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VOL. XXIX. INDIANAPOLIS. IND , SEPT. 1, 1894. NO. 35 Irrigation ln Indiana. Editors Indiana Fahmjch: Irrigation in the near future Is one of the improvements essential to Insure successful agriculture and is bound soon to enlist the earnest attention of our farmers Drouth has been so often destructive to our crops of late years aa to make farming a very uncertain and unsatisfactory oocu nation. It is high time that we were investigating the matter and seeking to find out the best method of applying it. Some of my neighbors have been practicing Irrigation upon a small scale, but enough hss been done to demonstrate the utility of such work. One of my friends having a fine spring at the foot of the high bluff on which his comfortable residence is situated affording an abundance of clear, cold water, tried sprinkling his large to mato patch frequently during 1 ist Bummer's Intense drouth with the happiest results. His tomatoes were very large, smooth, well-formed and very abundant— the finest he ever raised In 50 year's farm Ing. A lady friend of mine having a large onion patch and nothing but the ordinary house pump to depend upon for a supply of water, would pump up water through the day, filling her tubs and barrels. Late of an evening she would sprinkle her onions liberally with this luke warm water. She raised a remarkable crop of large, round, smooth onions, which well repaid ber for all her trouble. Another friend tried irrigation by sprinkling his turnip patch—his turnips were so large they oould hardly find room to grow in the patch. I am a surveyor and civil engineer by profession and have given some thought to this subject. I would suggest that farmers club together and construct, by building dams across the creeks and small rivers at suitable points, so as to form reservoirs that will retain a large amount of water for summer use in case of drouth. Let each farmer provide himself with a large two horse sprinkling wagon, similar to the sprinkling wagons used in towns and cities for sprinkling the streets, so constructed that lt can be raised or lowered and go to work with lt when the dry spell of weather sets ln and let the sprinkler run every day, even if he has to hire an extra hand to drive it, and it will pay better than any other implement on the farm. Farmers who live on the uplands, too far from the streams, can form reservoirs by running the water into basins or hollo wt; most of such farms contain one or more such places; or they can supplement the same by running the waste water from their pumps Into said reservoirs. If there be no such natural depressions on their farms they can make them by plowing and scraping it will not take any more work to make such a reservoir than to plow and scrape out a fish pond. In this oounty, Shelby, the natural fall of the rivers is from four to seven feet per mile and of the smaller streams still more, hence there exist no insuperable obstacles to prevent the formation of reservoirs by throwing dams across them. I have written these suggestions rather for the purpose of calling the attention of our agriculturists to the matter and of opening up a discussion of one of the most important improvements that muat come to the front, before the close of tbis century. Wm R. Nobris. The A picnic wagon containing SS people was struck by an electric car while crossing a bridge near Btllaire, O , on Sunday and waa thrown from the bridge. Two of the horses were killed and the other two wounded. Eight persons were severely hurt and the driver may die. The fall waa 20 feet. The car and wagon are total wrecks. Unemployed Won't Work on the Farm. Editobs Indiana Fakmkh: There Is much being said through the press about the scarcity of farm labor in different sections of the oountry, while ln the towns and cities innumerable hoBts of men and women are idle, and thousands dependent on others for daily sustenance ln a charitable way. Again, much talk haa been indulged in about skilled and unskilled labor, which applies, of oourse, to those engaged in the various kinds of employment to be had in cities, and lt begins to look as though an all-round laborer was rather a scarce aaticle. As carpenters, masons, plasterers, hod- carriers, shovelers, clerks, copyists, messengers, etc., each has his especial plaoe, and that alone or nothing will suit. One morning not long ago I drove into one of our would-be cities and manufacturing (?) centers of the gas belt to get some repairs for my mowing machine, and having to wait a little while sauntered down street to where a crowd of men were assembled in front of the news bulletin board discussing the strike, then at its height in Chicago. Men with nothing to do, and probably not a dollar In their pockets, differed in their views as to who was to blame for the trouble, yet sympathized with labor, of course, aa they themselves were idle; and just then a farmer drove up in search of men to help thresh, calling out: "How many hands can I get here to help thresh to-day?" A shout went up: "There's a chance for some of you." But it had to be repeated several times before they understood what was Intended, and when one of them turned and wanted to know: "How much is there in it?" The old man ssys: "What's ln it? Why, a little hustling of your body, all you can eat and a 'bit' an hour, or about $1 25 a day." No reply was made and the crowd of idle men soon vanished to the surprise (?) of everybody, for threshing was not the kind of work they wanted just then. Late years this is about the rule and not an exception, as farm work is not relished by the man who has onoe engaged in "knocking" around town, and the farmer, too, often finds that kind of help very unsatisfactory. For five months or more the great majority of our farmers have been rushed with work, telling late and early, because of a certain amount of work to do, and they necessarily had to keep moving to get through. To them it seemed that no profit oould be realized after paying the expenses incurred by hireing much help at the present prices of what they had to sell. On the one hand men are idly sitting around the loafing places of towns and villages with an air of "retiring" disposition, and on the other there are farmers pressed with worked and doing two or three times what they should, and yet from all appearances the benevolent fund for next winter will necesarily have to be Increased largely over that of last winter through assessments of the taxable property, for there appears to be no better way to equalize the burden of support than by that method; and indirectly the farmer has to pay all bills and complacently will have to stand it, as he alone is the one in possession of the "God-given rights of man's inheritance in the soil." Grant Co. Miello. Tbe Big Wheat Yields. Editobs Indiana I'ihuii: "What has caused the unusual and extraordinary yield of wheat for the last harvest?" We answer tbat the drouth that has prevailed for the last two seasons has had the effect to bring to the surface by capillary attraction the plant food held in solution ln the ascending moisture, thereby making the surface toil richer in the operation. If you will notice the same cause has given a deeper green to the foliage of the forest, orchard and garden, showing the presence of an abundance of plant food to produce the healthy and vigorous growth we see everywhere. What has been taken down in seasons of excessive rains is in part restored in seasons of drouth. So we see that all things are perfectly right. Dearborn Co. 8. Platt. Keep the back barnyard as neat as the front; have the manure pile, the old board pile, the rubbish pile, always under cover Make the neatness of your plaoe noticeable, and teach not only your own boys, but the whole neighborhood, lessons ot beauty and thrift, Editobs Indiana Fashes: A dry summer brings plant food to the surface by draining moisture from below, leaving it where the next crop planted can get it; alao ground was better prepared than usual by early plowing and preparing a good seed bed. Corn ground was "burned out" until it was fine and mellow; a good growing, late fall and spring, and no freezing and thawing to lift the plant. Under like conditions I predict a good crop next year, as good conditions so far exist, namely: No surplus rains so far to carry away the stored plant food. Kosciusko Co. A. T. C. The Fairs. On Tuesday last one of the greatest fairs ever held ln Northern Indiana opened in Butler, DeKalb oounty, it being the seoond annual street-fair. The citizens pay the premiums. BOONE COUNTY. Tbe Boone oounty fair was held at Lebanon last week. It is said to be the most successful fair ever held. Tbey deserve It, as ail departments were well tilled and all premiums were well contested for. HANCOCK COUNTY. The annual fair of the Hancock County Agricultural Association was held on their beautiful fair grounds near Greenfield. The attendance waa very good and the exhibits were excellent, all departments being well tiiled; especially may this be said of the live stock departments. Gov. Matthews waa judge in the cattle ring. What a Horse can Draw on Metal Ralls. Editobs Indiana Fahmkb: A horse can draw one and two-thirds times as much on metal rails as on asphalt pavements and three and one-third times as much as on Belgian blocks, five times as much as on ordinary Belgian blocks, seven times as muoh as on good cobble stone, 13 times as much as on ordinary cobble stone, 30 times as much as on an earth road and 40 times as much as on sand. Now if we had such good roads how much more would our horses be worth? I would thank some experienced person if they will give through these columns the oost of building such roads. A Reader. Value of Neat Fences. Ki>iT"Bs Indiana Fabmeb: The farmer who takes proper pride In his farm always feels a pleasant satlsfac tton In knowing that his fences are what they ought to be. The farm looks enough better and is worth enough more with a good fence to make it well "worth while" to see that It Is ln good condition. A tumble-down fence has a tendency to prejudice a stranger against a place, when its owner should get the blame. Good gates and bars that can be depended upon to do the work re*mired of them, are valuable adjuncts to every well-regulated farm. W. M. B. MORGAN CO , ILLINOIS. The annual fair of the Morgan County Agricultural Society was held on their beautiful fair grounds near Jacksonville, Aug. 21 25. The attendance was all that oould be asked for. The exhibits were very fine, especially in the cattle and swine shows. TIPTON COUNTY. The Tipton oounty fair was very good ln every respect, but the live stock department was not as large as usual. The crowd was very large. The exhibit in live stock department being so small, may be due to the fact that so many fairs were held the same week In the near vicinity. HAMILTON COUNTY. The annual fair of the Hamilton County Agricultural Society was held on their new fair grounds at Sheiidan, and was a success in every way. The attendance was unusually large and the exhibits In the live ste ck department very good. Cal. Sturdivant was superintendent of the swine department, and made this feature a success. A large exhibit was tbe consequence, over 200 head of hogs being on exhibition. Premiums were paid in full. 1,400 Bushels on 47 Acres. Editobs Indiana Fahseb: To sum up our share of the good things in Carroll county's great grain crop for MM viz (to be exact:) Wheat 47 acres, will by weight make 1,400 bushels; oats three acres, 200 bushels; hay 30 tons; potatoes, garden stuff and small fruit a satisfactory crop. Corn quite satisfactory, considering severe drouth. We had a good rain Saturday the 11th, inst. J. H. Carroll Co. Clover has many virtues as a fertilizer, but do not expect it to renew the soil In a miraculous way. It Is the very best aid to the good farmer, but needs to be supplemented often by mineral fertilizers, and for all early crops, by nitrogen ln more available form than clover only can furnish. CABTHAQE, OHIO. No doubt one of the largest fairs held ln Ohio, Is the Hamilton oounty fair, which Is held at Carthage, about eight miles from Cincinnati. The grounds are beautifully situated, and of easy access from the oity. The fair of 1894, was pronounced by all present as tLe best ever held. The attendance was the largest, and ithe exhibts the finest, especially may this be said of the live stock department. Every class was filled to overflowing. Tbe success of the swine and sheep department was due to the untiring efforts of its superintendant, Capt. E. C. Ellis, of Crestview, O , whose love for the swine is unbounded. Over 400 head of swine alone were viewed by the visitors; all breeds were represented. If a new breed was exhibited, a class was made for lt. Every breeder was made to feel at home, and kind treatment awaited him. The judging was done by E. E. Cooler, of Liberty, O., who showed no partiality; his judgment was never questioned. At the close of the fair, Capt. Ellis was presented with a gold chain and charm, speeches being made by Ben j M. Allen, Greenville, O , Willis Whinney, Salem, O , Orvll Walter, Lebanon, O., and Chas. A. Kurzs, of the Indiana Fabmeb. The fair was a success In every way. Capt. Ellis is a candidate for member of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, and we trust he will be elected. An attempt was made last week to rob President Andrew Jackson's grave. His grave is at his old home, The Hermitage, 12 miles from Nashville, Tenn.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1894, v. 29, no. 35 (Sept. 1) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA2935 |
Date of Original | 1894 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-03-21 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript | VOL. XXIX. INDIANAPOLIS. IND , SEPT. 1, 1894. NO. 35 Irrigation ln Indiana. Editors Indiana Fahmjch: Irrigation in the near future Is one of the improvements essential to Insure successful agriculture and is bound soon to enlist the earnest attention of our farmers Drouth has been so often destructive to our crops of late years aa to make farming a very uncertain and unsatisfactory oocu nation. It is high time that we were investigating the matter and seeking to find out the best method of applying it. Some of my neighbors have been practicing Irrigation upon a small scale, but enough hss been done to demonstrate the utility of such work. One of my friends having a fine spring at the foot of the high bluff on which his comfortable residence is situated affording an abundance of clear, cold water, tried sprinkling his large to mato patch frequently during 1 ist Bummer's Intense drouth with the happiest results. His tomatoes were very large, smooth, well-formed and very abundant— the finest he ever raised In 50 year's farm Ing. A lady friend of mine having a large onion patch and nothing but the ordinary house pump to depend upon for a supply of water, would pump up water through the day, filling her tubs and barrels. Late of an evening she would sprinkle her onions liberally with this luke warm water. She raised a remarkable crop of large, round, smooth onions, which well repaid ber for all her trouble. Another friend tried irrigation by sprinkling his turnip patch—his turnips were so large they oould hardly find room to grow in the patch. I am a surveyor and civil engineer by profession and have given some thought to this subject. I would suggest that farmers club together and construct, by building dams across the creeks and small rivers at suitable points, so as to form reservoirs that will retain a large amount of water for summer use in case of drouth. Let each farmer provide himself with a large two horse sprinkling wagon, similar to the sprinkling wagons used in towns and cities for sprinkling the streets, so constructed that lt can be raised or lowered and go to work with lt when the dry spell of weather sets ln and let the sprinkler run every day, even if he has to hire an extra hand to drive it, and it will pay better than any other implement on the farm. Farmers who live on the uplands, too far from the streams, can form reservoirs by running the water into basins or hollo wt; most of such farms contain one or more such places; or they can supplement the same by running the waste water from their pumps Into said reservoirs. If there be no such natural depressions on their farms they can make them by plowing and scraping it will not take any more work to make such a reservoir than to plow and scrape out a fish pond. In this oounty, Shelby, the natural fall of the rivers is from four to seven feet per mile and of the smaller streams still more, hence there exist no insuperable obstacles to prevent the formation of reservoirs by throwing dams across them. I have written these suggestions rather for the purpose of calling the attention of our agriculturists to the matter and of opening up a discussion of one of the most important improvements that muat come to the front, before the close of tbis century. Wm R. Nobris. The A picnic wagon containing SS people was struck by an electric car while crossing a bridge near Btllaire, O , on Sunday and waa thrown from the bridge. Two of the horses were killed and the other two wounded. Eight persons were severely hurt and the driver may die. The fall waa 20 feet. The car and wagon are total wrecks. Unemployed Won't Work on the Farm. Editobs Indiana Fakmkh: There Is much being said through the press about the scarcity of farm labor in different sections of the oountry, while ln the towns and cities innumerable hoBts of men and women are idle, and thousands dependent on others for daily sustenance ln a charitable way. Again, much talk haa been indulged in about skilled and unskilled labor, which applies, of oourse, to those engaged in the various kinds of employment to be had in cities, and lt begins to look as though an all-round laborer was rather a scarce aaticle. As carpenters, masons, plasterers, hod- carriers, shovelers, clerks, copyists, messengers, etc., each has his especial plaoe, and that alone or nothing will suit. One morning not long ago I drove into one of our would-be cities and manufacturing (?) centers of the gas belt to get some repairs for my mowing machine, and having to wait a little while sauntered down street to where a crowd of men were assembled in front of the news bulletin board discussing the strike, then at its height in Chicago. Men with nothing to do, and probably not a dollar In their pockets, differed in their views as to who was to blame for the trouble, yet sympathized with labor, of course, aa they themselves were idle; and just then a farmer drove up in search of men to help thresh, calling out: "How many hands can I get here to help thresh to-day?" A shout went up: "There's a chance for some of you." But it had to be repeated several times before they understood what was Intended, and when one of them turned and wanted to know: "How much is there in it?" The old man ssys: "What's ln it? Why, a little hustling of your body, all you can eat and a 'bit' an hour, or about $1 25 a day." No reply was made and the crowd of idle men soon vanished to the surprise (?) of everybody, for threshing was not the kind of work they wanted just then. Late years this is about the rule and not an exception, as farm work is not relished by the man who has onoe engaged in "knocking" around town, and the farmer, too, often finds that kind of help very unsatisfactory. For five months or more the great majority of our farmers have been rushed with work, telling late and early, because of a certain amount of work to do, and they necessarily had to keep moving to get through. To them it seemed that no profit oould be realized after paying the expenses incurred by hireing much help at the present prices of what they had to sell. On the one hand men are idly sitting around the loafing places of towns and villages with an air of "retiring" disposition, and on the other there are farmers pressed with worked and doing two or three times what they should, and yet from all appearances the benevolent fund for next winter will necesarily have to be Increased largely over that of last winter through assessments of the taxable property, for there appears to be no better way to equalize the burden of support than by that method; and indirectly the farmer has to pay all bills and complacently will have to stand it, as he alone is the one in possession of the "God-given rights of man's inheritance in the soil." Grant Co. Miello. Tbe Big Wheat Yields. Editobs Indiana I'ihuii: "What has caused the unusual and extraordinary yield of wheat for the last harvest?" We answer tbat the drouth that has prevailed for the last two seasons has had the effect to bring to the surface by capillary attraction the plant food held in solution ln the ascending moisture, thereby making the surface toil richer in the operation. If you will notice the same cause has given a deeper green to the foliage of the forest, orchard and garden, showing the presence of an abundance of plant food to produce the healthy and vigorous growth we see everywhere. What has been taken down in seasons of excessive rains is in part restored in seasons of drouth. So we see that all things are perfectly right. Dearborn Co. 8. Platt. Keep the back barnyard as neat as the front; have the manure pile, the old board pile, the rubbish pile, always under cover Make the neatness of your plaoe noticeable, and teach not only your own boys, but the whole neighborhood, lessons ot beauty and thrift, Editobs Indiana Fashes: A dry summer brings plant food to the surface by draining moisture from below, leaving it where the next crop planted can get it; alao ground was better prepared than usual by early plowing and preparing a good seed bed. Corn ground was "burned out" until it was fine and mellow; a good growing, late fall and spring, and no freezing and thawing to lift the plant. Under like conditions I predict a good crop next year, as good conditions so far exist, namely: No surplus rains so far to carry away the stored plant food. Kosciusko Co. A. T. C. The Fairs. On Tuesday last one of the greatest fairs ever held ln Northern Indiana opened in Butler, DeKalb oounty, it being the seoond annual street-fair. The citizens pay the premiums. BOONE COUNTY. Tbe Boone oounty fair was held at Lebanon last week. It is said to be the most successful fair ever held. Tbey deserve It, as ail departments were well tilled and all premiums were well contested for. HANCOCK COUNTY. The annual fair of the Hancock County Agricultural Association was held on their beautiful fair grounds near Greenfield. The attendance waa very good and the exhibits were excellent, all departments being well tiiled; especially may this be said of the live stock departments. Gov. Matthews waa judge in the cattle ring. What a Horse can Draw on Metal Ralls. Editobs Indiana Fahmkb: A horse can draw one and two-thirds times as much on metal rails as on asphalt pavements and three and one-third times as much as on Belgian blocks, five times as much as on ordinary Belgian blocks, seven times as muoh as on good cobble stone, 13 times as much as on ordinary cobble stone, 30 times as much as on an earth road and 40 times as much as on sand. Now if we had such good roads how much more would our horses be worth? I would thank some experienced person if they will give through these columns the oost of building such roads. A Reader. Value of Neat Fences. Ki>iT"Bs Indiana Fabmeb: The farmer who takes proper pride In his farm always feels a pleasant satlsfac tton In knowing that his fences are what they ought to be. The farm looks enough better and is worth enough more with a good fence to make it well "worth while" to see that It Is ln good condition. A tumble-down fence has a tendency to prejudice a stranger against a place, when its owner should get the blame. Good gates and bars that can be depended upon to do the work re*mired of them, are valuable adjuncts to every well-regulated farm. W. M. B. MORGAN CO , ILLINOIS. The annual fair of the Morgan County Agricultural Society was held on their beautiful fair grounds near Jacksonville, Aug. 21 25. The attendance was all that oould be asked for. The exhibits were very fine, especially in the cattle and swine shows. TIPTON COUNTY. The Tipton oounty fair was very good ln every respect, but the live stock department was not as large as usual. The crowd was very large. The exhibit in live stock department being so small, may be due to the fact that so many fairs were held the same week In the near vicinity. HAMILTON COUNTY. The annual fair of the Hamilton County Agricultural Society was held on their new fair grounds at Sheiidan, and was a success in every way. The attendance was unusually large and the exhibits In the live ste ck department very good. Cal. Sturdivant was superintendent of the swine department, and made this feature a success. A large exhibit was tbe consequence, over 200 head of hogs being on exhibition. Premiums were paid in full. 1,400 Bushels on 47 Acres. Editobs Indiana Fahseb: To sum up our share of the good things in Carroll county's great grain crop for MM viz (to be exact:) Wheat 47 acres, will by weight make 1,400 bushels; oats three acres, 200 bushels; hay 30 tons; potatoes, garden stuff and small fruit a satisfactory crop. Corn quite satisfactory, considering severe drouth. We had a good rain Saturday the 11th, inst. J. H. Carroll Co. Clover has many virtues as a fertilizer, but do not expect it to renew the soil In a miraculous way. It Is the very best aid to the good farmer, but needs to be supplemented often by mineral fertilizers, and for all early crops, by nitrogen ln more available form than clover only can furnish. CABTHAQE, OHIO. No doubt one of the largest fairs held ln Ohio, Is the Hamilton oounty fair, which Is held at Carthage, about eight miles from Cincinnati. The grounds are beautifully situated, and of easy access from the oity. The fair of 1894, was pronounced by all present as tLe best ever held. The attendance was the largest, and ithe exhibts the finest, especially may this be said of the live stock department. Every class was filled to overflowing. Tbe success of the swine and sheep department was due to the untiring efforts of its superintendant, Capt. E. C. Ellis, of Crestview, O , whose love for the swine is unbounded. Over 400 head of swine alone were viewed by the visitors; all breeds were represented. If a new breed was exhibited, a class was made for lt. Every breeder was made to feel at home, and kind treatment awaited him. The judging was done by E. E. Cooler, of Liberty, O., who showed no partiality; his judgment was never questioned. At the close of the fair, Capt. Ellis was presented with a gold chain and charm, speeches being made by Ben j M. Allen, Greenville, O , Willis Whinney, Salem, O , Orvll Walter, Lebanon, O., and Chas. A. Kurzs, of the Indiana Fabmeb. The fair was a success In every way. Capt. Ellis is a candidate for member of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, and we trust he will be elected. An attempt was made last week to rob President Andrew Jackson's grave. His grave is at his old home, The Hermitage, 12 miles from Nashville, Tenn. |
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