w
lARDEE
VOL  XXI.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, MARCH 20,1886.
NO  12
FIELD   EXPERIMENTS  AT   PURDUE
UNIVERSITY.
Varieties of Oats —Rates anil Methods of
Seeding.
BY PROP. W. C. LATTA.
No. 6.
Tbe experiments with oats were all conducted in the same field about 40x80 rods
in size. Tlie experimental plats extended
lengthwise through the field. The soil is
a moderately fertile, dark, clay loam,
underlaid by gravel. The previous crop
was corn. The ground was prepared for
seeding by cultivating the fields both
lengthwise and crosswise, and harrowing
it twice. The seed was drilled in April
10th and llth at the rate of \)i bushels per
acre for all the field except .the "rate"
plats. The conditions were in all respects
as nearly uniform as could be secured.
VARIETIES COMPARED.
Three varieties were grown side by side,
and all made a strong growth, and stood
well till about ripe, when a strong wind
with rain lodged the grain considerably.
The Welcome suffered the most from this
storm, owing to its weaker straw. The
lodging did not, however, seriously interfere with the harvesting of tbe grain. The
yields per acre are as follow:
Bushels-
New Brunswick 6J.se
White Russian 60.00
Welcome _ 41.05
The White Russian was the last to ripen.
The Welcome, though not well suited to
the soil of the college farm, may do well
where the growth is not too rank. The
New Brunswick (grown here under this
name) gives the best satisfaction here as it
yields well and has a strong straw.
RATES OF SEEDING.
The rate plats were each about 80 rods
long and 5'/, feet wide. Just space enough
was left between plats to enable the self-
binder to harvest them separately.
The plats stood in the order given below
in the table.
YIELD OF RATE PLATS PER ACRE.
receive seed from the machine seeder were
seeded by hand. The rate of seeding waa
about the same as on the flanking drilled
plats whieh were sown the same day. The
yields per acre are as follows:
YIELD OF BROADCAST AND DRILLED PLATS.
No.
Bushels.
,
Drilled.   __	
5S.17
2
3
51.52
53.37
51.27
There is a slight difference—less than
two bushels—in favor of the drill. With
no wind, or a very uniform wind, tha
broadcast seeder will do satisfactory work.
I can only recommend it, however, for
rough ground on which the drill will not
do satisfactory work, and for sowing large
areas when haste is required.
We shall soon issue a bulletin which
will give the results of last season's experiments with oorn and oats, in convenient
form for preservation. The bulletin will
be sent to any address on receipt of application. Granges and other farmers' organizations that apply early will receive
as many copies for distribution as desired.
Lafayette, March 8, 1886.
No.
Rate per acre.
Vl, I.I Bu
1
53.95
1
a
4
51.38
57.06
65.12
68.42
57.45
68.42
61.33
60.K6
61.72
11
64. IB
There is an increase in yield with an increased amount of seed, but this increase
is not quite so great as at first appears.
Compare No* 4, 5 and 7 with Nos. 3 and ti.
Compare also Nes. 8, 10 and 11 with No. 9.
Tbe soil of plats of 8-11, and especially of
li, must be somewhat richer than the soil
of plats 3 7. ."'<is is shown by the increased yield ol ko. 9 as compared with
Nos. 3 and <i. Tbere is. however, evidently a slight gain in yield "rem the thicker
seeding. The experiment will be repeated,
and also enlarged sp as to include yet
higher rates of seeding.
DRILL VS   BROADCAST SEEDING.
The broadcast plat was sown with the
Strowbridge Broadcast Seeder. There was
a variable wind at the time of sowing that
interfered with the even distribution of
the aeed which the machine wonld otherwise have effected.   The spots that did not
%ixw gqjartmenl.
BY VINSON CARTER, ESQ., THIS OITY.
A reader asks us to publish the ditch
law. It is qnite long and we cannot give
tbe space it wonld take, our columns being
too crowded.
A and B own farms joining. A builds
bis half of the line fence but B refuses to
build the other half. Can A compel B to
build the other half, or can A build it and
make B pay fur it. Subscriber.
Dark Co. •
No.
A marries second wife and has children
by both. Afterward she inherits money
from her father's estate which they gave
a joint receipt for, and he uses. the same
improving farm and supporting the family. A dies and leaves no will. 1. Is the
widow entitled to the amount she received
of her father's estate besides one-third of
the real estate and her $500 personal. 2 Is
the last set of children entitled to equal
share with tbe older? Subscriber.
Carmel.
1   Yes.   2. Yes.
1. A dies leaving three farms; first con-
taing 133 acres valued at $50 per acre; second 106 acres valued at $50 per acre; third,
90}^ acres valued at $50 per acre. There
being a mortgage on tbe two firat farms
amounting to $4 000 and incidental debts
amounting to $1,000. Will the widow
come in ahead of the mortgage and debts
for her one-third, or will the mortgage
and debts oome in ahead of her and she
get one-third of the remainder.
Subscriber.
The widow is entitled to one-third and
this cannot be cut down even by a mortgage until the other two-thirds of the
land has first been exhausted. If the two-
thirds will not sell for enough to pay the
mortgage and she joined in it, then her
third is liable for the balance.
We have a main ditch in our neighborhood and we are talking of tiling it. A is
at the head of it and has already paid for
his outlet across B's land; now if we tile it
H demands of A 100 rods of tiling which is
the distance across B's land. Is it right
and lawful that A should furnish any
tiling across B's land? If, so how much?
Thereare to be three tiers of eight inch tile,
and B demands thai A shall furnish one of
them, as stated above. Can B tile at all
without the consent of A?
New Waverly. Subscriber.
In answer to a number of inquiries in
regard to private tile ditching we answer,
once for all, that unless a ditch is established according to the drainage law, no
one has any right to enter upon tbe land
of another for the purpose of making an
outlet. These matters must necessarily be
regulated by agreement between adjoining owners. If they cannot agree tbere is
only one remedy, aad that is to apply to
the commissioners or Circuit Court to establish a ditch according to law.
A and B join land. There is a pond on
it. Two-thirds of tbe pond is an B's
and one-third on A's. A runs a six inch
tile into the pond and B runs a five inch
tile. B goee to A to make a joint tile ditch,
the water course running on B's land. A
has a willow grove on tbe Hue and A refuses to grub up tbe willows. B proposes
to run from the willows on bis land.
1. If Bputs in the tile can A join B's tile
without paying, or what pro pori tion must
he pay? There being a ditch cut through
on B's side of the line cut by A and B.
2. If B tiles three rods from tbe line can
A j .in tile, or will A have to keep the
ditch dug by A and B on the line?
3. If the ditch dug by A and B fills up
can A follow the natural water course?
4   Can A plow land drained by B?
Benton Co. A. J. H.
1. A cannot jjin B's tile without B's
consent. -And if he joins with B's consent
he must pay whatever H will agree for.
2  No.
3. No, he must clean out tbe ditch.
4. Yes, that is if the land belongs to him.
1. A widow with two children marries a
widower with two children, he having a
small farm, she a house and lot, the house
well furnished. In case of death would
his children inherit any part of her household goods?
2 Would a daughter in law left without
an heir inherit real or pprsonal property?
3 Should the husband die would the
wife first named inherit one-third, or a
child's share?
4. A husband and wife of first marriage,
both own land. In case of death of one,
does the remaining one inherit all, or
would brothers or sisters come in as lawful heirs? A Reader.
Hemlock,
1. No.
2  No.
3. The wife would take one third, but at
her death it would go to the children by
tbe former marriage.
4 The surviving husband or wife
would take all, unless the deceased left a
father or mother, in which rase they
would take one-fourth. Brothers and
sisters would not come in.
She partita
Postal Card Correspondence.
A Suggestion  on Fencing.
Editors Indiana Farmer'
The fence problem is one of tbe most
important, because most expensive, with
which farmers have to deal. As a means
of lessening the expense, I would suggest
that farmers, who are breeders of horses,
do not attempt to fence an entire farm for
these animals, but place a good, substantial fence around a portion of their
farm, large enough to afford pasture for
the number of horses kept, convenient to
water, aad confine them to this. Fencing
against cattle, hogs, and sheep would be a
a comparatively easy task if the troublesome colts were cared for. How would a
fence built of red cedar posts, three boards
at the bottom, and two wires at the top,
answer fer a horse-proof fonce?
J. J. M.
INDIANA.
Randolph Co., March 13.—Wheat is not
looking so well since the late freezes;
weather fine at this time. W. J. D.
(iREENE Co., March 13.—Wheat still
looks quite well, but the recent freezing
has damaged it somewhat. W. B. S.
Rush Co., March 13.—Most of the frost
out of the ground; roads bad, caused by-
log haulers; wild ducks seen flying north
during the week. K. K.
Gibson Co., March 16.—Wheat looka
bad; jonquils just begin to bloom; buds on
the trees not beginning to swell yet;
meadow larks plenty; roads tolerably
good. E. J.
Warrick Co., March 13.—March so far
has been very hard on the wheat; very
little oats sown; the tobacco market Is
down flat. j. p. w.
Henry Co., March 13.—A number of
wheat fields are strongly set, and look
well; several others not so good; pretty
heavy rain storm on evening of llth.
W. D.
Vermillion Co., March 13.—Wheat
looks fair in most localities in this oounty;
we have had a few blustery, genuine March
days; farmers are generally preparing for
spring work. _?, k.
Crawford Co., March 13 —The first dove
heard on the morning of the 9th inst.; a
few have commenced sowing OBts, and a
few have oommenced plowing.
J. M. J.
Clare Co., March 15.—Catinot tell much
as to condition of wheat; it looks brown
and dead, but will probably show much
better when the weather gets warmer;
weather very Marchy. (I. F.
Wabash Co., March 15.—Spring seemi
to be here; last week we had cold and disagreeable weather; snow on the nights ol
llth, 12th and 13th; it is all gone now and
maple sirup making is on hand; plenty of
mud; atock in good condition; bees
wintered nicely; never were better; wheat
looks rather thin. H. C.
Hwitzrri.and Co., March 13.—The coi
tinued deficiency of ruin creates serio
apprehensions, creeks are dry and lt
wise many cisterns; wheat appears I
favorable than last month; plum and
peach buds killed, pears and apples safe;
8th first snow drop in bloom; maple buds
swelling; sugar making has commenced;
potatoes low in price and large quantities
remain unsold. C. G. B.   |
HIMWOIIRI.
Jasper Co , March 10.—Wheat is looking'
well in this section of the country; some
oats sown, and a good portion of the corni,
ground  plowed;  a cold  wave   yesterday
with an inch of snow and thermometer 20'tf
above zero; this morning warmer.
S. H. H.
Editors Indiana Farmer:   .
The Lawrence County Agricultural and
Industrial Association will holilatheir lir
annual fair on the fair grounds at Bedford!'
commencing  Wednesday,  Sept.  tr,   anc
ending Saturday, Sept. 18.
N. E. Strout, Sec'y.