooted
and only to be removed with great diffi
culty, while ndw, in many cases, it stands
half-rotted, shaking in its socket, and
ready to be drawn by a lever and pair of
horses. Incredible as it may seem not
only these are suffered to remain till they
moulder down with decay, but, not infrequently, even loose sticks, chunks, and
whatever may happen to cumber the
ground, are tossed into small piles and
left there. Such things and rocks are the
Scyllas and Charybdi of the husbandman,
and, concealed by the standing crop or
buried beneath the soil they lurk there
from year to year, to the never ceasing
destruction of plow points and machinery.
Once "ejected," the fields would be clear
from them forever more, but their prior
claims to occupancy seem to be religiously
respected.
The person who, without argument,
cannot perceive that it is, in many ways,
economy to rid his fields of old stumps
aud roots, and the plow-destroying boulders, will not, it is to be feared, be convinced by any exposition of the subject.
Another method which savors of old
time ideas is the disposition to take in
hand      * ,
THE LARGEST POSSIBLE AMOUNTOF GROUND.
As if many acres half worked paid better than half as many worked twice as
well. As usually exemplified by these
persons the ratio between the costs and
returns of a large place is much less than
that of a small place might be, or, in other
words, eighty or a hundred acres poorly
managed are less profitable than forty
acres well managed, for it is a principle in
economic industry, which applies in farming as elsewhere, that what is worth doing
is worth doing well—that less is got out of
ones material by "scumbling" over it
than by working it for all that is in it.
Our too-ambitious farmer can scare pretend to thoroughness, his economy being
to hire as little as possible; but while he
saves at the little spigot he wastes at the
big bung-hole for his crops are poorly put
in, poorly attended and poorly garnered,
his profits being cut down accordingly.
An important feature of the new methods should be the distinction between
FALSE AND TRUE ECONOMY.
To save money by letting soil go half
worked rather than hire sufficient labor;
by hiring a poor man at low wages rather
than a good one at better wages, etc., is a
false economy by which more is lost than
is gained, and along with this, there customarily goes a great waste in matters
where the dollars and cents, obscurely involved, are but indirectly apparent. It is
this style of farmer, who, not infrequently, lets his best ground run to partial
waste for lack of tile drainage, and who,
because he has not the time, inadequately
clears his fields and lets his wood lot remain a pit of unredeemed and useless
wilderness instead of converting it into a
pasture grove; who places only a secondary value upon manure, letting it go to
waste rather than save it carefully and
take measures to retain its strength;
who does not realize that it is economy to
keep stock warm and well littered in winter ; preferring to let his straw stack rot
away by a slow process and finally haul-
idg out the loose stuff containing not one
tithe of the strength it would confer, if
first used in the stables. Other extravagances of a similar nature might be cited,
but it is unnecessary. One more, hew-
ever, must b.e mentioned, and that is the
incomprehensible waste in corn fodder.
It is no unusual thing to see, even in the
vicinity of Indianapolis, corn fields in
which, after the ear is gathered, the cattle
are turned in to forage among the dry
stalks which have not been even topped.
It is a common thing to see the fodder
shocks, in many cases illy put up and
beaten half down, stand through the livelong winter to be husked in the spring
when the rotting, weather-beaten blades
are fit only for manure. The reason for
this, doubtless, is that fodder is not a very
marketable article ;but it is excellent feed,
and is it not palpable that if one gives it
to his own stock he will have the more
hay for market? On that hypothesis it
should be gathered with as much care as
hay.
There are other old time customs still
adhered to which might appropriately be
touched upon, but this article is already
swelled beyond its proper limits and
must be brought to a close with the comforting reflection that the slovenly, inefficient agriculturist who will not conform
to the growth of the times, must in the
nature of things,be eventually rooted out-
and his place supplied by a fitter exponent
of the profession. G. 8- C.
Indiana's Indian School.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
There are probably a great many people
within the boundaries of our State who
do not know that Indians, especially Indian boys and girls, come to our State to
live. But such is the case and the particular spot chosen for their temporary
home is four miles south of Wasbash City.
This is known as Whites Institute,
originally a farm owned by a Mr. White,
which at his death a few years ago, was
donated for "a school for Indians and
whites." A board of trustees was appointed, the members of which were
Friends, as are the members ot the present
board. The institute is now aided by appropriations from the Government and
also by donations from the Friends'
Church. It is under the direct superintendence of Mr. and Mrs. Coppack who
are always present to maintain its excellent order. There are at present 75 Indian
pupils, representing 15 different tribes,
and Iti whites.
The farm in its natural features, is well
fitted for agricultural pursuits, and nearly
every branch of agriculture is taught.
The boys are apt scholars and enter into
the duties of the field with as much if not
more,interest than the average white farmer boy. We were taken through the cellar
and from the heaps of potatoes, Irish and
sweet, rows of canned fruits and barrels
of sorghum, we were led to believe that
the institute is self sustaining in this respect. The dairy, too, comes in for its
share of attention and as we entered the
cool, clean milk room with its crocks of
milk, the taste of good, sweet butter was
suggested to our palates. The boys are
also taught the use of tools, and carpentry, black-smithing, cobbling, etc., are
carried on in quarters set apart for each.
The number of pupils is divided for
convenience in the school-room, one-half
attending in the morning and the remainder in the afternoon. The school-
house is a good brick of two rooms, standing in the midst of a pleasant wood a few
rods from the main building. Here two
pleasant ladies, Mrs. Webster and Miss
Roberts, teach the Siouxs, Modocs and
Comanches the three r's, readin', ritin'
and 'rithmetic. We had only time to hear
one class of three pupils read and spell
from the Second reader. We were surprised at the reading of a little bright
eyed Sioux girl who has only been in
school two years. In this class was a
young man of 23 whose ambition we hope
will be crowned with success. As the
Government does not pay the expenses of
any pupil over 18 this young man is making his way by whatever he can do on the
place.
The work of the institute in all its
branches is done by the pupils, who are
sectioned off, each section doing its different duties in rotation. We arrived just
at the noon hour, and after the meal
was over were shown the system by
which the dining room and kitchen work
is done.   Each girl  on  rising gathers up
her dishes and also those of the boy who
sat opposite her, carries them into the
kitchen adjoining, and separates them.
The knives, forks and tin-cups; plates
and vegetable dishes; pots and pans being
washed in separate sinks and by separate
squads of girls. Not a word is spoken,
and by the time the bell taps at one
o'clock, every thing is done, properly and
clean. The same system is carried out in
the laundry, work-shops, etc.
They are attentive in the school-room
and being very imitative, learn to write
sand spell rapidly. We noticed a ludicrous
example of this trait while watching the
girls washing dishes, and that was that
some 6 or 8 of themwore that modern invention, a bustle, under their plain blue
calico dresses. In their leisure hours the
girls spend their time in sewing, washing
and ironing. In everything order and
neatness are displayed. Only one hour of
the evenings is devoted to study, the rest
can be spent as they wish. From the
number of emptyflower beds in the yard
and the conservatory full of bright flowers
it must be a pretty home in summer.
Mrs. W. made a trip to some of the
western reservations last summer in
search of pupils, and cited a case which
shows the anxiety of some of the boys to
reap the benefits of the school. On making application he was asked his age and
said he was 19. She told him he could
not be admitted if over 18. In a few days
he returned, and thinking she had forgotten his face, gave liis age as 17, when
asked. They all bring with them their
queer Indian names which have their
Engish meaning, but they are not enrolled under them and as long as they remain
are known by Louise   or John or Martha.
We would have been glad to spend several hours there but a long drive was before us and we could not do so.        J. P.
Hon. J. M. Smith to be at Horticultural
Meeting:.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
To those who are acquainted with Hon.
J. M. Smith president of the Wisconsin
Horticultural Society, it is only necessary
to say thAt he is to be at our Indiana Horticultural Society meeting in the new State
House, December 6th, 7th and 8th, to insure their attendance. Mr. Smith is probably one of the most successful and
thoroughly practical small fruit and vegetable gardeners now living. What he may
have to say during the meeting upon any
topic which may be under consideration
will have great weight, and should elicit
careful attention. His special topic, on
which he may be expected to deliver a
regular address, will, as he writes me, be
"Practical Horticulture among the Farmers." The class to whom he devotes himself, "the farmers" should not fail to hear
hiin. W. H. Ragan.
Greencastle, Ind.
—We trust that Mr. Ragan's suggestion
to our readers attending the meeting of
our State Horticultural Society, to listen
to Mr. Smith's address, may be generally
complied with. For many reasons there
should be a large attendance at this meeting. The addresses and talks of practical
men like Mr. Smith are the most potent,
for they will pay. The information gained
from them can be converted into dollars
and cents. Secretary Hobbs informs us
that N. Ohmer, president ofthe Ohio State
Horticulurtal Society, and Dr. V. M. Met-
calf of Hopkinsville, Ky., will be present
also. Dr. Metcalf will address the meeting on the subject of "Soils and Fertilizers.—Eds.
The iron railroad bridge across the Missouri river a few miles below Kansas City
is about completed. It is one of the big
bridges of the world. It is 7,392 feet long,
weighs 31,275 tons, is 50 feet above high
water, and its towers are 200 feet high.