VOL. XXXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FEB. 1, 1896.
NO. 5
EXPERIENCE DEPARTMENT.
What Do You  Know?—Prizes  for  Best
Answers.
:
This department is under the editorial
charge of E. II. Collins, Carmel, Hamilton county. Our purpose is to crystallize
on thif page the cream of tho experience
of our subscribers on practical farming.
To hear the voice of tho farmer speaking
direct from the field.
It Is our hope that our subscribers will
send in for this department notes of their
experience, resulting in either success or
failure and make it a chatty.fresh, sparkling social club?
' We will encourage this good work by
giving every week three premiums of
$1 00,75 cents and 50 cents for best, second
best and third best articles received. The
1'AitMER is anxious to get as near the
home work and life of its subscribers as
it possibly can'. Write short articles of
not over 200 words on cards il possible.
You may not receive a premium every
week, but if you will send your experience, your articles will all receive careful
attention and the review by Mr. Collins,
who is a practical farmer will be helpful
U> you and to others. On the upper left
corner mark the number of your topic.
Also suggest any topic which yeu would
like to see discussed in the future. All
articles must reach us 10 days at least before publication. If no more than three
_. articles are received prizes will be given
*f<*n""-*-..,5ss.. worm;/. -k -
. v TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.
No. 1. Feb. 22.—At what date do you
prefer to sow clover seed, and why?
What variety, and why?
No. 2. Feb. 29.—When do you tap a sugar orchard, and what tools, spouts, evaporators, etc., do you use? What is an
average yield of molasses per tree?
No. 3. March ".—How do you prepare
ground for oats, how sow them, amount
of seed, variety, etc.?
No. 4. March 14.—How can you tell when
ground is too wet to plow? What, is the
effect of plowing and working ground
wet?
No. ft. March 21. Do potatoes do best on
high ground or low? How do you like
bur oak bottoms? What variety Is best
suited to your soil and what suit high or
low soil best?
No. 6, March 28.—How do you cut and
plant potatoes?
Xo. 7, April 4.—Have you been successful in buying family supplies and farm
machinery at wholesale, and how is it
done?
(Query mill _i.iswtv.
H
Please inform  me  where  I could get
iron fence posts. A ScuscuiiiKit.
See fence company ads in Farmkk.
Will scarlet clover sown In January or
February make pasture for the coming
season? K. F. J.
It would not be safe to sow it so early.
The proper time is in August or September.
1. In what counties of northwestern
Arkansas is the mostgame? What kinds?
Also in southwestern Missouri.
2. What is the distance to Little Bock,
Ark., from Terre Haute?
3. What is the length of the Mississippi
river?
4. How many war vessels has the
United States of America? J. D. T.
1. We cannot say.
2. 515 miles by railroad.
3. 3160 miles.
4. About 50 war vessels of different
grades.
Three times as many horses as were
used in the street cars are now used in the
increased wagon traffic in every city, as
the natural growth of commercial interests. More wagons, better wagons and
larger wagons all require better teams
now than ever before.
The Institutes.
Fayette Co.—The sixth annual Farmers' Institute of Fayette County was held
in the court room at Connersville, Jan. 13
and 14.
The attendance was good throughout,
all that the large court room could possibly accommodate, and the most successful session in its history to the present
date.
The workers from abroad were C. M.
Hobbs, President of the Indiana Horticultural Society, Waldo F. Brown and
Hon. Bellamy S. Sutton, of Shelbyvillo.
Both morning sessions were opened by
an invocation, and some good music given
by the young people of Lyons Station.
President Jonas Scholl, in a brief address
of welcome spoke ofthe importance of
farming as A business, and thanking
those present for the largo attendance at
the opening, thereby showing their interest and readiness to take part in the
work.
Hon. Milton Trusler responded in one
of his short characteristic speeches, congratulating the people of the county that
the farmers and business men are fully
awake and showing a proper interest in
the work.
"Farm buildings, their location and
construction," was discussed by Waldo
F. Brown. He began with their location
and foundation and traced them to their
completion* in the best manner for convenience, utility and comfort. At the
opening of the second session Mayor
Frost gave a very cheerful address in
which he showed the good effects of
hearty co-operation of the business men
and the farmers.
C. M. Hobbs discussed "Horticulture as
an adjunct to farming." No farm is complete without its cultivated fruits, so
largely adding to the comfort, contentment and health of the family, and
often a saving of doctor bills.
"Electricity the coming motive power
for the farmer," by B. S. Sutton,was something new to many people, and the expectation of the large audience was
wrought to a high pitch. Mr. Sutton
handled the subject in a masterly way,
showing that electricity is rapidly taking
the place of steam. The dreams of one
age are often the facts of the next. The
farm will come in for its full share of this
new power, already successfully applied
in other occupations, and the farmer
must be wide awake and ready for the
great change which is most sure to come
in his business.
"A poultry talk," and "Farm fences,"
by Mr. Brown were both full of good suggestions.
"Planting and care of an orchard," and
"Small fruit culture," by Mr. Hobbs, were
of practical interest to the very large
number of farmers in this county, who
are engaged in raising an abundance of
fruit to supply their families and have
some for market.
Of home talent we had time for only a
few papers. "Care of horses' feet," by
Chas. I. Thomas was excellent and full of
valuable points.
"Intensive vs. extensive farming," by
Hon. Milton Trusler, was full of such
facts as no progressive farmer can afford
to be ignorant of.
A number of resolutions were passed'
one of which was the following:
Resolved, That the Farmers' Institutes
are a splendid thing, and we heartily approve a liberal appropriation by the State
for this purpose, and hereby congratulate
the State upon having one so ably fitted
as Prof. Latta, of Purdue University, in
charge of the work. Reporter.
LaGrange Co.—The citizens of La-
Grange county held their annual Institute at tbe opera house on the 20th and
2lst inst It was a complete success from
beginning to end. Was called to order at
9:30 a. m. on Monday and until 3:30 p. m.
on Tuesday the interest was unabated.
Wellington Mill the chairman presided
OTer the meeting, occasionally adding an
idea or a practical hint, which Joined
with the subjects under discussion in a
happy way. The meeting opened with
an invocation by Kev. A. E. GoK and a
response by the president. The subject
of tile drainage, its relation to soil and
season, was thoroughly treated by Mr.
Cal. Hussleman iu an excellent paper
and a general discussion followed, after
which the audience listened to an interesting talk on "The factotum of the
farm," by Mrs. W W. Stevens. Various
members were called upon to stato the
benefits attained by attending the farmers' institutes after which the only difficulty at hand was thediscussionas to who
should speak first. All seemed anxious
to tell their various experiences and
united in giving great praiso of preceding
meotings. J. Q, A. Booth gave us to understand in a well selected paper, that
the farmers of Lagrange county wore
progressing and that too at a very happy
rate. In thp evening Mrs. Stevens again
favored us with a select paper and gave
to all some very valuable hints upon tho
characteristics of a model home and how
thoy were to be attained. Impromptu
talks upon various subjects, principally
that of the gardening Industry ending in
a refreshing and enthusiastic talk upon
tho value and status of tho farmers' boys
as citizenB by J. N. Babcock, of Topeka
closf-i the evening. On Tuesday tho subject oi poultry rafsing on tiie'larnrwas
presented in its most favorable light by
K. M. Slater. The discussion which followed was general. L. E. Deal proved
that even at tho present low state of tho
markets, sheep raising was in many ways
profitable to farmers. Mrs. W. W. Stevens delighted the audience with a 30 minutes talk on the subject "The new
farmers," and showed unmistakably that
it was the farmer who keeps abreast of
tho times who succeeded. A query box,
opening to general discussion various
subjects of vital interest closed the meeting. A fine chorus of voices from the
best home talent gave several numbers
throughout the program. Never in the
history of Lagrangecountydida farmers'
institute cover more ground advantageously in so short a time, and each participant was sincere in voting it the best of
its kind held in this vicinity in many a
year. I). B. Drake.
Slight drizzling rain for the last four
days; frost out of the ground and mud
deej); colder this morning. Hogs nearly
all sold at $.*! to $3 .*!."■; stock hogs scarce,
some cholera; stock in good condition;
cattle scarce; horses too many; more than
half the rheep sold, some entire Hocks
sold; 80 tons of hay baled and shipped
out of this vicinity in the last 10 days at
$10 per ton. D.A.J.
%\i\x. ^Department.
POSTAL OASD OOBRESPONDENOE.
Steuben Co., Jan. 23.—It has been nice
winter weather so far, in northeastern
Indiana, but was raining and sleeting
last night and to-day. Markets are: Cattle, 3 to 3^c; hogs,$3 00; Sheep, 1]/2 toV/Zc;
lambs, 4c; hay, $12, in barn and very little
to sell; butter, 13c; eggs, 18c; wheat, G2c;
oats, 18c; corn, 25c; clover seed, $4 40 per
bushel. 1-- J.
Howard Co., Jan. 23.—The snow is
nearly gone, plenty of ice in the roads.
Wheat is in excellent shape so far, green
and growing like spring. Fat hogs all
sold in this locality and stockers very
scarce. Hogs healthy. Cattle and horses
wintering finely, and the horse market is
encouraging to farmers. I think we will
have better prices for stock in future.
L. W.
Benton Co., Jan. 22.—Tho weather has
been very pleasant for two weeks past,
and a great deal of corn has been marketed. Corn is worth 22 cents per bushel,
oats 1G cents, hogs $3 50 per cwt.,hayfrom
$8 50 to $ 10 50 per ton. Wheat and rye aro
looking well, and timothy sowed last fall
looks well and promises an excellent
stand. Stock in good condition generally.
Two new cases of swine disease reported
the past week. J. C. D.
Decatur Co., Jan. 21.—Wheat and grass
look green and fresh. Much of the corn
fodder to husk yet; it is not keeping well.
A is a single man and owns a horse and
buggy. He gives his note to 11. A marries
before the note matures. Can 11 collect
tho note. SunscitiitER.
A is entitled to an exemption of property to the value of $000; but if he is an
honest man ho will pay his note notwithstanding.
A off ers his farm forsale; B looks at
the farm; in a few days 11 tells A he will
take the farm; within the time B looked
at the farm and tho time he agreed to
buy it, A removes the barb wire which
was stretched on rail fence, without B's
knowledge. Who is the lawful owner of
tho wire? J. J. C.
As the wiro was removed before B purchased tho land, tho wire was personal
property and belongs to A.
General £lcxus.
A Chichester (N. II.) man reports thnt a
$20 gold piece was found in the stomach
of a hog.
Much of that part of tho sunny South
"-*eo-V.i,>.Uc-L*"-iii tilu ■lYipfiBTH -tYi *,^ii*r**- a-s
outof sight under liVe-footsnowdrifts last
week.
Hundreds of yokes of oxen and pairs of
horses are idle in Lebanon, X. II., awaiting sufficient snow to draw lumber from
the woods.
Horses are cheap in the East Just now,
as well as in the West. A fairly good
horse was sold at auction at Bethel, Vt., a
few days ago for $2.
Probably tho largest species of spider
known to entomologists makes its homo
in the most mountainous region of Ceylon. It spins a huge net of yellow silk
sometimes 10 feet wide.
A novel industry in London is that of
preserving eggs. Tho eggs are shelled,
tho white and yelk mixed together, and
the whole carefully packed in a hermetically sealed tin. Eggs In this shape will
keep for a long time, and are chiefly used
by pastry cooks.
U. L. Taylor, of Pike county, Georgia,
has invented a machine for cutting cornstalks into short lengths. The machine is
provided with steel blades that turn on a
cylinder very rapidly. It cuts two rows
of stalks at one time, and is drawn by a
horse. It leaves a stalk in such a shape
as not to be in the way of cultivating
crops, and at tho same timo distributes
the litter over the ground.
Seven brothers, all over 65 years old had
a reunion at Fresno, Cal., recently, and a
notable photographic group is an interesting memento of the occasion. The
brothers are of the Funck family. There
are three sisters in the family, too, all
very near the three score and ten years
mark. Tho oldest of the brothers is iri and
the youngest 05. A noticeable fact is that
each wears a long, white beard and none
is bald.
Georgia's youngest locomotive engineer
is believed to be Alvin Hanebury, of
Spann, Johnson county. He is but 14
years old, and runs an engine on a short
road connecting various saw mills and
source of supplies. It is stated, furthermore, that he has had charge of tho engine since he was nine years old, and that
he is regarded by the owners of the road
as an entirely capable engineer.
 «	
So long as farmers must be at the expense of maintaining fences of one kind
or another, the question as to how posts
can be made durable will be one of interest to them. There is no better nor
cheaper preventive of rot than salt Bore
two or three holes in the butt, beneath
the ground, _'U with salt, and secure with
an oak plug.
 . ♦    —.	
Four crops a year can be raised from
Cuban soil.