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Garden VOL. .LXIII )08 INDIANAPOLIS OCT 17, 1908. NO. 42 = ■ Wasteful Negligence. Editors Indiana Farmer: If one were to judge the farmers, in some neighborhoods, by the farm implements left standing out in the fields, unsheltered from the elements, he would naturally conclude that there is a goodly number of believers in the doctrine of negligence and indifference. No matter how many thrifty farmers are found in a community, there is usually an individual whose farm is out of harmony v.ith that of his neighbors, both in general appearance and in depleted fertility. We are all familiar with this type of farmer and have been since our youth. The usual indexof a farmer's character, is found in the methods he adopts in caring for his personal property and real estate. Recently the writer had occasion to take a short trip thru a prosperous agricultural district, and in so doing he was surprised to see many funning imple- ments standing unprotected from the weather, in the fields or barnyards. Among these utensils were a sulky corn cultivator in the fields where last used in June; a hay-loader and rake resting peacefully in a farm yard since the recent haying season; at another farm a harrow leaning complacently against a fence; a little farther along, a roller and disk harrow,.keeping each other consoling company, with the sky as a cover; then a gaso- line engine, exposed ed to the mercies of the weather, and several other less important farm tools at different places. These different pieces of farm machinery, to all appearances, were in fairly good shape for service and were worthy of better treatment. This is but an example of what may be seen in other farming sections. Some time before this, in another neighborhood, the writer saw a good binder, a corn harvester and a mow- e.- out in the fields, where they had been worked in their busy season, and wer.- thus being rewarded for having done their dirty. The rain, snow, rust and decay viere vi-iin,? with each other to hasten the destruction of these valuable and useful n.achines. It is difficult, indeed, to understand why seme farmers are so careless and why they can be so blind to their own interests as not to properly shelter their implements. In most cases, tiiat have come l'Dder the writer's observation, these exposed farming tools could have been protected, as there seemed to be ample floor space in the barn or room in the different sheds. There either was a woeful lack of time or a willful indisposition to place these machines under shelter. In most coses the latter view is the correct one. If a shed is not at hand for shelter, it does not require a great deal of outlay to erect one; anyway even if it does cost a —testify- at the start, it is the best economy in the end. The life of farm machinery cau easily be prolonged to twice its usual length of service if care is taken to protect it from) the elements in the season that it is not needed. This means less expense for the farmer for repairs and new utensils, and iu a short time the saving in expense more than pays for erecting a sheltering structure. pend the plant growth. Acid soils are infertile, because tho soil bacteria cannot grow in them. Lime, when applied to land assists in the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, but indirectly. Lime neutralizes the acidity of the soil and renders it more favorable to the development of soil bacteria, which are the true agents for the decomposition of oiganic matter. A very fertile soil may "llunuymede," the Country Home of N. \V. Bryant, Vanderburg, County. Allowing a valuable piece of machinery like a binder, manure-spreader or grain drill to stand out under the open sky or the cover of a naked tree, iu winter, is certainly exceedingly poor business economy; yet many there are that come short therein. It is the thriftless, careless farmer who first complains of adversity and hard times and blames the trusts, the political party in power and the world in guieral for his deplorable condition. He fails to recognize that tbe cause of his failure is in himself. It is in giving attention to the minor details and stopping the little financial leaks in farm economy, that brings ultimate success. When such farmers understand that caring for ihe property as they should end learning that the rule—"to them that hath shall be given,"—applies lo the frugal agriculturist as well as the business man, then we can look for a change for the better, and the sight of unhoused farm machinery at any season will be "as rare as a day in June." H. S. C. The Soil Bacteria Problem. Editors Indiana Farmer: A very intimate relation exists between the fertility of a soil and its bacteiial life. If is therefore important to know the conditions of the soil which are most favor- otle to the rapid development of a soil bacteria, for upon these will de- be so water-logged as to be almost entirely unproductive. Why? The excessive amount of water cuts off to a large extent the supply of air which is required by the bacteria. Muck beds are rich in nitrogen, and often contain considerable phosphorus and potassium, but they will not produce good crops. Make them a fit habitation for soil bacteria, that is, drain them and correct the acid condition, and they become heavily productive. Acids in the soil may also bring into solution minerals that have a poisonous effect upon crops, as for example, compounds of iron and alumina. The whole difficulty must be met by overcoming the injurious effects of soil acids. But nature has provided a cheap neutralizer of acid soil3. Lime in some of its forms is most economical. It exists in several available forms. It may be had as quicklime, hydrated lime, air slacked lime, and finely ground lime-stone (the unburned rock, fiuely ground). It is also contained in shells, marl, wood-ashes, lime-kiln ashes, and slag phosphate, and occurs, in combination with other elements in phosphate rock. A study of the soil and r roper use of lime in some of its forms, combined if necessary with adequate drainage, can be relied upon to bring cbout a soil condition whieh will favor the growth of bacteria friendly to maximum crop production. G. K. M. Managing the Corn Fodder Crop. Editors Indiana Fanner: I find it best in my business to plant my corn for cutting just as I would for husking iu the field. My greatest reason for planting corn for cutting just as I do for husking is because I never know just how much I will cut up till near the time of corn harvest, and corn plants:d thick, o.- late, for the purpose of making fodder ______^^_^ does not make the best of corn for husking ln the field. The time for corn cutting usually comes after all other rough crops are in and one knows just what he has in the way of feed on hand, and can estimate its probable value, and tell just about how good late pastures will be. I like to have the husks all turned and ahout half the blades, though some young husks and blades do not ripen just as others do. Herein lies the great value of the corn binder; you can want till all the corn is just in the right stage. This is something tliat cannot be done if you cut by hand witb the regular force on the farm—and I want to be excused from hiring outside men for corn cutting The harvester does not find fault with you, won't go away and perhaps not return, anil cause trouble, and never demandsa raise in wages The corn harvester will pick up most of the down corn nicely, will work well when ground or stalks are damp; it will also knock off a good deal of corn and is just as cranky as any other piece of farm mn>.uinery. And will save just as much expense in handling the fodder as does the grain binder in handling the grain. I do not find the knocking off of corn a serious matter, as nearly every ear knocked off is covered with a husk and will stand an astonishing amount of rain without spoiling, as it is lying on the unshaded .ground, or if the entire field be shredded early the hogs can be turned in and "they will do t!:erest." I can cut from five to ten acres a day with the binder, according to yield, weather temperature, etc. Two men can shock the corn nicely. I use a horse to shock on which consists of a two by four, twelve or fourteen feet long, one end resting on legs bolted on; the other resting on the ground. Bore a hole through the scantling, get a three eighth rod six feet long, stick through the hole, stand a bundle in each of the four corners made by the rod crossing the scanting with the tops together; build about half the shock in this way, then pull out the rod, then the horse. Finish the shock, being careful to set the huts of the bundles firmly on the gr.ui.d with the tops toward the center; tie it a foot higher than you think it should be and tile "job is done. I never allow my fodder to stand out long in the Mid, I shred it just as soon as
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1908, v. 63, no. 42 (Oct. 17) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA6342 |
Date of Original | 1908 |
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 | 2011-03-23 |
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 | Garden VOL. .LXIII )08 INDIANAPOLIS OCT 17, 1908. NO. 42 = ■ Wasteful Negligence. Editors Indiana Farmer: If one were to judge the farmers, in some neighborhoods, by the farm implements left standing out in the fields, unsheltered from the elements, he would naturally conclude that there is a goodly number of believers in the doctrine of negligence and indifference. No matter how many thrifty farmers are found in a community, there is usually an individual whose farm is out of harmony v.ith that of his neighbors, both in general appearance and in depleted fertility. We are all familiar with this type of farmer and have been since our youth. The usual indexof a farmer's character, is found in the methods he adopts in caring for his personal property and real estate. Recently the writer had occasion to take a short trip thru a prosperous agricultural district, and in so doing he was surprised to see many funning imple- ments standing unprotected from the weather, in the fields or barnyards. Among these utensils were a sulky corn cultivator in the fields where last used in June; a hay-loader and rake resting peacefully in a farm yard since the recent haying season; at another farm a harrow leaning complacently against a fence; a little farther along, a roller and disk harrow,.keeping each other consoling company, with the sky as a cover; then a gaso- line engine, exposed ed to the mercies of the weather, and several other less important farm tools at different places. These different pieces of farm machinery, to all appearances, were in fairly good shape for service and were worthy of better treatment. This is but an example of what may be seen in other farming sections. Some time before this, in another neighborhood, the writer saw a good binder, a corn harvester and a mow- e.- out in the fields, where they had been worked in their busy season, and wer.- thus being rewarded for having done their dirty. The rain, snow, rust and decay viere vi-iin,? with each other to hasten the destruction of these valuable and useful n.achines. It is difficult, indeed, to understand why seme farmers are so careless and why they can be so blind to their own interests as not to properly shelter their implements. In most cases, tiiat have come l'Dder the writer's observation, these exposed farming tools could have been protected, as there seemed to be ample floor space in the barn or room in the different sheds. There either was a woeful lack of time or a willful indisposition to place these machines under shelter. In most coses the latter view is the correct one. If a shed is not at hand for shelter, it does not require a great deal of outlay to erect one; anyway even if it does cost a —testify- at the start, it is the best economy in the end. The life of farm machinery cau easily be prolonged to twice its usual length of service if care is taken to protect it from) the elements in the season that it is not needed. This means less expense for the farmer for repairs and new utensils, and iu a short time the saving in expense more than pays for erecting a sheltering structure. pend the plant growth. Acid soils are infertile, because tho soil bacteria cannot grow in them. Lime, when applied to land assists in the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, but indirectly. Lime neutralizes the acidity of the soil and renders it more favorable to the development of soil bacteria, which are the true agents for the decomposition of oiganic matter. A very fertile soil may "llunuymede," the Country Home of N. \V. Bryant, Vanderburg, County. Allowing a valuable piece of machinery like a binder, manure-spreader or grain drill to stand out under the open sky or the cover of a naked tree, iu winter, is certainly exceedingly poor business economy; yet many there are that come short therein. It is the thriftless, careless farmer who first complains of adversity and hard times and blames the trusts, the political party in power and the world in guieral for his deplorable condition. He fails to recognize that tbe cause of his failure is in himself. It is in giving attention to the minor details and stopping the little financial leaks in farm economy, that brings ultimate success. When such farmers understand that caring for ihe property as they should end learning that the rule—"to them that hath shall be given,"—applies lo the frugal agriculturist as well as the business man, then we can look for a change for the better, and the sight of unhoused farm machinery at any season will be "as rare as a day in June." H. S. C. The Soil Bacteria Problem. Editors Indiana Farmer: A very intimate relation exists between the fertility of a soil and its bacteiial life. If is therefore important to know the conditions of the soil which are most favor- otle to the rapid development of a soil bacteria, for upon these will de- be so water-logged as to be almost entirely unproductive. Why? The excessive amount of water cuts off to a large extent the supply of air which is required by the bacteria. Muck beds are rich in nitrogen, and often contain considerable phosphorus and potassium, but they will not produce good crops. Make them a fit habitation for soil bacteria, that is, drain them and correct the acid condition, and they become heavily productive. Acids in the soil may also bring into solution minerals that have a poisonous effect upon crops, as for example, compounds of iron and alumina. The whole difficulty must be met by overcoming the injurious effects of soil acids. But nature has provided a cheap neutralizer of acid soil3. Lime in some of its forms is most economical. It exists in several available forms. It may be had as quicklime, hydrated lime, air slacked lime, and finely ground lime-stone (the unburned rock, fiuely ground). It is also contained in shells, marl, wood-ashes, lime-kiln ashes, and slag phosphate, and occurs, in combination with other elements in phosphate rock. A study of the soil and r roper use of lime in some of its forms, combined if necessary with adequate drainage, can be relied upon to bring cbout a soil condition whieh will favor the growth of bacteria friendly to maximum crop production. G. K. M. Managing the Corn Fodder Crop. Editors Indiana Fanner: I find it best in my business to plant my corn for cutting just as I would for husking iu the field. My greatest reason for planting corn for cutting just as I do for husking is because I never know just how much I will cut up till near the time of corn harvest, and corn plants:d thick, o.- late, for the purpose of making fodder ______^^_^ does not make the best of corn for husking ln the field. The time for corn cutting usually comes after all other rough crops are in and one knows just what he has in the way of feed on hand, and can estimate its probable value, and tell just about how good late pastures will be. I like to have the husks all turned and ahout half the blades, though some young husks and blades do not ripen just as others do. Herein lies the great value of the corn binder; you can want till all the corn is just in the right stage. This is something tliat cannot be done if you cut by hand witb the regular force on the farm—and I want to be excused from hiring outside men for corn cutting The harvester does not find fault with you, won't go away and perhaps not return, anil cause trouble, and never demandsa raise in wages The corn harvester will pick up most of the down corn nicely, will work well when ground or stalks are damp; it will also knock off a good deal of corn and is just as cranky as any other piece of farm mn>.uinery. And will save just as much expense in handling the fodder as does the grain binder in handling the grain. I do not find the knocking off of corn a serious matter, as nearly every ear knocked off is covered with a husk and will stand an astonishing amount of rain without spoiling, as it is lying on the unshaded .ground, or if the entire field be shredded early the hogs can be turned in and "they will do t!:erest." I can cut from five to ten acres a day with the binder, according to yield, weather temperature, etc. Two men can shock the corn nicely. I use a horse to shock on which consists of a two by four, twelve or fourteen feet long, one end resting on legs bolted on; the other resting on the ground. Bore a hole through the scantling, get a three eighth rod six feet long, stick through the hole, stand a bundle in each of the four corners made by the rod crossing the scanting with the tops together; build about half the shock in this way, then pull out the rod, then the horse. Finish the shock, being careful to set the huts of the bundles firmly on the gr.ui.d with the tops toward the center; tie it a foot higher than you think it should be and tile "job is done. I never allow my fodder to stand out long in the Mid, I shred it just as soon as |
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