VOL. XXIX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND , OCT. 27. 1894
NO. 43.
Mix Your Own Fertilizers.
Editobs Induni Fabmer:
The belief that it pays to mix one's own
fertilizer is growing rapidly among the
more progressive of our farmers. No one
who once has tried the experiment is liable to return to the old methods. Nothing shows this more clearly than the occasional attempts which are made to stem
the current.
A recent effort Is by "J. Goerz," who endeavors to show the farmers why they
should buy, their fertilizers "ready mixed."
The reasons given In the main are two:
(1) There is a danger that the ingredients
will not be suitably mixed; (2) The fertilizer manufacturer only charges f 1 50
per ton for mixing and the time the farmer takes to do his own mixing would, even
if he oould not do it, will be more expensive to the farmer than this very modest
charge.
It is strange how persistently the friends
of the fertilizer manufacturer avoid the
point of real Importance, let their attention be called to it ever so often. Were these
two facts that Mr. Goeiz mentions the
only or even beneficial considerations,
there would be much to be said in favor
of his conclusions.
It is true that the manufacturer's machinery can mix the Ingredients* quicker and
on the whole somewhat more thoroughly
than the farmer can do it for himself. It
ta not true that with a tittle practice and
some patience the farmer cannot mix his
own fertilizer with sufficient thoroughness for all practical purposes, as indeed is
being done daily on thousands of well
kept farms. It is also true that if the $1.50
or so the manufacturers charge for mixing, represented even approximately the
amount the farmer gained by mixing his
own ingredients, he is not much of a gainer
by the process. But this is not the saving he makes. His gains, as Mr. Goerz
probably knows, are different and much
more important.
In the first place, he gains a certain
knowledge of what his fertilizer contains.
By purchasing standard chemicals, in
open market, he not only buys so as to
to take advantage of the market, but he
knows that he gets what he pays for. If
he buys a complete manure at Experiment valuations, he pays the price of ingredients which may or may not; as a
matter of fact, be in the compound. The
Experiment Station assumes they are
there, and fixes the price accordingly.
But it does not and cannot know whether
the percentages of fertilizing ingredients
analysis shown to be in compound, are actually supplied by the excellent substances
which are paid for and may or may not
have been used.
This is one immense saving to the
thrifty farmer. If he pays for a first class
article he knows he gets it if he bnys it
and mixes it. If he chooses to try a
cheaper source for his nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, soda, etc., the benefit
of the substitution goes to him and not to
the fertilizer mixer, who very likely will
do the same thing without his knowledge
and against his wishes, and when he pays
for and thinks he is getting the best thing
in the market.
In buying chemicals, the farmer pays
his own debts and no one's else. In buying ready mixed manures he is advised to
pay an advanced price of 20 per cent on
even the assumed use of good Ingredients.
This is to oover profits, bad debts, bad
seasons, long credits, etc. In the otber
way he uses his own credit and pays no
bat debts.
In view of these aud similar facts to argue on the basis th*t the f 1 50 paid for
mixing represents the farmer's saving, is
essentially misleading. He can procure
for himself for f 15 per ton a fertilizer of
equal value to that which he Is now asked
to pay f25 to |30 a ton for. Is it surprising the idea is growing in favor?
Andrew H. Ward.
To Wyandotte Cave by Wheel.
Editors Indiana Fabmeb:
The farmer boy who always has at hand
a horse to ride or drive has long been the
envy of ns less fortunate fellows, who
oould not afford such a luxury, but now
that the bicycle has become a practical
road machine the matter is somewhat
evened up. The steel steed is docile, swift
and strong, capable, under a good rider, of
covering as much distance as the steed of
tlesh; can be stabled in any nook or corner, and necessitate no provender bill.
More than that, when it is desired, It can
be transported easily and without oost on
the cars; and so to the townsman who
loves to ramble through the oountry, the
bioycle is a great boon, enabling him to
make many a cheap and pleasant trip.
To come directly to my narrative, one
bright morning not long since two of us
boarded the train at Southport, near Indianapolis, and about four hours later
wheeled westward out of New Albany,
bound for that greatest natural wonder in
old Hoosierdom, Wyandotte cave, some 30
miles away. The highway connecting
New Albany and Corydon is a fine macadamized pike, and one of the oldest in
the State, being built prior to the twenties,
when Corydon was our capital, and affording an outlet to Jefferson, Louisville and
the East. It was constructed by an engineer who had an eye not only y to eas transportation but also to beauty ,and as the country Is exceedingly hilly it would not be easy
to find a more picturesque road. The
route seems to He through a prolonged
valley with parallel ranges of uplands on
either hand, and affording here and there
magnificent prospects that lead the eye to
dim, billowy distances. The hills are
wild, and within less than a dozen miles
of Louisville are boarding houses that afford
their city boarders all the solitude of
primitive nature.
We trundled along easily up hill and
down dale for the rest of that afternoon,
secured supper at a wayside house, slept
in a farmer's hay mow, and the next
morning were awheel bright and early,
blithe and fresh as larks. And, indeed, it
was a tonic for the blood to glide through
that splendid panorama, braced by the
crisp morning air and the slant golden
sunshine and long, dewy shadows mingling everywhere. Before long we approached the ancient town of Corydon. A
mile tliis side side (east) of it we came to a
house so picturesque and curious in appearance that we turned up the lane lead
ing to it. We found It a deserted relic of
other days. It was built of large blocks of
lime stone, the massive walls more than a
foot thick still being solid as a fort. A
luxuriant trumpet vine clambered over
the front, ornamenting it with clusters of
long pods and half concealing the little,
deep set windows, while all over the decaying veranda a great grape vine had
spread itself. Inside the quaint little rooms,
with their hand-beaded joists overhead
and cavernous, many-shelved cupboards,
the. yellow poplar woodwork, was still
sound. In every room was a fireplace,
and In the kitchen a huge one, such as
pioneer chronicles tell us of, not less than
seven feet wide, and shoulder high and
spanned by an old-fashioned mantel shelf
almost out of reach. At the rear of tha
house, flowing a stream as thick as one's
arm, a crystal spring issued from the edge
of a hill and down a groove that it had
cut across a leaf of solid rook. A dismantle! log stable hard by added to the
antiquity of the spot, and was especially
interesting as evidencing the pioneer's
skill with the ax. The notches and sad
dies chopped out at the ends of the logs fit
together like joinery work; the ax had
finished every log with precision and neatness, and even the hings on which the
doors hung had been fashioned  by  the
same tool.
The old house was built in 1800, by the
same architect who put up the Corydon
State house. It was originally used as a
public inn, and was of such excellent
reputation that all our early legislators
boarded there, walking to and from town.
Between here and town is a sulphur
well, famous in the neighborhood, the
taste and smell of which are quite as bad
as those of many medical wells which have
made the fortunes of sanitariums.
Of Corydon, the ancient Hoosler capital,
and the interesting country beyond I will
tell hereafter. Geo S. Coti man.
Save the Bough Feeda.
Editobs Indiana Fabheb:
Only a few years ago it was a common
thing to see whole fields of corn left standing to be husked on the stalk, and the fodder, after It had become bleached and
weather-beaten, was fed by turning the
animals in to "pasture" it off. Now this
wasteful plan is an exception in this vicinity, as nearly all the farmers around
here cut their oorn. But some of them
are not careful enough about saving the
corn fodder after it is cut up and husked.
It is too late to say anything to the few
who leave their corn standing, but as corn-
husking is just beginning, It seems quite
appropriate to say something in regard to
saving the fodder after the corn is husked.
I always, when it Is possible, haul In the
fodder as husking proceeds. The fodder
is not set up in the field unless it seems
likely to rain before It can be hauled in.
The greater portion of it is stored in the
barn and in a shed which was built for the
purpose, but sometimes a little of it must
be stacked out doors. Of course this is fed
first, before it has a chance to become
mnch damaged. I have found that good
fodder well cared for Is much better than
Inferior hay. It Is a serious waste to raise
a crop of corn and then let so large a portion of it become ruined by exposure to
the elements.
Good, clean wheat straw, too, possesses
some feeding value, especially in proper
combination with other feeds. None of It
should be wasted. Burning straw stacks,
like leaving corn stand in the field, has
become about obsolete. But some men
are too careless about having their straw
stacked, and much of it becomes soaked
through by the heavy fall rains, making it
entirely worthless for feed and of little
use for bedding. I know of stacks now
being damaged in just this way, and before midwinter they will be well-nigh
ruined. Whenever I have failed to have
the straw stacked as I wanted it, which
has not been for several years, I have
found it profitable to cut down with a
straw-knife and put into the barn about
half of the stack, or all that I could spare
room for. This much is saved then and
can be left for use in the latter part of the
winter and spring. The rest will probably
keep out doors till it is nsed up.
It has been predicted by a number of
writers in agricultural papers that hay
will be high the coming winter. It Is not
advisable to make a practice of selling hay
from the farm, but it may do occasionally
If plenty of other rough feed has been provided to take Its place. With straw, corn-
fodder, a little hay, and cheap wheat,
stock can be wintered cheaply and kept In
pretty good condition. Then, if hay
brings an unusually high price, a part of
it might be sold. But it is better to feed
all the rough feeds on the farm, and as
much of the grain as possible, to first-class
stock. H. S. K. B
A New Plan for Improving the Roads.
Editors Indiana Farmeb:
While many are casting about for some
improvement in our road law I submit
herewith an original idea, so far as I know,
resulting from an exchange of views upon
some definite plan by which more effective work can be had on the roads, and
without continued levies and exorbitant
taxation, that too often goes to the favored
few or is used up in "red tape" in the
vicinity of the oourt house.
In addition to the present method of
working every able-bodied man over 21
and under 50 years of age, empower the
district supervisors to "warn" out and
compel the owners of every bicycle, carriage, buggy, cart or other vehicle, horse,
mule or ass, to one day's labor on the public highway for eaoh and every suoh vehicle, horse, mule or ass in their possession, the same being subject and liable to
the price or the performance of one day's
labor In grading, graveling, or the hauling
of suoh other material required ln the construction of roads and Improving the
same where needed in the several districts throughout the State. In this way
a very large number who are always complaining of "bad roads" and who use them
more frequently, often to their Injury,
than the land holders through whose
farms the roads lie, would be compelled to
do something for the roads, where they
now go scot free.
It has been estimated here, for one
township, by the number of vehicles,
horses and mules listed on the tax duplicate, that every mile of road In it could in
a few short years all be graded and graveled with but a small outlay of cash and
no bonds and heavy tax assessments for
lightning calculators to thunder over behind expensive screens.
It is evident some efforts are being
promulgated to change the law for better
methods in improving the public highways of the State, but the general plan
seems to lie In the direction of bonds, to
the edification of bankers and manufacturers of the "bike." Hence our idea of
presenting the foregoing as a feasible plan
to meet the agitation at this time, which
is practical and can be made effective in
improving our roads. Let us hear from
the critics briefly. I. M.
Upland.
The urine of our domestic animals contains about four-fifths of the potash in
excrements, and when wasted, therefore,
the manure Is poor In this regard; also
when manure is exposed to the rains
the potash, being soluble, is washed away.
Persimmons.
Editors Indiana Farmeb:
I have lately purchased a thrown-out
and grown-up farm of briers and bushes,
and among the rest is a goodly number of
persimmon trees. Shall I out them down,
or Is there anything In this talk we occasionally see In the papers of raising and
shipping persimmons? I. B.
Lawrence Co.
—There are several varieties of persimmons; some are large and almost seedless
and others are full of seeds and small. If
you have trees of the better kind it will
pay to leave th«m standing. The fruit is
in demand and sells at a good price in all
the large cities. Generally It retails at 10
cents a pint box. The taste for persimmons, like that for pawpaws and tomatoes,
has^to be cultivated,but when people learn
what a delicious fruit it is the demand for
it will increase without doubt, and as few
have gone Into the business in a commercial way, It will be long before there
will be long before there will be an over
supply.
The wind mill and the brook water
wheel are yet to be harnessed for electricity, and the grain threshed, the wood
sawed, feed out, water pumped, house
lighted and heated without extra cost.
The water power on or near every farm
will tiansmit its force over a wire to every
field and building, and will save untold
labor.