PA,_
[Ufay
"7
VOL. LVIII.
INDIANAPOLIS, MAY 2, 1903.--TWENTY PAGES.
NO.
Written  for the Indiana  Fanner:
TUB  1 AIIMKU  TO  THK III
Bj  Toman O.   Blslr.
No pleasure   alo   I   Hnd
In  seeming  thus  unLlinl.
Thus   cruel   to  your   race.
No murderer*,  thought  I  shore.
V.tair  life   I   fain  avould   spare.
And   grant   you   dwelling   place.
Had   I   not   learned   of   olal
How  stealthy  yet   how  bold
A little mouse can be.
How   kindred   multiply
Anal   frolic   low   and   high
lo  flelal   and   granary.
Some thought of garaod,   no doubt,
Gould we but  find  it on l.
H.id  nature  In your birth  ,
But now  no room we find
For creatures   of   your  kind,
Vou aeem eo little worth.
And   more—we   know   you   steal
"Wheat,   rye,  oats,   corn or meal.
To atult your naughty  hf.l.*s.
And heap rich treasures by,
In   hidden  corners   »*ly.
An   ample   store    besides.
Such  conduct   may   :*ot   lsst,
Your prospects I will blast,
May   toll-earned   com   to   save.
And leave  example,   too.
Ta.  all   your   thieving  crew
Who Bee your bloody grave.
To harbor 'mong tbe weeds
And  garner  noxious   seeds
Should  be your true del!*_lit;
But,  since I   may   not  trust,
I'll stamp you in tbe dust,
Aud think  tbe  action rictat.
Burns   wrote  of  mia*e  and   man,
Mia/   1  not  draw,   agialu.
BeeOae lesson  from  the  tartlte?
And should you surely find
My  talent  fa,*  behind
The poet of repute.
Yet will I  tell the  thought
To me with meaning fraught
In lesson true and plain—
How fare the men and mice
Who   reckon   not   the   price
Of  reaping   ill-got  gain.
Man   may   hia  brother  wrong,
Yet Justice  suffer  long.
And  leave  the wretch  unhurt,
But,  ere he's aware,
Some hand will play him fair,
And  deal  him  his desert.
Westfield, lud.
THE FORMALIN TREATMENT FOR
SMUT.
The Wisconsin Experiment Station has
been conducting some experiments to determine if the treatment of oats with
formalin has any effect upon the germinating qualities of the grain. The results
of these experiments indicate that it does
.have an appreciable effect in lowering
the vitality of the seed. True the germination was, for some reason, poor in
the untreated seed, but much poorer in
sll cases of treated seed, even where so
weak a solution as two and a half parts
formaldehyde to a thousand parts of water was used. The method of application used in these tests was that of soaking the seed twenty minutes in the solution. We do not present this information with a view to discouraging the
treatment of the seed grain, because it
has been thoroughly demonstrated that
the treatment results in larger yields of
a better quality of grain, but rather to
call attention to the great care that should
be exercised in the use of any of the various germicides. As stated in onr remarks last week, on the use of coal oil
for destroying the smut germ, it is only
reasonable to suppose that a substance
that will kill the germ of smut, a vegetable substance, will have a similar effect upon the seeds of the higher plant,
if it comes in contact with the germs
thereof. The Wisconsin Board of Agriculture "estimates that the loss to that
State last year from the ravages of the
oat smut was over $5,000,000, so that its
control is of the greatest importance: but
in its extermination we must use judgment and proper care or we may destroy
the oat germ as well. The weakest and
least penetrating solution that will give
effective results should bo nsed. Care
should be taken that the "rain does not
remain wet with the solution longer than*
is necessary tn kill the smnt spores. Fnr
this reason the formalin treatment and
the application of it by wetting the oats
spread on the floor and shoveling them
over commends itself as about the best
thus far tried. The formaldehyde gas,
which is the active principal, evaporates
quite readily, so that with the above
method the oat >**'*al will t*a* f*-**a*.l fr,.,n
its effert soon after it has performed its
work of destruction on the smut spores.
Mammoth Structure for tbe Department
of Agriculture at the Wor'ld's Fair.
The Palace of Agriculture at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St.
Louis, is the largest structure ever built
lor the reception of a single department,
and is 15 per cent larger than any other
ouilding at the Exposition.
It is 500x1,000 feet, thus containing a
floor space of almost 20 acres. This
I iiilding and the horticulture building are
the only ones in the Exposition bearing
color on the outer walls. The Agriculture building will have used upon it
green with points of brighter color.
Garlands, wreaths and festoons ot
fruits and flowers figure in the color
scheme. The   architectural   members,
such as the cornices, and the piers be-
t ween-the mouldings, are left White.
The plans for this building has been prc-
pareal under the immediate supervision of
Tin:  LARGEST  FARM  OWNED  RY
ONE   MAN.
The largest cultivated farm under single ownership is owned by Mr. Dm ial
Rankin of Tarkio, Atchison Co., Mn. 11a*
ic a millionaire and the largest corn grower aud stock feeder in the world. His
farm contains 23,0*00 acres, all tilled under his personal supervision. His motto
is, "Thou shalt not sell corn" and lie
rigidly adheres to it. He has never sold
even one kernel in his life because it Is
contrary to his principles and experience.
He started in life in Illinois with a
colt his father had given him, worth
about $52. He traded the colt for calves
which he traded for two steers, with
which he farmed his 80-acre farm whieh
lie had bought on time. Afterwards lie
snid this and bought one in Atchison
county, Missouri, where he now lives.
His   farm   is  now  divided  into  fourteen
Agricultural Building.
Mr. Isaac S. Taylor, Director of Wnrks
of the Exposition, by Mr. E. L. Mas-
queray, Chief of Design. The cost ot
construction is $529,940.
The building is probably the best lighten
of any on the grounds. Its fronts are
ptactically successive series of windows
t.ach 75 feet long and 27 feet high. These
windows are placed 14 feet from the
flcor so as to allow the use of the wall
space inside for exhibits. Triangular
monitor windows supply sky light, while
they cut off the direct sunlight, which
would quickly spoil many of the exhibits
this building will contain.
The grand nave 106 feet high, which
runs through the 1,600-foot length of the
building, rises to a height of 60 feet ana
supplies the grandest vista of installation
space of any building ever designed for
exposition uses.
The entrances to the building are distributed  to   serve  the  visitors.      A  grad-
seetinns, each under the direct eharga* *.r
a foreman. These foremen are educated,
capable men and are paid from $50 per
month to $1,000 per year. Under their
direction are 200 employes, whom he pays
from $25 to $30 per month and boan).
It is 35 miles from one end of the farm to
'.he other. On the whole fourteen divisions are 35 houses; each division lias a
good house for the foreman* and his family and a large house where the employes
are boarded by the wife of one of them
at $2.50 per week, Mr. Rankin paying
the board.
It requires 700 teams to work this
farm; most of them are mules. The
expenses average $300 a day; the feeai
alone costs as high as $100 a day; $3,000
a year are spent for chain harness. M
there is not a leather tug on the farm.
The corn fields cover 14,000 acres anal
raise 400,000 bushels of corn. In feealing seasons from 3,000 to 8,000 bushels
Ground Plan.
ual rising will lead up from the northwest where is located the main picture of
tbe Fair. The beautiful slopes of the
hill around the building have been assigned to the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, and here during
the Fair there will be maintained a fine
display of flowering srubbery and of indigenous and exotic plants. Hydrants
to supply water to these exhibits at all
times  have  been  planned.
On its south side it will have a gallery 500 feet long and 25 feet wide. Here
will be the offices for Chief F. W. Taylor
and his staff; reading rooms where the
leading agriculture publications will be
kept on file; jury rooms ami a largo committee room. There will also be on this
gallery an assembly hall for the meeting
of agriculture societies. This hall will
be 106 by 50 feet and will have a seating
capacity of nearly 1,000.
of corn are fed in a day. He has 2,000
:*< ras in wheat and the rest Is in hay and
pasture land for four years each, when it
is broken up. In busy seasons he hires
all the horses he can get at $1 each per
da*. He has $50,000 invested in machinery. He is pnrtiularly enthusiastic
ahout two-row cultivators and two-row
listers. Corn rows a mile long are not
unusual on this farm. 100 acres of corn
au* planted every time the drills travel
twn and a half miles in length. The dl-
v;sions are from 640 to 3,100 acres in
size.
He feeds from 8,000 to 10,000 heaal nf
eattle on this farm every year and two
or three times as many hog every year.
Pome of the cattle are bought hut the
bogs are all raised on the farm. The
hale nf hogs amounts to $80,000 a year.
His profit last year was $64,000 and has
sometimes been as high as $100,000. The
ailier men aan ilia* farm wurk ten hours a
Iny, bin Mr. Rankin always wnrks sl\-
taan, niisl tliis is his only diversion. He
1 ns taka*n niily tun vacation trips in 80
years, once in Europe nnd aaiia-e to Ya*l-
lowatone I'ark*. He dues not smnke, drink
or swear, but he pays va*ry little au**n-
tinu   to   his     personal     appearance.—Cor.
e       .
Objects ofthe Flatt and Game Commlselon.
Fdltoe-s  Indiana   Farmer:
1 have read in this week' issue of the
Indiana Farmer your excellent review or
my book. I notice the good things ynu
say about it with pleasure and notice
your criticism on fox hunting and can
heartily agree with you in all thnt yon
say, from a personal standpoint. In* the
production aaf my report, I feel that I
must meet the tastes nf all classes of pa*n-
ple in Indiana on the questions of outdoor life, and for that purpose put in a
great many things that persnnally I have
naa  DM for.
I preeent below some of the objects ot
Un* Irish and Came ('iimmissiun aim
would ark you to publish them in your
paper, if ynu ean lind llie space for them.
It is my earnest desire to create a
health; public sentiment among the hum
i wnen of the state of Indiana regarding
the value of our fish, game and birds.
When they are awakened to the Importance of it and lend their help, I am sure
we can get such legislation as is desirable and can be enforced. We must,
however, creep before we walk, and we
must mat complain if we cannot get
everything we desire out of the Legislature.
I would be thankful to your (leaders at
any time for any constructive criticism
they may offer. I know full well where
we have not accomplished the best results. If anyone can suggest how we
may better it, let us hear from them. If
he only lias to suggest how we have nut
accompli, heal these things, we do not
care to hear from him, as we have ample
testimony  on  tnat  side  of  tho  question.
Z.   T.  Sweeney,  Com'r.
Columbus,  April  6th.
"The objects of the commission arc various and may be summed up as follows:
First: The cultivation of the .mmense
advantages enjoyed by our State for
summer tourists and population, which,
in many States, not so well situated as
ours, already amounts to millions of dollars annually, according to their reports.
Second: The fostering of 15 or 20 summer assemblies now established by the
various religious bodies and many more
that will be established, which are bringing strangers laa our State by tens of thousands already, and whieh are still In
their infamy. Mr. Snl C. Dickey, superintendent of Winona assembly, statin
over a year ago that that assembly
brought 70,000 people to Winona the pn-
ceding summer, and that with good fishing, they could swell that amount to 100.-
000. This is only one of a number of
assemblies similar in character, now existing in various parts of the State.
Third: To correspond with wealthy
men from surrounding cities, such as
Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbns, O..
Cleveland, Toledo. Detroit. Chicago an.l
St. Lonis. and induce them to build summer homes on the shores of our lakes.
These will open the way fnr a large number of summer hotels, all of Which will
tend tn enrich our State in a very desirable manner.
Fourth: To induce capitalists to develop the rich shell marl heals which exist in large quantities in onr lakes and
which is the finest material for the manufacture of Portland cement: also tn utilize a*ur splendid mussel shells, the finest
in the United States, fnr the manufacture of pearl buttons and ornaments.
There are gond prospects nf locating one
such  factorv  in  the near future.
Fifth: To propagate and distribute
through the State, the finest varieties of
game l.irals. animals anal fishes and thus
renew our depleted stock.
Sixth* The enforcement nf the law
protecting nnr fishes and game, which
is nnly valuable in itself when it tends to
prnmnte and develop the object before
mentioned. Surrounding States are allv<>
to the importance nf this work and are
using every effort to footer it. The State
cf Ohio appropriates $21,500 per annum:
Wisconsin. $20,000 direct appropriation
nnd $70.00 revenue, whlcn makes $90,000:
Michigan appropriates abont $30,000
with fa*es. the amount of whieh is not
laanwn. New York appropriates $150.-
000.