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VOL. XXIX. INDIANAPOLIS. IND , SEPT. 15, 1804. NO. 37. Clipping Clover—Clean Roadside*—Road Improvements. Editobs Indiana Fabmbs: I have, this year, for the first time, tried the plan of dipping my stubble fields. The first one was clipped the first week ln August, and present indications justify tbe belief that tbe result will prove entirely satis faotory. The young clover in thla field la doing very nicely. The weeds were prevented from maturing and scattering their seeds, and during the past month of extremely hot, dry weather formed something of a mulch which partially shaded the ground from the scorching heat ot the sun. The other clover field was clipped two weeks later and here too, the olover Is looking well, but of oourse the weeds used a little more fertility in making tbls two week's growth and so robbed the clover that much more. This week we have had several heavy rains and now tbere are no weeds to evaporate from the soil the water that has fallen, and the clover is getting the full benefit of it. It seems to me that I never before knew rain to do yonng elover so much good at thia time of the year as lt is doing this time. This Is the first year that I have treated the clover and stubble fields ln this way and I am so well pleased with their appearance and with the condition of the young olover after the prolonged drouth, that I ..think I shall continue the practice. kxspinu thb roadsides clean. For several years past I have been spending a little time about the first of August in mowing the weeds and briars that spring up along the roadside. I used to think that I couldn't spare the time to do this, but now I think that I cannot afford to neglect it. It does not take so very much time, and if carefully done, it requires less work eaoh year than it did the year before. It certainly makes the farm look enough better to pay for what time it takes to do tbe work. To be sure, our farm does not look as well in this respect as many others, nor as well as I expect to make it look before I shall feel altogether satisfied with its appearance, but I should certainly be ashamed to have lt look as it did five years sgo. There ate many farms not only in tbis vicinity but in other sections of tbe State where I have been, that oould be made to look much more attrac tive than they now look just by one or two days labor at the right time eaoh year. Here is an instance where the farmer who is cultivating a small farm has a decided advantage over the man whose farm is large. But whether the farm is large or small, this work ought not to be neglected. Since writing tbe above, someone has sent me a copy of the September number of "Oood Boads," a journal devoted to road improvement. It contains an article entitled "The Roadside Wilderness," which is Illustrated by two pictures; one of a real roadside wilderness and the other of a beautiful and well-kept oountry highway. I quote a paragraph or two: "The most unattractive and to a reflective mind, the most depressing rural sp, c tacle is the ngly weed-grown space between the wagon tracks and tbe tillable land on either side of the country roadways. The space usually includes a double line of dilapidated and decaying rail fenoe along the length and within the corners of which flourishes a rank growth of thistles and every pestilent weed known to the locality. Here shlftfeesness runs riot." The chief cause for regret is, that too much of this description ia true. But in his closing paragraphs the wri er describe! something more pleasing; and gives us a few hints that many of us could profit by, "One need not be reminded of the exceeding attractiveness of drive ways through beautiful parka or blooming orchards. Nor of tbe pleasures found ln passing along the better class of farm roads, past well tilled gardens and fields. Could we but dispense with the useless, costly and inartistic road fen< et, and devote to cultivation the waste places of this lengthy wilderness, how sgreeable to the higher taste, the esthetic sense, would be tbe ohange. The ordinary traveler, es caping the present barricade of desolation and disorder, is invited within the charmed precincts of cultivation, luxuriance and thrift. Country farmers would begin to vie with eaoh other ln efforts to make yet more pleasing the borders of thoroughfares passing their lands. Here would be found their finest shade and most dium may fill a very Important function in oaae of a deficiency ln potassium and that it is therefore not to be regarded aa an altogether useless plant constituent. These experiments, be states, show that the practice of applying salt to the soil Is a rational one, from a scientific standpoint, and that the large amount of sodium salt contained in many ot the Staasfurt salts, is not to be regarded as useless ballast, but as possessing certain value for the nutrition of plants." These same views must equally apply to the sodium ln nitrate of soda and other fertilisers containing acdlum in some of its combinations. It is known, however, that while nitrates and carbonates are plant nouriahers, mu- of the chlorides within the plant, the plant seizing the alkali which ia essential to it and liberating chlorine, which then exerted ita bleaching and poisonous influence. Experience and experiment both aeem to indicate that organic matter ln the soil is able ln some degree to controvert the injurious actions of the chlorides ln the fixed alkalies, potash and soda. Thia ia explained by the hydrogen of the organic matter uniting with the chlorine, tbe hydrochloric aold thus formed, neutralising itself by lime or other base at hand. Andrew H. Ward. south central portion of state fair grounds. The location of the Indiana Farmer tent is shown, just east of the big water tank that supplies the grounds. Call and see us. luxuriant fruit trees, their richest vines and largest vegetables. "The considerations which urge the im provement are (1) eoonomy, (2) safety and (3) beauty. How possible it is to redeem these waste places, to abate this nuisance and remove this peril. The cheerless wilderness which now greets tbe eye may be transformed into the most picturesque, inviting and hopeful of all rural charms." Truly, this is a consumation devoutly to be wished. H. S. K. B. Potashes. Editobs Indiana Farmer: When the ashes of plants are treated with water, the salts of potassium are dissolved, th se of calcium and magnesium being left. Oo separating the tqueous solution and evaporating it to a certain point, a great deal or the potassium sulphate, being much lees soluble, Is deposited, and the carbonate remains in the solution; this li evaporated to dryness, when the carbonate Is left, mixed with some potassium chloride and some sulphate; thia mixture constitutes the substance exported from this oountry when wood was abundant, under tbe name of potashes, and which were then much in demand for the manufacture of soap and glass. When further purified they were sold under the name of pearlash and made into a bicarbonate by the absorption of carbonic acid then termed saleratus and used for culinary purposes. By recent experiments made by Oerman chemists, A. Atterburg and Wagner, each by himself, it has been found that the presence of sods in the soil causes the plant to use less potash, supplying its plaoe with the soda. The United States Record of experiment stations says: "The results, the author believes, clearly show that so- riates are plant poisons, but ln small quantities may not prove injurious. It is evident that the fixed alkalies, potash and soda, are most beneficial when used in the form of nitrates or carbonates, but ln these forms potash comes high, whereas soda is much cheaper. It is now generally conceded that the use of the chlorides of the fixed alkalies, either soda or potash, is inferior to the alkaline carbonates for use separately, or in mixed manures for potatoes, sugar beets, tobacco, fruit, or for any crop where the formation of starch or sugar is specially important. For potatoes, the depression ln starch was greatest when the chloride of potassium (muriate of potash) waa applied nearest plant time. The chlorides decreased tbe starch, alao the number of bushels, more than the sulphate, especially when applied late. The chlorides, if used, should therefore be applied as early as possible, at the latest ln December. Any exoesa which might do no harm on some other crops, should be avoided, and if potash or soda must be applied near planting time, only sulphates or carbonates should be applied, and of these the carbonate is by far preferable. Potash or soda salts are generally only useful when phosphates and nitrogenous manures are used together with them, and very much depends on tbe form in which they are used. The use of tbe chlorides of the fixed alkalies, potassium and ■odium are in some cases injurious to plants, actually poisoning or killing tbem, tbe symptoms being such as directly point to tbe action of free chlorine. The leaves were markedly bleached throughout ln an early stage of growth, and ultimately the plants died. The cause probably ia the decomposition Grow Leas Wheat and Get Better Prices. Editobs Indiama Fabmeb: In your issue of Sept. 1st you ask "what shall be done as to raising wheat so that a paying prioe may be obtained for it?" It would seem tbat the answer to that question la obvious. "Raise leas of it;" four words makes complete reply. The crops of this year ('94) is estimated at some 500,- 000,000 bushels in this oountry. There are some 70,000,000 people here to be fed from the products of the farm. For all purposes about five bushels per capita will be required for home consumption, say 350,000,- 000 busbels. Had the acreage been leas by 25 per oent than that of this year, with the aame average product per acre, the number of buahela produced would have been 375,000,000 and the price very much nearer $1 per bushel (perhaps quite that) than the 45 or 50 cents now paid in this State. If this be true why should farmers oon- tinue to exhaust their land, waste their labor and aeed already raised to put wheat on an overburdened market, at, in many cases, an actual loss and ln all other cases a mere nominal profit. It may be supposed that a farmer oan understand, if he ia fortunate enough to have a deposit In a bank, that when he draws a check for 950 he is reducing his balance just twice aa fast as if the check were for f25 The elements of fertility In the soil are the farmer's equivalent for cash in bank. The faster he draws them out the smaller the balance to draw upon. There is no crop raised by the ordinary farmer whioh makes such heavy drafts upon his soil as wheat, and yet with most of his class he never seems to consider this fact or foresee the Inevitable consequences, but goes on year after year ln the same old way, crowding acre npon acre and bushel on bushel until all demand is swamped in immense over production. What does the merchant or manufacturer do ln like cast? The former with hia shelves filled with unsold or nearly unsalable goods does not load them down with more, the manufacturer ceases to fabricate, or reduoes his output that the supply shall not much exoeed the demand. The farmer seems to reverse tbls simple law of business and imagines tbat if he Is to get only half as much for his wheat he must of necessity sow twice as much to get the sme money out of it. The sum of the argument is this: If you intended to sow 20 acres, sow only 15; if 100 acres sow 75, and see the result. It cannot make matters worse than they are and may and moat likely will make them much better. H. L. Romney. The 33d annual Bridgeton fair closed August 31st with satisfactory results to the board of directors and exhibitors. The art hall and horticultural were not so well filled as in former years, bnt showed an interest of exhibitors. Stook and poultry were exoelient Hieing better than at any previous exhibition. Bridgeton is noted for Its fair dealing and a plaoe of meeting of many old friends. Owing to destruction by storm of amphitheater, and expense thereby, the society will not be able to pay tbe premiums in full.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1894, v. 29, no. 37 (Sept. 15) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA2937 |
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. 15, 1804. NO. 37. Clipping Clover—Clean Roadside*—Road Improvements. Editobs Indiana Fabmbs: I have, this year, for the first time, tried the plan of dipping my stubble fields. The first one was clipped the first week ln August, and present indications justify tbe belief that tbe result will prove entirely satis faotory. The young clover in thla field la doing very nicely. The weeds were prevented from maturing and scattering their seeds, and during the past month of extremely hot, dry weather formed something of a mulch which partially shaded the ground from the scorching heat ot the sun. The other clover field was clipped two weeks later and here too, the olover Is looking well, but of oourse the weeds used a little more fertility in making tbls two week's growth and so robbed the clover that much more. This week we have had several heavy rains and now tbere are no weeds to evaporate from the soil the water that has fallen, and the clover is getting the full benefit of it. It seems to me that I never before knew rain to do yonng elover so much good at thia time of the year as lt is doing this time. This Is the first year that I have treated the clover and stubble fields ln this way and I am so well pleased with their appearance and with the condition of the young olover after the prolonged drouth, that I ..think I shall continue the practice. kxspinu thb roadsides clean. For several years past I have been spending a little time about the first of August in mowing the weeds and briars that spring up along the roadside. I used to think that I couldn't spare the time to do this, but now I think that I cannot afford to neglect it. It does not take so very much time, and if carefully done, it requires less work eaoh year than it did the year before. It certainly makes the farm look enough better to pay for what time it takes to do tbe work. To be sure, our farm does not look as well in this respect as many others, nor as well as I expect to make it look before I shall feel altogether satisfied with its appearance, but I should certainly be ashamed to have lt look as it did five years sgo. There ate many farms not only in tbis vicinity but in other sections of tbe State where I have been, that oould be made to look much more attrac tive than they now look just by one or two days labor at the right time eaoh year. Here is an instance where the farmer who is cultivating a small farm has a decided advantage over the man whose farm is large. But whether the farm is large or small, this work ought not to be neglected. Since writing tbe above, someone has sent me a copy of the September number of "Oood Boads," a journal devoted to road improvement. It contains an article entitled "The Roadside Wilderness," which is Illustrated by two pictures; one of a real roadside wilderness and the other of a beautiful and well-kept oountry highway. I quote a paragraph or two: "The most unattractive and to a reflective mind, the most depressing rural sp, c tacle is the ngly weed-grown space between the wagon tracks and tbe tillable land on either side of the country roadways. The space usually includes a double line of dilapidated and decaying rail fenoe along the length and within the corners of which flourishes a rank growth of thistles and every pestilent weed known to the locality. Here shlftfeesness runs riot." The chief cause for regret is, that too much of this description ia true. But in his closing paragraphs the wri er describe! something more pleasing; and gives us a few hints that many of us could profit by, "One need not be reminded of the exceeding attractiveness of drive ways through beautiful parka or blooming orchards. Nor of tbe pleasures found ln passing along the better class of farm roads, past well tilled gardens and fields. Could we but dispense with the useless, costly and inartistic road fen< et, and devote to cultivation the waste places of this lengthy wilderness, how sgreeable to the higher taste, the esthetic sense, would be tbe ohange. The ordinary traveler, es caping the present barricade of desolation and disorder, is invited within the charmed precincts of cultivation, luxuriance and thrift. Country farmers would begin to vie with eaoh other ln efforts to make yet more pleasing the borders of thoroughfares passing their lands. Here would be found their finest shade and most dium may fill a very Important function in oaae of a deficiency ln potassium and that it is therefore not to be regarded aa an altogether useless plant constituent. These experiments, be states, show that the practice of applying salt to the soil Is a rational one, from a scientific standpoint, and that the large amount of sodium salt contained in many ot the Staasfurt salts, is not to be regarded as useless ballast, but as possessing certain value for the nutrition of plants." These same views must equally apply to the sodium ln nitrate of soda and other fertilisers containing acdlum in some of its combinations. It is known, however, that while nitrates and carbonates are plant nouriahers, mu- of the chlorides within the plant, the plant seizing the alkali which ia essential to it and liberating chlorine, which then exerted ita bleaching and poisonous influence. Experience and experiment both aeem to indicate that organic matter ln the soil is able ln some degree to controvert the injurious actions of the chlorides ln the fixed alkalies, potash and soda. Thia ia explained by the hydrogen of the organic matter uniting with the chlorine, tbe hydrochloric aold thus formed, neutralising itself by lime or other base at hand. Andrew H. Ward. south central portion of state fair grounds. The location of the Indiana Farmer tent is shown, just east of the big water tank that supplies the grounds. Call and see us. luxuriant fruit trees, their richest vines and largest vegetables. "The considerations which urge the im provement are (1) eoonomy, (2) safety and (3) beauty. How possible it is to redeem these waste places, to abate this nuisance and remove this peril. The cheerless wilderness which now greets tbe eye may be transformed into the most picturesque, inviting and hopeful of all rural charms." Truly, this is a consumation devoutly to be wished. H. S. K. B. Potashes. Editobs Indiana Farmer: When the ashes of plants are treated with water, the salts of potassium are dissolved, th se of calcium and magnesium being left. Oo separating the tqueous solution and evaporating it to a certain point, a great deal or the potassium sulphate, being much lees soluble, Is deposited, and the carbonate remains in the solution; this li evaporated to dryness, when the carbonate Is left, mixed with some potassium chloride and some sulphate; thia mixture constitutes the substance exported from this oountry when wood was abundant, under tbe name of potashes, and which were then much in demand for the manufacture of soap and glass. When further purified they were sold under the name of pearlash and made into a bicarbonate by the absorption of carbonic acid then termed saleratus and used for culinary purposes. By recent experiments made by Oerman chemists, A. Atterburg and Wagner, each by himself, it has been found that the presence of sods in the soil causes the plant to use less potash, supplying its plaoe with the soda. The United States Record of experiment stations says: "The results, the author believes, clearly show that so- riates are plant poisons, but ln small quantities may not prove injurious. It is evident that the fixed alkalies, potash and soda, are most beneficial when used in the form of nitrates or carbonates, but ln these forms potash comes high, whereas soda is much cheaper. It is now generally conceded that the use of the chlorides of the fixed alkalies, either soda or potash, is inferior to the alkaline carbonates for use separately, or in mixed manures for potatoes, sugar beets, tobacco, fruit, or for any crop where the formation of starch or sugar is specially important. For potatoes, the depression ln starch was greatest when the chloride of potassium (muriate of potash) waa applied nearest plant time. The chlorides decreased tbe starch, alao the number of bushels, more than the sulphate, especially when applied late. The chlorides, if used, should therefore be applied as early as possible, at the latest ln December. Any exoesa which might do no harm on some other crops, should be avoided, and if potash or soda must be applied near planting time, only sulphates or carbonates should be applied, and of these the carbonate is by far preferable. Potash or soda salts are generally only useful when phosphates and nitrogenous manures are used together with them, and very much depends on tbe form in which they are used. The use of tbe chlorides of the fixed alkalies, potassium and ■odium are in some cases injurious to plants, actually poisoning or killing tbem, tbe symptoms being such as directly point to tbe action of free chlorine. The leaves were markedly bleached throughout ln an early stage of growth, and ultimately the plants died. The cause probably ia the decomposition Grow Leas Wheat and Get Better Prices. Editobs Indiama Fabmeb: In your issue of Sept. 1st you ask "what shall be done as to raising wheat so that a paying prioe may be obtained for it?" It would seem tbat the answer to that question la obvious. "Raise leas of it;" four words makes complete reply. The crops of this year ('94) is estimated at some 500,- 000,000 bushels in this oountry. There are some 70,000,000 people here to be fed from the products of the farm. For all purposes about five bushels per capita will be required for home consumption, say 350,000,- 000 busbels. Had the acreage been leas by 25 per oent than that of this year, with the aame average product per acre, the number of buahela produced would have been 375,000,000 and the price very much nearer $1 per bushel (perhaps quite that) than the 45 or 50 cents now paid in this State. If this be true why should farmers oon- tinue to exhaust their land, waste their labor and aeed already raised to put wheat on an overburdened market, at, in many cases, an actual loss and ln all other cases a mere nominal profit. It may be supposed that a farmer oan understand, if he ia fortunate enough to have a deposit In a bank, that when he draws a check for 950 he is reducing his balance just twice aa fast as if the check were for f25 The elements of fertility In the soil are the farmer's equivalent for cash in bank. The faster he draws them out the smaller the balance to draw upon. There is no crop raised by the ordinary farmer whioh makes such heavy drafts upon his soil as wheat, and yet with most of his class he never seems to consider this fact or foresee the Inevitable consequences, but goes on year after year ln the same old way, crowding acre npon acre and bushel on bushel until all demand is swamped in immense over production. What does the merchant or manufacturer do ln like cast? The former with hia shelves filled with unsold or nearly unsalable goods does not load them down with more, the manufacturer ceases to fabricate, or reduoes his output that the supply shall not much exoeed the demand. The farmer seems to reverse tbls simple law of business and imagines tbat if he Is to get only half as much for his wheat he must of necessity sow twice as much to get the sme money out of it. The sum of the argument is this: If you intended to sow 20 acres, sow only 15; if 100 acres sow 75, and see the result. It cannot make matters worse than they are and may and moat likely will make them much better. H. L. Romney. The 33d annual Bridgeton fair closed August 31st with satisfactory results to the board of directors and exhibitors. The art hall and horticultural were not so well filled as in former years, bnt showed an interest of exhibitors. Stook and poultry were exoelient Hieing better than at any previous exhibition. Bridgeton is noted for Its fair dealing and a plaoe of meeting of many old friends. Owing to destruction by storm of amphitheater, and expense thereby, the society will not be able to pay tbe premiums in full. |
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