VOL. XXIX^r^
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INDIANAPOLIS. IND.  JAN., 6, 1894.
NO.  1.
Send Delegates to tbe Road Congress.
Editors Indian.. F»e_ihi:
In yonr issue of the Oth you gave some
■sensible advice to the farmers in regard
to them attending the road congress, Jan.
10th and llth. You further spoke of their
being to blame for tbelr non attendance
last year. Being a member last year 1
must say you are mistaken. There were
quite a number of farmers pre'ent, and
they took an interesting part ln the discussion. I sat near the Hon. Jas. P. Apple-
gate, and when the committee on resolu
tlons reported (which was at noon the second day), I pleaded with him to bring it
to a vote, and we voted lt down, there being features in it we disapproved, especially
that section which created 92 more county,
and about 1000 township officers at salaries
(from $5) later 52 per diem, thus requiring
at least half a million more taxes to be
collected. We also object to the three mile
limit, as this virtually relieved the cities
from taxation, as pikes are already built
on all roads tunning there in. The vote
taken on the resolutions as amended was
not participated in by farmers, as they had
to take the trains home before that voto
was taken, or remain overnight. Ourpres-
ent road law is very crude, but under it
our stone crusher and gravel pits are being industriously used, and many miles of
good roads were made last year. But your
advice should be taken, and every town
ship should send a delegate tm.ri.io. .v ho
should be more interested than the farmer.
"V. M. Cabr.
Hartsville.
Laws Enacted with Oood Motives Which
Have Sadly Mistaken the Welfare of
the Laboring Classes.
Editors Indiaxa FA--1-____.
- Foolish legislation in lhe several States
has done much to bar the avenues to fortune against the laboring masses. Among
these are the laws exempting to each fam
Hy large amounts ot property from execution for the payment of debt. Although
the making of such laws may have been
prompted by the laudable motive of pre
venting household distress,itbey have cer
tainly been carried to such an extreme as
to greatly Impair, it not destroy, the credit
of the numerous laboring class of people,
including the tenant farmers; and in some
of the States, the large mass of farmers
who own the land they culti
vate. Notably is this true in Kansas,
where a man of family, may own a quarter section of land with all the Improvements that he might desire on it, and be
unable to obtain one dollar of credit, without mortgage security, thus advancing the
rates of Interest, and Incurring ruinous expenses to the laboring population in favor
of the money lender and capitalist. . No
wonder that the people of that State groan
under the weight of mortgage and usury
exacted from them, because they have snf
f ered the law to utterly obliterate their re
sponslbility to each other.l
The most useful men to the country are
such young farm laborers as save enough
from their wages to purchase a team and
limited outfit, and then with a capital of
less than five hundred dollars, set up for
themselves on rented farms. To such persons limited credit is necessary j and would
be willingly given by merchants and me
chanics in their neighborhood, had not
legislation by relieving them of responsibility, destroyed the credit their means
might have afforded.- Such provisions of
law create conditions calculated to discourage young men fromstarting and continuing In agricultural pursuits, whore
they can do the best service for the country and derive the most comfort for themselves and families. Such are the views of
the writer, after fifty years, experience
among laboring classes, and such are the
views expressed  by a large portion of the
Intelligent and enterprising ones of that
element. Would be pleased to hear from
Mr. Stahl and others who may consider
this matter. M. B. K.
Home Mixed Fertilizers.
EnlTOKS INDIANA FaIU-KB' '
The feasibility and desirability of home
mixing of fertilizers have been clearly
demonstrated by the stations.
The published reports of investigations
by stations engaged In the examination of
fertilizers leave nodonbtregardingt he fact
that "from such raw materials as are in
our markets, without tho aid of milling
machinery, mixtures can be and are annually made on the farm which are uniform
In quality, fine and dry and equal in all
respects to the best ready made fertilizers."
The advantagoj to be derived from home
mixing are so obvious that it Is hardly
necessary to do more than enumerate
them.
lst.   Reduction in expense.
This is Btrlklngly brought out in a recent
bulletin by the New Jersey Station.
Home mixed fertilizers representing a
purchae of 540 tons gave an average cost
per ton of $31 3i> at the point of consumption. The average cost of eight special
brands seiectod as the mrst highly concentrated of 212 brands examined was
$12 50, or a difference of f 12 11 per ton ln
favor of the homo mixture, which contains
at Icn^f ?;_■ -s-orth of ni«i\t fo-iil in excess of
that in the manufactured brand.
21. A definite knowledge of the nature
of the plant food employed.
Each ingredient can be separately examined by the purchaser, Inferior materials can be detected and those best adapted
to special needs selected.
3d. The preparation of mixtures suited
to special needs of soils or crop.
"It is self evident than an intelligent
farmer by home mixing is better able than
anyone else can be, to adapt the composition of his fertilizers to the special requirements ol his land as well as ol liis crop."
4th. The Indirect educational advantages.
This is probably the strongest encouragement of the practice. It will encourage
a spirit of enquiry among those using fertilizers and will lead them to study and ap
ply the results of agricultural research,
thus contributing much toward the fixing
of the practice of farming on a national
scientific basis.
The time has come when the farmer
should discard "a system which leads him
to consider chiefly the rival claims of competing manufacturers rather than his own
needs" and should, by some system of cooperation, buy the unmixed materials for
his fertilizers under their proper names in
large quantities and mix them as an intelligent consideration of the object desired seems to suggest.
With the vast amount of station literature sent broadcast through the country,
giving the latest and most reliable information on the bast sources of supply of
fertilizing materials, the most effective
mixtures and combinations for different
crops~and soils and the best methods of
application, there is no reason why Intelligent home mixing of fertilizers shonld
not be generally practiced to the marked
advantage of the farming community.
From the Experiment Station Record
for May, issued by the United States Department ot Agriculture.
Advantages of the Barbed Wire Fence.
C. Lindley, before Halem -"-.rmers" Club
The question of fences is a perplexing
one to the farmer, and there Is no way it
can be satisfactorily settled as by experience. We will all agree that what we
want is the best fence; and we will also
agree that tho best fence must combine
the two qualities, durability and cheapness.   Taking for granted the old maxim,
"The best is always the cheapest," I'll
endeavor to prove that the saying is true
and will also work nicely reversed—that
the cheapest fence is the best.
Eleven or moro years sgo, I began may
experience with wiro fence. There was
constructed at that date 41 rods of fence ot
six strands of wire at a cost of |t per rod
Such wire as was usod at that time was of
an inferior grade and pattern; such an article upon the market now would find no
sale among the superior kinds of to day.
The fence referred to has not cost to my
knowledge 50 cents lor repairs and not a
cent for damage to report against it, unless
it bo from some unfortunate hunter who
loft ln sad In rememberance a sample of
his jeans, when pursued by my vengeance.
From all appearances, (hat fence Is good
for all time to come, with the exception
of posts.
Within the next three years, about 120
rods more were built and the expense of
repairs and damage from that, In 10 yoars
will not exceed f8. so rods of this is a
line fence between Dr. Cobbs and myself.
I have oflen wondered that wo have come
out so lucky, for we have had a number of
colts pasturing upon each side at tho same
time, and so far as I know have never had
an accident. Except about one week ago
the Doctor had a steer caught In trying to
got through. Being frightened by dogs,
it seemed evident, and chased into the
fenoe, aud not j.»ui_._l for __ Jay o. Ltts.
This together with cold rains and freezing
weather finished him, value ?G. Not a
total loss however, as 125 chickens havo
been having a royal feast ever since.
Nearly every year sinco, there has been
built upon the farm, a few rods of wire
fence. Trying each year to improve tho
pattern, the spacing of wire?, and the
manner of construction, until at last I feel
like the ideal fence was reached, which I
will describe further on; will mention
first a few of the wires and objections to
them. Buckthorn, because the thorns being closer than the barlu on the ordinary
barb wire tend to saw and cut a deeper
and wider gash should stock come in contact with it. Also Its liability to sag and
often break caused from contracting, not
having enough elasticity. The latter objection holds good on all ribbon wires
Extra long barbs are not so safe ai shorter
and tho latter wlU servo nearly all purposes.
Two or three strands of twisted smooth
wire will not give satisfaction any place In
the fence, for a tempting ear of corn will
very soon cause stock to press against it,
until they are with the ear or the ear is
with them. Also the width is so small
that It affords little or no protection against
stock. There is no end to stretching the
three plated smooth wire, bo that Is to be
condemned. For a fonce where hogs, cattle and sheep run, thero Is no doubt but
that all barb wire would answer best; but
where horses are allowed, often a few wire
fence boards would lessen the danger.
The wire fence board Is made of 5 No. 12
galvanized wire, ~\y% Inches wide, being
stronger, more visible, and more harmless
than any I have yet found. And this
combined with barb wire make an Ideal
fence.
The one I have reference to Is made very
close, chicken proof, so It is more expensive than necessary for a farm fence. Beginning at the bottom with a barbed wire,
a space of VA inches was left, then a wire
board i\i inches wide, another space of 2\i
inches and another barbed wire, then a
space of 3 inches, then 1 wire boards with
spaces running Z\_, 4!,'and 5 inches respectively. Next a space of six Inches and
a barb wire at the top, making a fence 51
inches high, and one that will answer all
purposes- The wire alone costing 70 cents
per rod, but at that price, I consider it the
neatest and most durable fence that could
be built for that money. I will now give
the expense of buildiDg 20 rods barbed
wire fence 8 strands high. Cost of wire 3
cents per pound, ?<S; 2 posts, 20 cents each,
40 cents; 10 posts, 10 cents each Jl; 2 braces
25 cents each, 50 cents; labor, ?2, total
|*.» DO per 20 rods or 49.' a' conts per rod. A
fence of 3 barbs and 3 wire boards woulk
cost 05 cents a rod complete.
The properly cont-tructed fence should
have a board panel at all corners, as a preventive against accidents among stock.
Also to act as a partial stay for fenco. The
braces should be not less than 11 feet long
and 4 llnchos fquare, If sawed. Larger is
no bad idea. Let tho first post from the
end be nearenoug for brace to reach. Then
run a wire around bottom of end post to
top of the next; bring back and join together; put a stick between the wires and
twist till perfectly tight. This equalizes
the strain and makes the bottom and tho
top of end post, pull the same. 1 prefer
the posts 5 or 3 rods apart, In most fences,
2x1 at top and 4x4 at bottom end will answer and will last longer in proportion to
the amount of timber usod than larger.
Stays 2 feet loiig put every 8 or 10 feet
apart will discourage any hog, and a few
going the entire height of fence will be of
benefit.
I have had more trouble with end wires
coming looso and posts pulling out, than
anything else. The brace I spoak of will
overcome tho _r.-__._l; r.-f pC->.:. c-.u__._ig out.
Always bring the wire entirely around,
end post and wrap It on itself for G or 8
Inches, and Oils will obviate the trouble
of wires pulling loose at ends or twisting
posts.
In conclusion, for neatness in looks and
fence rows, advantages in cultivating close
to fence, no shade to stint growth; absolutely wind and lire proof, and If properly
constructed and duo caution on the part of
tho owner, I am sure the barb and wire
boards combined is the Eureka fence for
the farmer. These four points, rapidity of
construction, the small number of posts
requirod, the low price of material and the
durability proves my assertion, that the
cheapest fence is also the best.
A Strange Sunset.
On tho north coast of Norway little boys
and girls see very queer sunsets. You
will notice now in our own State that the
sun at this season is very far to the south
as we say, and instead of rising and going
over our heads at noontime it seems to describe a circle near the southern horizon.
Farther north this is more apparent and at
some seasons it does not disappear from
sight during the entire twenty-four hours.
A writer who visited the North Sea off
Norway this summer writes: "Imagine
yourself on a Bhip at anchor, looking west
or straight in front of you. There la a
broad expanse of sea a little to your right
hand, behind you will be the rugged coast,
and to the left the long, narrow fiord between the Islands and the mainland that
the steamer has just traversed. Yon
watch the sun as it slowly, slowly sets;
the Island and the coasts look a rich, dark
purple, and the shadows cast by the ship's
masts grow longer and longer.
"After a bit, when the sun has sunk apparently twelve feet from the horizon, it
stops and seems to remain stationary for
about twenty minutes; then the very sea
gulls hide away, while the air all of a sudden becomes chilly. Each one has an
awed, expectant feeling, and surrounding
the Bteamer broods a silence that may be
felt. Soon the sun rises very slowly again,
and the yellow clouds change with his uprising to even greater beauty, first to the
palest primrose and then to a bluish pink.
The sky, which was just now rose color,
becomes gray, then pale emerald green,
and lastly blue. Rock after rock stands
out, caught by the sun's bright rays; and
the reign of day has begun once more."